GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1799, 26 November 1879, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNOIL. Tuesday, November 25. The Copyright Act Amendment Bill was read a third time. Nearly all the afternoon was occupied in discussing the Qualification of Electors Bill in committee. Several important amendments were proposed, but none were carried. The whole of the clauses were not passed when the Council adjourned at 5 till 7.30. HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, Noyembeb 24. WANT OP CONFIDENCE. The following is the division list on the amendment to the motion for going into Committee of Supply, moved by Mr Macandrew. The debate was continued until 4 o’clock on; Tuesday morning. Ayes—l 7. Messrs Atkinson Messrs Oliver Bowen Bolleston Colbeok Seymour Driver Stndholme Gibbs Sutton Hirst Swanson Hurst Trimble McCaughan Wakefield McLean Noes —6. Messrs George (teller) J Messrs Moss Harris I Shepherd Lundon | Stewart (teller) The following members paired : For the Government—Messrs Adams, Bain, Beetham, Brandon, Bryce, Dick, Fulton, Hall, Hursthouse, Johnston, Kelly, Kenny, Levin, Mason, Masters, Moorhouse, Murray, Ormond, Pitt, Richmond, Richardson, Russell, Saunders, Stevens, Tomoana, Whitaker, Willis, Wood, Whyte. Against the Government —Messrs Andrews, Ballance, Barron, Brown, Bunny, DeLautour, Finn, Fisher, J. 8., Fisher, J. T., Gisborne, Sir G. Grey, Messrs Hamlin, Hislop, Hutchison, Ireland, Macandrew, McDonald, Montgomery, Beeves, Seddon, Sheehan, Speight, Shrimski, Tawhai, Thomson, Tole, Turnbull and Wallis. Messrs Allwright, Shanks, Pyke and Tainui did not vote or pair.

Tuesday, Notembbe 25. The House met at 2.30. EEPOETS, PETITIONS, NOTICES. The report of the Committee on the Te Aro Reclamation Bill was agreed to. Further petitions were presented against the increase of duty on tobacco. The Kumara Education Beserve Bill was reported from the Goldfields Committee with amendments. Sir G. Gbey gave notice of a Bill to amend the New Zealand Constitution Act. Mr Saundebs gave notice of an amendment after clause 21 of the Property Assessment Bill, in order to exempt from taxation all agricultural and farming implements, horses and tools used in farming. The PBBaiIEB said that in consequence of the late hour at which the House rose that morning, they would be unable to answer the questions on the Order Paper, and he moved that the same stand over till next day. The motion was carried. SUPPLY. The motion for going into Committee of Supply having been called on, several members of the Opposition asked that the other business might be proceeded with first. bbpbesbntation bill, In reply to Mr George, The Pbbmieb said that it was not intended to introduce a Representation Bill this session, THE WANT OP CONFIDENCE MOTION. The Pbbmieb said a vote of want of confidence having been brought on, discussed,

and disposed of, it was expected that all business would be proceeded with. Messrs Sheimsei and Stewaet objected to the result of that morning’s debate being taken as final. Although defeated, the Opposition had still some life left, as Ministers would find. NOBTH OP ATT CEL AND WOEEB.

Mr London moved that the House go into Committee on Wednesday, to consider that a sumof £400,000 be placed on the Supplementary Estimates for roads and works north of Auckland. He called this his financial statement, and proceeded to show the necessity and importance of the vote to the respective counties and Road Boards in his district. He would help the Government to reduce the estimates in order that this money might be saved from that source. If he was mot with the statement that the Government had no money for the purpose, there were 100,000 acres of of Crown lands in that district, which the Native Minister said would be worth £6 per acre in any other district. He promised to assist any member to get justice done to that part of the colony. Captain Colbbce, although anxious to do the best ho could for his own district, did not approve of the course adopted by the last speaker as the best he could have chosen to obtain justice to the North. He had been charged, with others, with deserting his party in order to gain something for his district, but it would yet be found out that he did what was right and not for the sordid motive attributed to him. Mr GKOsaE supported the motion, and deprecated the indifferent support of the last speaker. Mr Ouybe said this was not the proper course to adopt to obtain what was called

justice to any district. If they adopted such a motion it would only lead to a cry of a similar kind from all parts of the colony, which it would be impossible to comply with. The hon. member might rest assured that, when the votes were allocated and justice done alike to each, the district represented by him would receive a fair share of attention.

Mohx Tawhai said that for several years members had come to tho House, but no money had been obtained for that district. The money of the colony was not distributed fairly over those districts. Mr SHBIM6KI charged Mr Oolbeck with evincing a desire to support any Ministry which would make a railway to his door, and deprecated such a species of cringing at the door of Ministers to obtain justice to constituents. The motion was brought on honestly, and as such deserved support, notwithstanding the indifference of the member for Marsden, Mr Seddon said ho could not support the resolution, because it was necessary that the Government should see what money they had at thair disposal before they were called upon to pass any vote. Taintji said the wants of every district should be carefully considered before any money was granted. Mr Macakdeetv said that if it was decided the House should deal with these matters, he would be glad to support the motion : but he was not prepared to say this was the proper course to adopt. There were many other districts possessing equally forcible claims. He thought it would be better to leave all these local bodies to raise and expend their own revenue, and if this vote were agreed to, some fifty other claims would follow.

Mr Speight said he should support the motion because it was a protest against the scandalous neglect of this part of tho country. Mr Murray said it was inexpedient to bring forward such motions in the present state of the country’s finance. He disapproved of the South being called upon to contribute to such votes for districts where no rates could be levied because the land was held by the Natives. Mr Turnbull said if these districts had not received their fair share of loans, it was only reasonable that members should come down and prefer a just claim to such. Mr Wood supported the motion. Sir G. Ghey expressed surprise at the course adopted by the Minister for Works, who approved of the necessity for doing something towards aiding this district, but deprecated the step taken. He recommended the hon. member to withdraw his motion until he saw whether Ministers made provision to meet the necessities of his district. If this were not done, he could again introduce it when the House went into Committee of Supply on some future occasion. Mr Lundon asked and received permission to withdraw his motion. VOBEIGN VESSELS AND COASTAL TRADE. Mr Moss moved—“ That, in tho opinion of this House, it is desirable that foreign vessels arriving in New Zealand ports should not be allowed to engage in the coasting trade, but should be confined to the discharge of their original cargo at such port or ports as they may desire, and to load at such port or ports cargo for British or foreign ports, and that the Coasting Trade Regulations Act, 1871, be amended accordingly.” The mover spoke on the necessity of excluding foreign vessels from engaging in the coasting trade. Mr Hdbst, in supporting the motion, said he had already directed the attention of the Government to the matter.

Mr Swansok said the matter had already engaged the attention of a committee, and if any credit was sought it should be given to the committee which had done so much to promote it. Major Atxinson hoped the motion would be withdrawn until Ministers had the results of the committee’s work before them. They could take the matter into consideration during the recess. Mr Gisborne opposed the motion, and hoped the suggestion of the hon. Treasurer would be accepted. Mr SnaiMSKi opposed the motion, which was then put and negatived. SUPPLY. The House then went into Committee of Supply, when the estimates were proceeded with. The item of £43,861, salaries of chief officers and sub-officers, postal department, was passed. Conveyance of mails by sea, £68,510. The item passed after a reduction of the vote, West Coast Middle Island service, £4OOO, by £250. The proceedings were interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. SUPPLY. The House resumed in committee on the estimates. The item of £360, Wellington, Kaikoura, and Lyttelton service, passed on the understanding that an inquiry should be made with a view to abandoning the service. Wellington and Patea service (six months), £l5O ; Blind Bay service, £240 ; Tauranga to Opotiki service, £3OO, passed. Fiji service, £2500. Several members opposed the item as useless, and it was struck out. San Francisco service, £32,500, bonus, £2500; Suez service, £9OOO ; intercolonial service, £5000; mail agents, £1750; Auckland steam service, £860; Westport and Karamea, £200; conveyance inland mails, £32,750, were passed. Carriage of mails by rail, £6120. A division was taken on the retention [of this item, and the vote was granted. Postal contingencies, £4500, passed. On the item Telegraph Department, £110,668, Mr George moved that the item be reduced by £4150, being 5 per cent, on the whole.

Mr Berths hoped the item would be increased rather than decreased, as they wore already too ill paid. Mr London suggested that operators should be changed every two years. Mr Macandhbw complained of the quality of the forms provided. Mr Dice complained that the overtime was taken away from them, and nothing substituted, thus offering no inducement to the beet men, who wore kept at work at night time and at all hours. Mr Q-eoeoe pointed out that there was an increase in all the chief offices of the colony. Mr Stbtenb would like some explanation as to the supposed advantages of the changes made in the department. The Premise approved of the suggestion to change officers, and said it would be carried out. The increase in salaries over £2OO only amounted to £220, with the exception of the manager’s. The motion for reduction was then negatived, and the vote passed as printed. Mr Saunders suggested that pigeons should be kept at out-stations, to be used in the event of accident. He would have a training place, and make use of a pigeon telegraph profitably. Mr Bbid said his experience of pigeons was, that they lost a groat deal of time in getting them into the boxes.

Mr Gkobob said in Auckland they had been very usefully employed at election and other times. The subject then dropped. The items Cable subsidy, duplicate, &c., £17,350, passed. Department of education, £242,715. Mr Eoiieston defended the free system system of education. The cost per head was £4 83, which compared favorably with other colonies where the free system was in force. Provision had been made for the establishment of a deaf and dumb institution, and an officer to take charge of such an institution was shortly expected in the colony, and it would be established on a satisfactory footing. For that purpose a further vote would be asked for a building, and steps taken to erect it.

Mr Gisboenb thought the colony aimed at too high a standard of free education. The country was bound to furnish elementary education, but nothing more, and yet the system proposed was of the highest order, and some contribution should be exacted from those able to pay it. Messrs Johnston and Reeves advocated the claims of Catholics on the principle of payment by results. Mr Bowen said this had been tried, and the result was to confirm the conviction that the State could not give aid to denominational schools separately. Mr Roixbston said the public were determined to have a national system of education, and would have it. He was not prepared to take any step other than in the direction of providing a free, unsectarian, and compulsory education, irrespective of those why may feel themselves aggrieved by the same. Mr. Tuenbuxli advocated the compulsory system. A motion by Mr Ttjenbtjlb to reduce the item by £56,000 was negatived, and the vote was carried. Libraries £SOOO, Native schools £15,309, were passed. The House adjourned at 1 a.m.