GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2014, 7 August 1880, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PBB PBBSB ASSOCIATION BPBOIAI. WIBB.J LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. EBIDAY, AUGUST 6. In the Legislative Council, The Hon. E. Whitakbb gave notioe to introduce the Diseased Cattle Proclamation Validation Bill. The Hon. P. Buckley raised a question of privilege. He had received a printed document unsigned, but purporting to express the wishes of the brewers, publicans, and spirit merchants of Danedin, and was almost an intimidation of the Council. He believed -that other members had received copies. He was also often waylaid on coming to the Chamber and asked about things of which he knew nothing. After gome discussion the matter dropped, it being pointed out that the Council could take no action on an unsigned document. In reply to the Hon. Col. Brett, The Hon. E. Whitakbb said that the Commissioner of Customs was now taking advice to see if he had power to order another survey of the barque Annabella at Lyttelton. If he had power to order a second survey he might order halt a dozen, and so detain the vessel indefinitely. In moving for the printing of a return, the Hon. Dr. Poixbn stated that the license fees for the last three years had been £40,378, £43,739 and £44,151 respectively. He also complained of the incomplete accounts kept of the license fees through their not being under Government oontrol. The following Bills came from the Lower House, and were read a first time : Christchurch District Drainage Act Amendment Bill, Inoh Olutha Act Amendment Bill, Execution Against Seal Estate Bill, and the

TVanaki Iron Smelting Works Land Act Amendment Bill. The Port Molyneux Besorve Leasing Aot Amendment Bill was raad a third time and passed. On the motion of Hon. Dr. Menssibs, the Beporting Committee was ordered to enquire why the debates sometimes appeared in "Hansard" in a mutilated form, and to inform the Oounoil how it is that the report sometimes differs from the foots. The Hon. W. H. Reynolds moved the appointment of a committee to enquire into cost of the clerical staff of the Oounoil, with a view to a reduotion, but after some cussion the motion was negatived. The Dentists Bill was read a second time and referred to a Seleot Committee. The Public Health Act Amendment Bill was passed through Committee. The Council rose at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES.

Fbiday, August 6. AFTERNOON SIHING. The House resumed at 2 30. BBFOBT APPBOVBD. Mr J. B. Fibhbb moved that the report of the Gold Golds Committee in the case of H. Rowe and others be approved of. He stated that the petition contained unwarranted allegations against the judicial officer, which had not been supported by evidence. The Committee strongly reprobated such conduct. The Hon. W. Rollbston concurred in the finding, and expressed his strong disapprobation of the number of unjustifiable complaints that were from time to time made against officers of this kind. The motion was carried. NATIVE LAND BALES BILL. The House went into committee on the Native Land Sales Bill. Clause 3, Mr B. Wood moved that the word "may" be substituted for the word '• shall," so as to make the clause read " that Nativeß may at their own option bring their lands under the Act." Capt. RrsSßLLfelt convinced that the effect of the Bill would be to prevent land being sold at all. He did not think that the Bill as it stood would give satisfaction, and he would support the amendment. Capt. Colbeck concurred. So strongly did the Natives feel on the subject that he felt convinced they would be prepared to fight rather than submit to the measure. Mr Thomson complained that Government was throwing an unfair responsibility upon the House in leaving suoh a material alteration in the Bill to it. If the Government were really in earnest in their purpose to pass the Bill at all they ought to make it a Government question. Mr Shbehan was quite sure that if the Bill as it stood were passed no land would be brought under its operations, or if it did it would pass out of the hands of Natives without any corresponding advantages being secured by them. Sir G. Gbby said that when the amendment was disposed of he would move the following addition—" Except as herein provided in sase of Native lands vested in trustees."

Major Tb Whbobo said that he would support the amendment, leaving the lands to be dealt with by the Native Committees. The Maoris should be empowered to elect these committees, defining the powers they ore to be allowed to exeroise. Despite what newspapers had said to the contrary, he denied that the Native members were actuated by factious motives. The question was put that the clause as printed remain part of the Bill. Ayes, 34; Noes, 25. The following is the division list : Ayes—Messrs Andrews, Atkinson, Bain, Ballance, Bryce, DeLautour, Dick, J. B. Fisher, J. £. Fisher, Sir W. Fox, Mr Gisborne, Sir G. Grey, Messrs Hall, Harris, Hursthouse, Ireland, Jones, Kelly, Maoandrew, Moss, Pitt, Pyke, Rolleston, Shrimski, Speight, To Wheoro, Thomson, Tole, Tomoana, Trimble, Turnbull, Wright. Noes—Messrs Barron, Beetham, Bowen, Brown, Buckley, Oolbeok, Gibbs, Hamlin, Hirst, Johnston, Lundon, McDonald, MoLean, Ormond, Reeves, Reid, Ruesell, Shanks, Sheehan, Shepherd, Stevens, Swonson, Toinui, Whyte, Wood. Sir G. Obey moved the amendment of which he gave notice. His object was to provide that the sale of the lands would be competed for in the open market, and the Natives themselves get a fair price for the land. The details of the plan would be unfolded in amendments to be introduced into the other clauses of the Bill.

The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. PT/BLIO WOBK.S STATEMENT. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, The Hon. R. Olivbb delivered his Public Works Statement. After which Mr Maoandbbyt, in suggesting that the House do now adjourn, and referring to the statement just made, said he was disappointed, but not greatly surprised. Had the late Government been allowed to remain in office he believed that no interruption would have taken place in the prosecution of the Public Works policy of 1870. He thought that the best thing they could do at present was to adjourn and think the matter over. The Hon. John Hall said that the Government was in the hands of the House as regarded the question of adjournment. He thought, however, that they should go on with some other work. He hoped that hon. members would, in the discussion that must necessarily ensue, Bhow how it was possible to go on with their Public Works polioy as they had been doing years ago. There was this difference between their present position and that of the preoeding two years. They knew the real state of affairs now, whereas two years ago they did not. Mr Ibbland desired that the Government would state what it proposed to do about the Kelso line. He had been told that the Public Works Statement would inform him, but the line was not mentioned. The Hon. R. Olivbb said that the hon. member was not singular in his desire for information of this kind. It was impossible for them to fulfil one half of the promises made regarding the prosecution of a railway. They would just have to wait on and see what the development of events would bring about.

Mr Babhon directed attention to a motion standing in his name, re the withdrawal of the subsidies to local bodies, which had lapsed. He concluded by moving that these subsidies be paid up to the end of 1881. Mr Pxkb said that he oould no reason whatever why the Government should delay giving the House information on the subject of its intentions regarding subsidies. The present state of matters was exercising a most injurious effect on the colony generally. Local bodies were, in view of the present uncertain state of matters, debarred from prosecuting neoessary works. Until the Financial Arrangements Act was repealed, the subsidies would have to be paid. The Hon. G. MoLbah asked where the money to pay these subsidies was to be got. There waß a deficiency of £215,000, and if they added £275,000 for subsidies, that would make a total deficiency of £500,000. The country could stand no more taxation. The Hon. Major Atkikson said that if the motion had been coupled with a proposal to double the property tax, then it would have been worth while discussing, but with an empty exchequer it was impossible to find the wherewithal to pay a sum of £300,000. It ill became the member for the Dunstan to make the remarks he had done, seeing that he was chairman of a county in debt to the Government. It was no breach of faith on the part of the Government in suspending theße subsidies, as fair warning had been given to them. Local bodies were part and parcel of the Government of the country, and it was quite impossible to meet the demand for these subsidies unless there were more taxation imposed. Last year thoy had full notice that these subsidies would be stopped. There was not, as a matter of fact, any subsidy due up to next June, the same having been paid up to 30th June last. He regretted the necessity for stopping these subsidies, but he did not sympathise with those bodies who had entered into large engagements on the faith of these subsidies. There was timely warning of their probable suspension. He advised that the motion should be withdrawn, as the payment of subsidies simply meant additional taxation. Mr Geobge moved the adjournment of the debate. ' Mr PY.KB, speaking to the adjournment, said that they had been asked how were to be provided for. There were £300,000 of estimated land fund. That was a fund out of which the subsidies should be paid, without the necessity of going to the consolidated revenue at all. It was a mistake to say that there had been no breaoh of faith in tne

matter. Under the Finanoial Arrangements Aofc the Government and Parliament undertook to pay those subsidies for a period of fire years. In virtue of that the looal bodieswere . justified in entering into contracts in anticipation of subsidies being paid until the expiry of that timo. He denied that they had had fair notioe that subsidies would be suspended. The notice given last year was accompanied with an assurance that other satisfactory arrangements would be made for these bodies. He would strongly advise them to take baok their finanoial proposals and get them remodelled. He hoDed that the motion would be withdrawn in the meantime, until the whole Government proposals re local bodieß were before the oountry. Major Habeib said that abolition was carried on the understanding that five years' subsidies were to be paid. Thiß was a direct breach of faith, and he hoped the motion would not be withdrawn. The Hon. B. RiohabdSON was sorry that, in accordance with the usual practice, the House had not adjourned after the statement was delivered. The motion for the adjournment of the debate was withdrawn, also the motion made by Mr Barron. On the motion of the Hon. J.Hall, the House adjourned at 9.15.