GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1816, 16 December 1879, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, Dbcembeb 15. In the Council to-day business began at 11 a.m. The Property Assessment Bill, tho Customs Bill, the Tobacco Manufacturers Bill, tho Public Revenues Bill, and the Treasury Bill, were passed through all their stages. The To Aro Reclamation Bill, and the Sites for Workingmcn'a Club Bill, were read a second time. The Wanganui Endowed School Bill, and the Otago Harbor Board Empowering Bill, were thrown out. Tho Council adjourned from 5 till 7.30. EVENING SITTING. THIBD HEADINGS. Thames Harbor Board Bill, Auckland Harbor Board Bill, Working Men's Club Sites Bill. The Otago University Beserves Bill was thrown out by 10 to 5. HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, Decembeb 15. The House met at 11 a.m. QUESTIONS. Mr Ireland aßked the Minister for Publio Works if, in the event of the five million loan being obtained, the Government will cause a survey of a railway line from Lawrence to Eltrick and Roxburgh to be made. Mr Omvbb, replied that inquiries wou'd bo made, and if it was found to be a desirable

-work for construction, and funds were at the -disposal of the Government, the survey would be ordered. Mr Speight asked the Minister of Dafence —l. Whether he has been informed that the Thames Naval Brigade boat, the property of the company, lies rotting, useless, in consequence of the want of repairs and new sails, the material for which would cost about £7O ? 2. Whether, in the event of such being the case, he will causo the necessary spm to be provided to render the boat of service, on the condition that the members of tho brigade do all the work of repairs and sailmaking free of charge ? Mr Hall said an application on the subject had been made. The Government would not be justified in placing any Bum on the estimates for the purpose, but they would cause inquiries to be made, and, if it wos found necessary, other provision would be made. Mr Speight asked what action is intended to be taken upon the report of the Publio Petitions Committee in the case of the petition of James Dempsey, contractor, Auckland. Mr Olives replied that the Committee of Inquiry had recommended that local inquiries should be made into the matter, and tiie Government would cause that to be done. Replying to Mr Allwright, Mr Olives sa:d the Union Steamship Company had mads an application for Government officers to work on Christmas Day at the Port of Lyttelton until nine o'clock of that morning. Mr Acton Adams asked whether the Government would take into consideration the desirability of promoting the establishment of a National Agricultural and Pastoral Aeeooiation, and whether they would place a sufficient sum on tho supplementary estimates for that purpose. Mr Hall replied that the Government fully appreciated the importance of the question, and recognised that it would be their duty to encourage such an institution, _ No association of the kind had yet been organised. Such being the case, he would not be justified in asking the House to vote any money for the purpose. Replying to Mr Tole, Mr Hall said the Government did not intend taking any further action with regard to the report of the Electioneering Telegrams Committee. Replying to Mr Swanson, Mr Hail said it was contrary to the Civil Service regulations for a General Government relieving officer to act as chairman or member of a County Council or a Road Board. Replying to Mr Gisborne, Mr Hall said the Government would give effect to the recommendation of the Public Petitions Committee luat session in the case of Mr R. O'Donovan, and permit the case to be taken to a Court of law, the Government waiving any technicalities that would prevent the matter in dispute being decided on its merits. Replying to Sir G. Grey, Major Atkinson said stops would be taken to examine the entrance into the Waipa river, to ascertain what improvements can be effected in its navigation. Replying to Mr McDonald, Mr Hall said the Government would not promise at present to extend the telegraph line to the township of Ormond, in the Poverty Bay district. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House re-assembled at 2 30., and went into Committee of Ways and Moans. BILLS PASSED. The Publio Revenues Bill and Treasury Bills passed without amendment. They were reported, read a third time, and pasaed. CLAIMS FOB LOSSES DITBING "WAS. On going into Committee of Supply, Mr Tolb moved that the claim of one Edmonds be recognised (?) in respect of a boat belonging to him, which had been captured in the year 1865 and destroyed by hostile Natives. The value of the boat was estimated at £I2BO. Mr Bbyce said this was only one of a number of similar claims, and the Government desTod to see tho whole of them dealt with on a general basis. These claims, in many instances, were based on a most exaggerated estimate, and this was no exception to that rule. Still he thought there was some basis for these claims, and would like to see some general scheme adopted for adjusting them. His opinion was that the total amount of the just claims would be found to be between £50,000 and £60,000. Mr Kelly moved as an amendment that all these claims be inquired into by the Government, and that provision bo made for their discharge. Sir G. Gbby thought it would be better that each claim, should be decided upon its own merits, and as it came before them. For that purpose he would support a sum being placed on the estimates. Mr Tolb asked leave to withdraw the motion, which was at first refused, but afforwards agreed to. election TBLKGBAMS. Mr Speight then moved that the House do now proceed to consider the Election Telegrams Committee's report. Sir Geobgb Gbey alluded to the telegram sent by mistake of his secretary aB a publio telegram. He ought to have been asked to pay for that telegram before it was produced, and tho Premier having neglected doing so, violated every principle of honor as between gentlemen. When he tried to bring the matter of these telegrams forward the Premier tried to slink away. He tried to debar him from bringing on the matter. It was true he afterwards thought better of it. Still that did not change the fact that in the first instance he tried to burke the point. The member for Geraldine might laugh. That hon. gentleman invariably laughed at what was wrong, and sneered at what was right. What he complained of was the attempt that had been made to injure others through himself. He did not care if every telegram and private letter he wrote had been produced. He hoped the House would pass a strong censure on the Government for its action in tho matter.

Mr Hall had day after day to submit to insult and slander at the hands of the mover of the motion and his followers. This was only a repetition of these insults. He left his character in the hands of the country. As an answer to these assertions, he quoted from evidence given before the committee, to show that the telegram referred to had been written " On the public sorvice only," in the handwriting and initialled by Mr Sheehan. So much then for Sir George Grey's sense of honor. The country knew what the charges or slanders of the hon. member were worth. He suggested that the telegrams which had been improperly produced should be returned to the office and the others laid upon the table. Mr Macandbew Baid tho proceedings from beginning to end had been actuated by party spirit, and in this case party epirit had overreach itself. The whole bother had arisen out of a paltry question of £3O. He was perfectly satisfied in his own mind that the previous Government had made use of the Telegraph Department freely, altheugh from the nature of things the fact cannot now be clearly established. Mr Satjndebs said the question was not about whether or not tho colony had lost £3O. What was wanted was to ascertain the nature of the influence brought to bear on the late election by the Ministers. Two of these telegrams were directed to editors of newsprpers, asking them to support one particular class of candidate, to the prejudice of the others. That was the nature of the influence they desired to arrive at, and not the mere question of a paltry sum of money. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. EYENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7 30. The debate was resumed by Mr Hutchison. He advised tho Premier to say that ho regretted that the telegrams had been given up, and he (Mr Hutchison) believed that -would satisfy the House. The amendment was put and negatived on the voices. On the original motion being put, Mr Turnbull was about to make another amendment, when Mr Hall said the Government would agree to the adjournment of the original motion, with the view of allowing other business to be gone on with. The suggestion was agreed to, and the business on the Order Paper proceeded. PEOPKETY TAX BILE. Mr Diok said that in committee he would propose that the amount of the tax be reduced one halfpenny. Mr Pitt said he would vote for the amount being made one halfpenny. Sir Ghokob Gbky condemned the Bill. It was altogether unnecessary. An income tax would have been very much fairer. He would

vote against the Bill in every form. _ When the question was brought up in committee as to whether the amount should be Id or J 5, ho did not yet know how he would vote. He would be guided by the facts then adduced. He thought the cost of collection would be very large indeed. It was most unfair to ask a man to value his own property. Major Atkinson said it was monstrous for members of the Opposition to say there was no need for increased These gentlemen had spent, during the time they wero iu office, three and a half millions of money, and left liabilities to the extent of two and a half millions. In the face of that it was perfectly absurd for them to speak about dispensing with increased taxation. There would be on the figures he had brought down a deficit of £150,000, independent of the supplementary estimates, which may be set down at an additional £70,000. With strict economy they hoped to be able to reduce that deficit. On a division that the Bill be read a second time, the ayes were 44, and the noes 22. The Bill was read a second time and committed. Mr Dick moved that the words "one Eenny" be struck out in clause 2 and "one alf-penny" inserted. Major Atkinson said at the penny rate the Government would not be able to raise more than £208,000. He hoped they would not insist upon tho proposed reduction. The House divided on the question, that " one penny" stand part of the question, when the ayes were 24 and the noes 30. The words " one penny" were therefore struck out, and on the question that " a half-penny" be inserted, the ayes were 36 and the noes 24. Mr Hall said the reduction from Id to £d was a great disappointment to the Government. He had no doubt that members were sincere in their avowals that next session, if Government found that Jd was too little, a Id would be voted. Major Atkinson moved a further amendment that the sum be Id. Mr Dick said he fully admitted there would be a deficiency, and in bringing forward the motion ho did, he kept that fact stcidily in view. He maintained, however, that the deficiency could be made up in another way, for instance, a tax on Colonial made beer. The question was then put "that* halfpenny stand part of the question," as against " seven-eighths of a penny," moved by Major Atkinson, the division being—Ayes, 24; noes, 29. Major Atkinson's amendment was that " three farthings should be seven-eighths of a penny." On the question that the amendment " seven-eighths of a penny be inserted," Mr Sheehan moved—" That the chairman do leave the chair." He looked upon the whole thing as a mere sham. It was not necessary that any tax should be imposed at all. The motion for leaving the chair was withdrawn. The motion for the insertion of seveneighths of a penny was then put and carried. Progress was reported, and leave asked to sit again. Major Atkinson moved that the Bill be recommitted with the view of increasing the sum from seven-eighths of a penny to one penny. Messrs MoLban and Dick spoke in opposition, contending that the amount likely to accrue under the tax would exceed the amonnt calculated upon by the Treasurer, and, at the reduced rate, would be sufficient to meet the probable deficiency. On the motion for the re-committal being put it was carried on the voioes. In committee clause 2 was again considered. Major Atkinson proposed that the words " seven-eighths," be struck out, and the words " one penny " inserted. The House divided on the question that seven-eighths of a penny stand part of the question, when tho ayes were 18 and the noes 34. The division list was : Ayes—lß. Messrs Ballance Messrs McLean Brown Murray De Lautonr Pitt Dick Eeid George Shrimski Harris Speight Johnston Tole (teller) Levin Turnbull Macandrew Wallis (teller) Nous—3l. Messrs Andrews I Messrs Montgomery Atkinson Moorhonse Bain Oliver Barron Pyke Beetham Reeves Driver Richmond Fisher, J. T. Richardson Gibbs Rolleston Hall Saunders Hirst Shanks Hurst Sheehan Hursthouse Swanson (teller) Tawhai Ireland Trimble Kelly Wakefield Kenny (teller) Lund on Whitaker Masters Wright On the question being put that " one penny" stand part of the question, Mr Babbon moved that " one halfpenny" be inserted. The House divided—Ayes, 18 ; noes, 34. The Bill, as amended, having the sum as originally printed, " one penny," was then reported. SUPPLY. On the motion that the Speaker do leave the chair to go into Committee of Supply, a division took place, the ayes being 36, and the noes 22. The House then went into Committee of Supply, and had not adjourned at 1 a.m.