GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1817, 17 December 1879, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE OOUNOIL. Tuesday, Decbmbeb 16. In the Council to-day the whole sitting was occupied with the debate on the second reading of the Property Tax Bill, whioh was carried after a discussion at times very heated, and lasting nearly fourteen hour?, by 14 votes to 10. Fifteen members spoke in the debate. The Council rose at 9.50. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, Decembbb 16. The House met at 2.40. PEOPBETY TAX BILL. On the motion for the third reading of the Property Tax Bill, a division took place, when the ayes were 32, and the noes 23. The following is the division list: — Ates-32. Messrs Atkinson Messrs Oliver Bain Pitt (teller) Beetham Reeveß Bryce Richmond Driver Richardson Gibbs Rolleston Hall Saunders Hirst Seymour Hurst Shanks Hnrsthouße Studholme Ireland Trimble Kelly Wakefield Mason Whitaker Masters Whyte McLean (teller) Wright Murray Noes—23. Messrs Andrews Messrs Macandrew Barren Montgomery Buckley Reid (teller) Colbeck Seddon DeLautour Sheehan Fisher, J. T. Shephard Fisher, J. B. Shrimski George (teller) Thomson Sir George Grey Tole Messrs Harris Turnbull Hutchison Wallia Lundon The Bill was read a third time and passed. LAND ACT AMENDMENT. The Amendments by the Legislative Council in the Land Act 1877 Amendment Bill were considered, a number being adopted, and a committee appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the remainder. SPECIAL POWEBS AND CONTBACTS. The Special Powers and Contracts Bill was further considered in Committee, and on being reported with amendments, was read a third time and passed. PUBLIC BESEBYBB BILL. The Public Reserves Sale Bill was read a second time. On the motion for going into Committee on the Bill, Mr Dk Lautoub called attention to the great hindrance reserves were becoming to settlement throughout the country, and hoped the Government would see its way to get many of them dono away with. Mr Rolleston admitted the existence of tho difficulty, and promised to give the matter consideration during the recess. In Committee the Bill was considered, reported, read a third time, and passed. BILLS PASSED. The Electoral Acts Repeal Bill (No. 2) was read a second time. The Harbors Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, passed through Committee, read a third time and passed. Tho Electoral Aota Repeal Bill (No. 2) was passed through Committee, read a third time and passed. EVENING SITTING. Tho House resumed at 7.30. PUBLIC "WOBKS BILL. Mr R. Olives moved the second reading of the Public Works Bill. Mr De Lautoub said the provision in the Bill for aiding companies was one which required fuller explanation. A sum of £408,000 was asked to be appropriated for the purchase of district railways, and they were denied reasonable information of tho lines proposed to be purchased. Ho then went into detail as to tho promoters of the various lines, with the object of showing that these promoters woro the persons whoso lands were most extensively benefitted by the construction of the lines, and that the majority of their holdings were wholly unimproved. Indeed, the owners themselves wore nonresidents in the district. It was evident that the promoters of those lines woro solely actuated by a design to cut up their properties, and throw the burdons entailed by the making of tho lines upon the purchasers). He had no wish to detain the House, but it was right the House should know these facts, in order that it might be on its guard. TheßO companies were promoted by owners of land, the land being of such a character that it would not pay them to turn it to any practical use. All they aimed at was to get quit of the land at such an advance as a railway line would give them. Messrs Driver, McLean, McCaughan, Studholme, and he believed tho Minister of Publio Works himself, were all pecuniarily interested in this question, and he would Bubmit that these gentlemen ought not to remain in the House and vote on this question. He quoted from Parliamentary

authorities to show that it was tho duty of the Speaker in such circumstances to direct that members so interested should not be allowed to remain and vote on the point. Those gentlemen had entered into large engagements in connection with their lines, not only for formation works, but likewise for rolling stock, and it was asked that the Government should relieve them from responsibilities upon these engagements. Mr Studholiib said it was incorrect to state that ho was either directly or indirectly interested in any of theso lines. Tho Speaker ruled that it would not be right for any member interested in these works to vote on tho subject. Mr Montqomeey said he would do his best to prevent the clause providing for this expenditure becoming law. The money could bo much more judiciously expended in forming mnin trunk lines, so as to complote through systems. Tho proposal could not possibly suffer from being delayed until next session. At the risk of delaying tho House much longer than it desired, he would resist the Bill. Mr Macandeew said it was to bo regretted that tho Bill had not been brought down earlier in tho sesbion, so that they might have had more time to considor its effect. When a through system of railways had been completed, it would be time enough to talk about purchasing these lines. He could see no good reason why tho colony should not assist these companies in completing their lines. In committee he would move that clauses 30, 31 and 32 of the> Bill be struck out, and in lieu thereof a new clause inserted, to tho effect that tho Governor in Council may, from time to time advance, by way of loan to district railway companies, whoso lines aro partly or in course) of construction, or who may have imported rails or rolling stock, sums of money to tho total extent of the amount expended by these companies, such loan or advance to bear interest at the rate of seven per cent, per annum; proper security being taken for repayment of such advances and all interest accruing thereon, such security being taken in su?h form and upon such conditions as may from time to timo bo prescribed by the Go-vernor-in-Oouncil. He would support the Becond reading on that understanding. Mr Pyke condemned clause 30, and said the t Government might just as well bring down a Bill with the few words—" The Government may and is hereby empowered to do as it likes." Ho also objected to tho powers asked for by clause 28, empowering tho Government to modify the contract for construction of the Tapanui railway. Mr Tuenbuli spoke in opposition to the Bill, and expressed an opinion that it would be a mistake to adopt the suggestion thrown out by Mr Macandrew. He pointed out that in addition to the appropriation asked, it would take nearly fivo millions more to complete these lines. The Ashburton line was nearly, completed, and there was no good reason why the Government should interfere with its operations. Again, tho Waimate was another of theso lines. Nothing whatever had been done on that line except preparing plans. The Waimea line was made for the sole benefit of one or two large landod proprietors, and not for the convenience of tho body of settlers in tho neighbourhood. In the present state of the country large sums would be required for completing main lines, and they would have absolutely nothing left to complete the branch lines. Messrs J. T. Fisher and Sbrimski both spoke in opposition to the Bill. Sir G. Geey asked the Government to say whether or not they would withdraw the 30th section. He was sure it would never get through the House. The Bill had bean introduced at a period too late in the session. At the very time they were doing other districts injustice by telling them they had no money to pay for the lines, they brought down a proposal for purchasing those out-of-the-way lines. In reply to the suggestion of tho member for Port Chalmers, he would say that the Government, if it had money to spend, might find much more advantageous investments. It would be better to lend the money so as to settle population in the rich swamps, the money to be used in draining these swamps. He thought the matter should not bo pressed. Delay till next session would not prejudice the ease. Mr OifiVEE admitted that he was interested to the extent of seventy-five shares in the Waimate line. It was a matter of no importance to him whether he was able to realise upon those shares or not. Others, however, were less favorably situated, and they found a difficulty in paying the continued calls upon them. He did not think a member of the House could allow his private interest in the matter to clash with his public duty. It was a singular fact that, while Sir G. Grey and the member for Mount Ida pretended great solicitude for the man who proposed buying land, no sooner had he done iothan he seemed to become the object of these two gentlemen's bitter antipathy. Tho Government recognised that the money invested in these lines would become useless if the lines were not completed —a greit disaster to the colony. It was certain that either the proposal of the Government or that of the member for Port Chalmers would have, sooner or later, to be adopted. He had told them the Government would not, under any circumstances, agree to pay such a sum for any one of these lines as would leave a profit to the promoters, The motion was then put and carried and tho House went into Committee on the Bill. On clause 30, Mr Macandee"W suggested that £IOO,OOO should be advanced for the completion of these lines for a period of twelve months, after which they would be enabled to float their debentures. He proposed a motion to that effect. Mr Montgomeey proposed that the clause be stiusk out altogether. Tho question was being discussed when our despatch left at 1 a.m.