GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2016, 10 August 1880, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, August 9. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICES OP MOTION. Mr Pitt gave notice that he would ask if the Deceased Wife’s Sister Marriage Bill had been submitted to tho Law Officers of the Orown, and if so what opinion they gave restive to the effect it would have upon property already vesting in heirs under the law at prfsont in operation. Mr Pvkb gave notice ot the following motion “ That this House is of opinion that tho report of the Royal Commission on Railways, in so far as it deals with lines which have never been submitted to or sanctioned by the House, was unnecessary and uncalled for; that in so far as it condemns railway lines, the construction of which has after due consideration and careful inquiry, been sanelionod by this House, the said report has not sufficient foundation, and should be regarded as a mere expression of individual opinion hastily formed, without any special knowledge or experience on the subject; that it would, therefore, bo unwise and highly detrimental to the best interests of the colony for the Government to shape its public works policy upon tho opinions and recommendations embodied in the said report.” THE WAKA MAOBI CASK. The repoit of the Public Accounts Committee was tabled re payment of £BOO in the “ Wttka Maori ” case. It was that tho amount should be charged to unauthorised expenditure. Sir G. Gbby moved that the report be taken into consideration to-morrow. Ho argued that this was only fair to the members of the Government in office when the payment was made. Iho Hon. J. Hall hoped that tho report would not bo taken into consideration at this late period of the session. The report could very well remain over until next session. Sir G. Gbby replied that ha had been placed so to speak upon his trial, and that by a very unfairly constituted committee, and he thought it only fair to him and his colleagues that the report should be discussed. Tho motion that the report be considered to-morrow was put and lost. Sir G. Gbby then gave notice that on going into Committee of Supply, ho would move that this report be considered. THE GOTBBHOB. The Hon. J. Hall announced that ho had received a communication from tho Governor, stating that he had received an effer from Her Majesty’s Government asking him to undertake tho Governorship of Cape Colony. The offer had been made in such terms as had induced him to accept it. Her Majesty's Government was anxious that His Excellency should leave New Zealand at tho end of this or the beginning of next month. Ho was sure that the announcement would be received by the House as it was by the general public, with regret. Sir Arthur Gordon, the present Governor of Fiji, would succeed Sir Hercules Robinson as Governor of New Zealand. CONVEBBION OB STOCK, The Hon. Major Atkinson moved that thin House will to-morrow resolve itself into committee to consider tho folio wing;resolutions : 1. “That this House approves of the proposal made by the Government for the remuneration of the agents in London under the Now Zealand Consolidated Stock Act, 1877, such remuneration being one - twelfth of one per cent, upon the amount of atook inscribed in accordance with the provisions of the Act; provided that the amount to be received by any one of the agents during any year shall not exceed £2OOO. (2) That such remuneration shall not apply to the inscription of such debentures of the five million loan of 1879 a< may be effected on the terms and within the time prescribed in the prospectus for the said loan, but that this House will approve of reasonable payments being made to any of the agents for services connected with such inscription of the debentures of tho five million loan that may have to bo performed by them prior to the Ist of April, 1881.” The motion was carried. ministebial statement.

The Hon. J. Hall moved that unless otherwise ordered this House do sit on Fridays and Mondays at 11 a m. during the remainder offthe session ; that on those days Select Committees have leave to sit during the sitting of the House.” In accordance with a promise he made last week he should now state to the House the business proposed to be gone on with and that which they proposed should be dropped. Hitherto the progress of business had not been as satisfactory as they could have wished. Ho was not prepared to say what was the reason of this, whether it arose from the peculiar state of parties, or the tendency of members to talk at great length. Be that as it may, the fact nevertheless remained that the progress made had not been altogether satisfactory. The period of the session had now arrived when, in order to secure the passing of Bills which were absolutely indispensable, they must make up their minds to sacrifice the leas important measures. Government had very carefully considered the question, and had separated the Bills on the paper into four class's. The fourth class included the Town District Bill, Fisheries Bill, Education Reserves Amendment Bill, Public Entertainments Prohibition Bill, Cemeteries Bill, New Zealand University Reserves Bill, Canterbury Rivers Act Amendment Bill, Auctioneers Bill, Fire and Marine Companies Bill, Gaming and Lotteries Bill, Hawkers and Pedlars Bill, Peace Preservation Bill. These twelve Bills would have to be victims. It would bo his painful duty to move, in due course, that they be discharged from the Order Paper. He would part with them with much regret, as most of them wore looked for by the country. He hoped, however, that he would renew acquaintance with them at as early date as possible. It was proposed to deal with the following at the morning sittings : —Counties Act Amendment Bill, High JSchool Reserves Bill, Joint Stock Companies Act, 1860, Amendment Bill, Dogs Registration Bill, Brands and Branding Bill, Fencing Bill, Impounding Bill, Thames Water Supply Transfer Bill, Rabbit Nuisance Bill. One or two of these were already almost through, and there would not be much difference of opinion about them. As to the others in the class, it there was any serious opposition. Government would be compelled to postpone thorn. The next class of Bills, which the Government called desirable Bills, included some of the Native Bills, the Licensing Bill, Representation Bill, Regulation of Local Elections Bill, and the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill. The course taken with these would depend upon what was done with the next class. The Licensing Bill he looked upon as a very useful measure, but he could make no promises regarding it. With regard to the Representation Bill ho had heard many members expressing their opinion that it was undesirable to proceed with it this session. That, however, was not his opinion. For many reasons ho thought it very desirable that that Bill should be passed this session. Government were anxious that this should be done, but it would depend entirely upon the House whether it was passed or not. He would take the earliest opportunity of moving the second reading, and then it would bo seen whether it would bo necessary to drop it. Upon this would depend the passing of the Regulation of Elections and Corrupt Practices Bills, as if the Representation Bill was not passed this session, then the other two would have to be postponed till next session. With regard to the Native Bills, which included the following:—Native Land Court Bill, Native Land Frauds Prevention Bill, Native Succession Bill, Native Land Sales Bill, Native Lands Contracts Act Validation Bill, Native Land Stamp Duties Bill, Waikato Confiscated Land Bill, Miscellaneous Native Claims Bill, Native Reserves Bill—the Government could scarcely hope that the whole would become law this season. The Native Land Courts Bill had mot with great favor, and doubtless would pass into law, and it was hoped that the Native Lands Frauds Prevention, the Native Succession, and Confiscated l ands Bills, would pass also. As to the Native Land Sales Bill, it would be considered when Sir G. Grey placed his amendments about placing lands under trustees upon the supplementary order paper. The next class comprised Bills which were absolutely essential to financial measures for placing the finances of the country upon a sound footing These must be dealt with this session. They were the Property Assessment Act Amendment Bill, Beer Duty Bill, Deceased Persons’ Estates Duties Bill, Local Public Works Bill, and the Rating Act, 1876, Amendment Bill. Members, he thought, would admit that Government had made a considerable sacrifice, and they hoped that they would be met by a sacrifice on the part of members, and he would

therefore propose the motion standing in his name.

Mr Macandrbw said that the want of progress alluded to was in a great measure due to the want of system on the part of the Government in tho manner in which they had brought on the business, and not to any overindulgence in talk by hon. members. The motion was then put and carried. DUPLICATE CABLE. The Hon. J. Hall, in Committee, moved—- “ That this House approves of the arrangement tmado by telegram dated 31st May, 1879) for the Government of New Zealand joining in the scheme for duplicating the telegraph cable from Port Darwin upon the conditions set forth in a memorandum of agreement between tho Governments of Now South Wales and Victoria and Colonel Glover on behalf of the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company, dated 4th December, 1878.” The motion was negatived on the voices. miscellaneous. On tho motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Sheimski called attention to the small amount of public money which had been spent in his district as compared with other districts of less importance. Timaru had £IO,IOO, Invercargill £3458, W imate £3013, and Oamaruonly £317 for public buildings. Ho had waited on tho Minister for Public Works in reference to the inadequate reilway station accommodation and he promised that the matter would be attended to, but this was not done. Mr Ireland called attention to the promise made by the Hon. R. Oliver re the extension of the Waipahi railway linos. The Hon. R. Olitee said that if the residents of tho district wore still agreeable to become responsible for tho advance of tho money, Government would bo prepared to make an arrangement for the extension. Mr Jones also spoke of tho injustice done to Oamaru. Mr Hamlin directed attention to the injustice proposed to be done to his district. Mr Pike said that it was a notorious fact that unless members voted with the Government they could got the Government to do nothing for their districts. He had himself been told that if he went up to tho Ministers’ room his views might be met. Ho knew what that meant, and did not go. Mr fIuBBTHOUBB differed with tho remarks made by tho last speaker. He had voted with the Government for years, and yet he found that his district was treated in the most cavalier manner. The Hon. R, Olitee replied, his remarks being interrupted by the 5 30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Moss moved—“ That in order to enable the Legislature to make provision for the reestablishment of a system of local Government suited to the circumstances of the colony, and founded upon tho well ascertained wishes and opinions of the people, it is expedient that a conference of delegates to be chosen by the registered electors of the several provincial districts should bo held prior to the next session of Parliament, such conference to consist of thirteen members, two of whom shall be chosen by each of the provincial districts of Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, and one from each of the other provincial districts ; that a respectful address be presented to the Governor, asking that he may be pleased to take the necessary steps to give effect to the foregoing resolution.” He said that the difficulties of their situation as regards finance arose in a great measure from mixing up of local and general finance. At present they had a number of local institutions whose finances were disarranged, and otherwise these local institutions wore wholly inadequate to the work imposed on them. Then again they found general discontent prevailing all round. These facts all tended to show that they were not attending properly to tho business of the country. To do tho work properly they would have to sit for six or eight months, and unless they were prepared to do that they muet throw a large portion of the work on the local bodies. Mr Macandbbw was very sorry that no response had been made by tho Government. He would suggest that the motion bo pressed to a division at once.

Sir Q-. Gbky complained that through the whole session the utmost deadness and indifference had been shown by the Government to the business before the House. That was the case just now, despite the importance of the question. They could get provincialism. That system of Government was good enough in one way, but still it had its evils, and was one of those evils which occasioned delay in getting on with work. Provincialism had created a host of provincial orators, parochial statesmen, and these gentlemen came into the House and brought all their loquacity along with them ; hence the difficulty that arose in getting on with the work. What they required was to set about improving local institutions. As they were to do that, the first step to be taken was to define the functions of the central Government, and likewise the duties of local bodies. The Hon. E. Sichaedson alluded to the report of the Civil Service Commission re the South Island railway management. The report recommended the dismissal of the South Island Commissioner. He thought that the House had a right to know from the Government what they proposed doing in reference to that recommendation. He reviewed the general railway management most unfavorably, and thought that the Government should inform them when and how it intended to effect reform so as to put the railways on a proper commercial basis. A uniform rate of freight was absurd when the cost of traffic differed so greatly. He thought that many works chargeable to current revenue were charged to construction, and proper economy would never be exercised while capital was drawn on for maintenance. Ho instanced works now goiugoninTimaru. The list of accidents attached to the statement was not a full one, and proper inquiry was not held into such occurrences. He knew of one instance where the Railway authorities, to shield themselves, had hoodwinked the coroner’s jury. He regretted that the reports of the various officers in charge of sections were not attached to the statement, as used to bo the case. These would have been especially valuable this year, as in face of the evidence before the Royi 1 Commission it was impossible to attach much weight to many of the Commissioner’s statements. They had a sample of the practice of the latter, in the figures given by him regarding the respective cost of the Christchurch and Dunedin stations. These figures had been deliberately altered by the Commissioner. He knew the gravity of the charge he was making, but this was only one of many instances. He condemned the system of having duplicate workshops in Dunedin and Christchurch as involving great waste of money. He then reviewed a number of anomalies in the rates of pay, &0., as given in the es(imates. Re-organisation was wanted, hut over-rod net ions might bo the reverse of advantageous. He thought a great mistake had been made in separating the administration of the North and Middle Island Railways Mr Stevtabt referred to the Civil Service Commission, and contended that the charges made against the South Island Railway Commissioner were most unfair, and betrayed the partiality of an advocate rather than the impartiality of a judge. Then, again, Mr Blair had been charged with untrulhfulneas, whereas every one who knew Mr Blair knew t) at he was a man incapable of untruthfulness. The remarks made by the member for Cheviot about Mr Blair wore most unfair, and ought to bo withdrawn. Mr Seddon argued that it was very necessary that more consideration should be given to the goldfields in the public works estimates.

Mr Saundebs said he was most anxious all along to have the report discussed. On the previous occasion when he introduced the subject he gave every opportunity for having the matter discussed, but not a single word was said on the subject. He could only come to the conclusion that Mr Stewart had not had his retainer for the defence. That being objected to, then he would modify his language by stating that a legal gentleman of this House had a way of gaining information which was not available on the previous occasion. If that, too, was objected to, then he would state that he did not believe Mr Stewart was actuated by any improper motive in the part he had taken. Ho would say in reference to the member for Port Chalmers that despite the fact that ho had imputed improper motives to Mm as Chairman of the Commission, ha had to remind the Hous" that that hon. gentleman had dipped his hand in the public purse and given £SOO to the gentleman he now wished to defend. He had in his capacity as Commissioner t een actuated by nothing but a detire to elicit the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. They thought it their duty to

use_ their own eyes and ears in obtaining their information, and that was more serviceable to them than the evidence recorded by shorthand writers. He denied the assertion that the officers bad had no opportunity for defending themselves. In dealing with the matter the Commission did not study individuals. All they had to do was to discharge the 'duty devolving upon them. The report of Mr Blair showed that these wretched waggons had been built in the workshops, under the supervision of highly-paid officers, and that of itself made things worse than report imputed to them. There was no evidence of personal statements in the report. The member for Port Chalmers was no doubt to blame for many of the irregularities complained of. At no time was mismanagement so gross, and the waste so complete, as when the railways were under the management of the member for Port Chalmers. But they were not there to investigate into his conduct, so the report deals in generalities. After quoting from the report he asked, was it intended to convey the truth, or was it intended to mislead the House, A more intentional, deliberate, and successful misrepresentation of facts was never written than the documents penned by Mr Blair, a highly paid official. It was just as they expected ; the one department throws the blame on the other. Had they known that these waggons were built under the superintendence of their own officers, instead of being built by contract, the Commission would have felt that they were dealing with a more serious offence than they did. If the member for Port Chalmers wished to bring up this matter in the interest of his friends, he can have it done at any time. In the Public Works Statement ho did expect that there would have been some well defined statement of how they were going to tide over the next three years with the small balance they had to deal with. He did expect that the Commissioners’ report would have had more consideration. The only way to effect proper retrenchment would bo to dismiss a large number of highly-paid servants, and reduce the salaries of those remaining. Ho saw a way for working the lines muio efficiently than at present, and yet saving £170,500. Ho saw his way to save £SOOO on useless officers, £ISOO in extravagancies in the workshops, £25,000 in the mode of obtaining stores, £105,000 salaries, paid to forty engineers who did more harm than good, and £52,000 reductions at the rate of 12 per cent, on salaries. It was a gross injustice to the poor tax payer to attempt to keep up an artificial state of wages, as was attempted to be done. As long as the Governxnent kept wages at their present artificial rate they would have to continue to import their machinery as they were doing at present. The Minister for Public Works appeared to think that they had nothing to do but to increase the railway tariff to put things right, but he argued that the traffic returns would fall off. The proposal was an injustice to those persona who had been induced to go out and cultivate land they would not have done but ‘for the prospect of cheap traffic. He, therefore, hoped that the Government would look about and reduce the cost of the railways instead of increasing the cost of traffic. What they had to do was to drive tbe drones out of the hive, dismiss the forty j engineers and other unnecessary labor which was dragging them down to the very ground. If they were to take their proper position as a colony they must give up the idea of further borrowing and practice economy and thrift. He mentioned that fact because he saw that the Minister in his statement spoke of the time when they would be enabled once more to go into the borrowing market. In the interests of working men he appealed to the Government to no longer bolster up matters by reckless borrowing. Mr Shbim6ki thought that on Mr Saunders’ own showing the Civil Service Commission had acted the part of private detectives. Mr George criticised the report of the Railway Commissioners, and denied that they had either visited the proposed routes or taken evidence in the district. In regard to the north of Auckland railway, the only evidence they took was that of the engineer, whose evidence was directly opposed to their report. He urged that this line should be proceeded with, as a small instalment of justice to the North,

Captain Coibbck also urged the claims of North Auckland to railway communication. He characterised the report of the Railway Commissioners as utterly devoid of common sense. If it was a specimen of the work of Royal Commissions, then Heaven save the country from Royal Commissions. The debate was adjourned, and the House rose at 1 o’clock.