GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2034, 31 August 1880, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

£PBB PBBSB ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WIBB.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, Axrar/ST3O. In the Legislative Council to-day, at tho afternoon sitting, a list of tho Bills which had received the Royal assent was read, and tho Property Assessment Bill was passed through all its stngeg. An amendmont proposed by the Governor in the Public Works'Bill re works at Dunedin was agreed to, and the Council adjourned till 4 30. On resuming, no business was read, and the Council adjourned till next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, At/gust 30. Tho House met at 11 a.m. THE SUBSIDIES. An amendment was made to tho Financial Arrangements Act, by message from the Governor, to tho effect that the 20 per cent. of land fund should be payable to local bodies to August Ist, 1880, instead of April lßt, 1880, as originally proposed. The Hon. J. Ham. said that this alteration was mads in accordance with what he understood was the general desire of the members of the House. The amendment was agreed to. PUBLIC WOBKB BILL. . An amendment was proposed to'the Public Works Bill, providing for the reclamation of certain lands at the head of Dunedin Harbor. Mr Stewart objected that this was not a fair mode of legislation. The same point was brought on some months ago and withdrawn. Now when a number of members interested had gone away the matter was again revived by message i from the Governor. It was a surprise, and ono which he characterised as being most unfair to tho House. The Hon. R. Olives, replied that the statement just made was incorrect. The amendment now proposed had not been withdrawn. The objection to the proposal now before the House originated with the Borough of Caversham, and was a most unreasonable one. It looked as if the hon. member was more disposed to represent tho wishes of Caversham than those of Dunedin.

Mr Babbon said that the proposal involved the removal of a chain of sandhills from the Ocean Beach, whioh was objected to by the Borough of South Dunedin, as well as St. Kilda Borough. He strongly objected to the proposal being brought forward in a thin House, after the body of members had gone and the Government had the House, which was chiefly represented by its supporters. If carried out, the proposal would be practically ignoring tho opinion of six or eight engineers. Mr Macandbetv thought that it would be a bad precedent to insist on this provision after members had gone away. The Hon. R. Olitbb replied that oare would be taken not to remove Bind opposite these municipalities. Altogether the process of removal would be yery carof ully watched, and not a single yard of it would be taken away to the prejudice of those places. He had positive information that if this sand waß not removed it would entail a loss of £60,000 to the colony. Mr Kelly proposed a further amendment in the clause, to tho effect that any damage occasioned by the tramway on the streets for the removal of these sandhills should be made good by tho Government. Mr .Babeo.n- said that the inhabitants of the municipalities complaining against the removal folt so Btrougly on the point that they had a spirit of riot, and if the sandhills were removed, ho would not answor for the consequences. The amendment to the clause was agreed to on tho voices, and the clause as amended was carried.

AFTERNOON SITTING. The House re-aaaembled at 2 30. QUESTIONS. Replying to the Hon. G. McLuan, The Hon. W. Romestow said that during the recess Government would consider the whole question of causing a Bankruptcy Bill to bo prepared and circulated before next session of Parliament, in which the various suggestions made by the joint committee on bankruptcy shall be incorporated, together with any other changes in the existing law which may commend themselves to the GoTernment. Replying to Mr Brown, The Hon. J. Haij. said the Government would consider the propriety of subsidising at the rate of £1 for £1 any contribution not exceeding £250 towards the re-erection of the Tuapeka Mouth bridge, thereby giving access to 6600 acres of Crown land situated at Waitahuna West, enhancing its value and encouraging eattlement thereon. In the meantime, however, Government saw no reason for dealing with ■ this matter exceptionally as the question clearly proposed. Replying to Mr George, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that it was unnecessary to amend the Counties Act of 1876 in the direction of allowing any of the counties where the Act was at present in foroe to suspend the said Act. If the majority of ratepayers in any county desire to do so, tho Act as it stood made provision for such suspension, allowing the duties of the Council to be delegated to the Road Boards. Replying to Mr Speight, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that if it would not interfere with the revenue Government would consider the propriety of rearranging the Customs regulations, so as to oause the weight of the smallest legal package of tobacco which can be taken out of bond to be reduced from 60lbs to 301bs, so as to meet the requirements of Btnall tobacco dealers. Suoh arrangements to inolude the reduotion of a legal paokage of cigars to 251b8, or 2500 cigars. Replying to Mr Murray, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that Government would consider during the recess, , and most probably would deal with the question next session, so as give effect to tho

recommendation of the agricultural committee, that excepting importations from EVji the same, duty should bo imposed upon imported ma.zo as is imposed upon other imported grain. NOTICHB OF MOTIOH. Sir G. Gbby gave notice that he would move early next session—" That the Government, having acquired an interest in any block of land in Auckland, it should beoome Crown land, so that the Government can only dispose of the public interest, in it by allowing the public openly to compete for the same ; that adopting any course by which Buchinterest is disposed of secretly or privately gives great advantage to private individuals, and is contrary to law. To dispose of suoh lands otherwise than in the manner which permits of competition to every colonist is not only unlawful, but it is contrary to_ the publio policy and morals. It robs Natives, by preventing them from obtaining the greatest value for their kinds by open sale; it pre venta proper settlement of the lands, by placing great tracts of territory in possession of a few individuals; it creates a olass of great landed monopolists; iE they retain tho vast extent of land they have unlawfully acquired it gives them great political power over their fellow men which may lead to conturies of oppresfion and distress; if they dispose of it they make enormous and illgotton profits to the impoverishment of their fellow-colonists, who were justly entitled to tho vory sums they will bo required to pay the others. That the Government by entering into Buch arrangements as they propose in the case of the Patetere block, through whom members of this House acting as paid agents of an association, are corruptly bestowing an interest equivalent to a vast sum of money upon persons, some of. whom there is reason to believe have illegally dealt with publio lands. The Government ave thus, whilst betraying a public trust, imperilling the independence of this House. That suoh a proceeding is also unjust, inasmuch as being done under the authority of the Government it may induce innocont persons to invest in such lands, although it is probable from its unlawful nature that tho transactions will ultimately be set aside by Parliament."

Mr Bebtham gave notioe that early next session ho would move " That the previous Government be censured for the payment of a sum of £3OO to Mr Rees, as reported by the Public Accounts Committee." Mr Shbbhan said that the motion taoled by his colleague re the Patetere block was most unfair both to himself and another member of this House. He also objected to tho resolution just f abied by the member for the Wairarapa. Both of these motions reflected upon him, and on a Government of whioh he was a member. The Patetere block question had been relegated to a Select Committee, and the fact that the committee had not had time to report was no fault of his. Both resolutions were based on a misrepresentation, and the other hon. gentleman would be under the bane of these misrepresentations during the whole recess, and have no opportunity afforded for rebutting the same. He moved the adjournment of the House, in order that he might bo enabled to allude to tho question more fully. Sir G. Gbbt said that he had been prevented from bringing down his motion so as to be disposed of this session. He said that every word of tho resolution was correct. The circumstances of the caso wore those : A block of land was about to be handed over to European speculators to the prejudice of the Native owners and the colony. What he asked for was that the block should remain with the proclamation over it, as it was, until next sestiion, and he would be perfectly satisfied. The public had not yet been told what the precise nature of the arrangement was. If allowed to stand over, us he had requested, he would withdraw his notice of motion, otherwise ho could not do so. Messrs Tubnbtjll and MONTQOMEBr deprecated the bringing down of motions reflecting on members at the close of a session to be considered next session.

Sir W. Fox spoke in favor of the required assurance being given that the block would not be dealt with during the recess. He defended the right of members to bring down notices at the end of the session, to ba considered the following session.

Mr Whitakbe said that he was one of the members whose conduct was impugned by the resolution tabled by Sir G. Grey. He denied that he was in the slightest degree interested in the transaction. All ho had to do with it was that he had been professionUlyengagod in connection with the matter, but personally he had no further interest in the transaction. An allegation had been mode that the land was worth £600,000. That was not tho cobs. If it was worth a third of that it was its full value.

Mr Bbktham eaid that he objected altogather to the claaa of motions cow before the House. His object in tabling the motion he had, was that the member for the Thames (Sir George Grey) having been allowed to table the motion he did, something was necessary to be done on the other aid?. He was willing to withdraw his motion re the £3OO provided that the member for the Thames did the same thing. The Hon. J. Hui denied that members had not had an opportunity for bringing forward suoh resolutions long ngo. The papers were laid on the table on July Ist, and with the whole facte before them, any member could have had the subject brought up bofore the House long ago. His opinion was that the member for Thamee deßired to keep this matter bofore the public, and not bring it to an iosue. If the Government wore to agree to hang up the transaction, as had been asked, they would virtually be endorsing the opinion set forth in the resolution, viz., that this w.ib an ovidenoe of corruption on the part of the Government. Ho had gone as far towards satisfying the member for the Thames as he could possibly go. Mr Macandbew denied that £3OO had been paid by the late Government to Mr Bees. Tho money was paid to the Maori membor of tho Cabinet to be disbursed by him in a particular way. Replying to Mr Saunders, Mr Maoandbbw said that he did not deny that money had been paid by the Government for the defence of the Maori prisoners. Sir G. Gbey said that he would be satisfied with the assurance given by the Government that tho matter would be further considered. He would therefore withdraw his resolution. Mr Sheehan said that two matters had been brought before the Public Accounts Committee. One was tho £3OO paid to Mr Bees and the other the £2OOO paid on the West Coast land purchase. He was the person whose conduct was ohiefly impugned, and yet every other person but himself had been called upon to give ovidenoe Ho htd been tried in his absence and found guilty. Ho had not a chance of being present to see what was going on. If the Government would say that they would withhold all_ the proclamations then ho would not object. What ho objected to was that only the particular Patetere blocks should be withdrawn. They had been told that the Government intended withdrawing from all these land purchases, and such being the case no one could object to his acting professionally in the purchase of one of these blocks. The member for the Thames had not had a truer supporter than himself, and yet he brought forward a motion of this kind. He had been there two months, and yet during the session the member for the Thames had never given him the slightest intimation of his intentions in regard to these resolutions. His own friends had attempted to make him a scapegoat.'lo drive him forth in the wilderness, but they would not succeed. Ho wou'd have the whole thing ont, and then it would be shown that he had been sinned against more than sinning, and by hie own friends. In regard to this block he had only done what had been done by professional men all along. His connection with tho Patetere block was purely and simply of a business oharacter. When he commenced business in Waikato he wrote to the Native Minister that if he could assist in completing tho purchaso of those blocks his services were freely at the disposal of the Government. The reply was that tbey did not wish to complete the purchase. The senior member for the Thames had done him a great wrong un intentionally, but still a great wrong. The motion might have been brought forward long ago, and yot ho held back until nearly all the members had gone, when he brought it forward. The Governmen could not complete this sale, and was the North Island to be tied up on that account. Surely not. He regretted that the question had. been raised, but in justice to himself he could not avoid saying what he had t a : d. Mr Stbvehs, as Chairman of the Public Acoounts Committee, said that tho £2OCO maltor was in a position which would enable I Mr Shcohan to present himself as a witness at any time, and as regards the £3OO payment, his evidence on the point was taken last session.

Tho motion tabled by Sir G. Grey was then withdrawn. The Hon. J. Hai.li moved two resolutions, the first to provide for the payment of members' travelling expenses going to Parliament, and the second that no deduction be made from the honorarium of members who, as Royal Commissioners, were absent during a certain portion of (he session. The first resolution was agreed to. Mr Montgomery opposed the second, but it was ultimately carried. SECOND SHADING. The Hon. R. Ojlivbb moved the second reading of the Railways Construction Bill, 1880, to authorise the line from Hamilton to Cambridge. Mr Mubbay reprobated tho action of tho Government in bringing down tho Bill at this late period of the session, and concluded by moving the amendment on the Order Paper :—" That in the opinion of this House it is inexpedient to construct, branch railways at the sole cist of the colony, if there are not sufficient funds available to complete the main railways which are now partially constructed, and which promise a profitable return for the cost of completion, either directly by traffic, or by the enhancement of value ti public lands ; but for the construction of such branch railways as have recoired or may receive the sanction of Parliament, this Houbo is of opinion that Government may, from the publio lands or money appropriated by Parliament and available for the purpose, advance over half of tho actual cost of constructing such railways at a rate of interest on the value of such advance not being less than £5 per cent, per annum on tho security of such railways, and of a special rale as and in manner provided for the construction of district railways, Crown and Native lands being rateable."

Sir G. Geby also denounced the Government for having delayed the Bill to such a late period of the season. Membors who would undoubtedly have voted against the Bill had gone away, not thinking that it would bo brought on. He counselled the Government not to attempt going on with it. The debate was interrupted by the 630 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7 30. second beading. Mr Speight resumed the debate on the Railway Construction Bill, which he opposed. The Hon. R. Olives said that if membors would consent to read tho Bill a second time and with a view of bringing the session at once to a close, Government would not press it further this session. The motion for the second reading was then put and oarried, ayes, 25 ; noes, 17, and the Bill was read a second time. The Hon. R. Oliybb said that in accordance with the promise he bad made he did not intend proceeding with the Bill further. MISCELLANEOUS. The House wont into committee on the Permanent Officers Salaries Bill. The Bill provides that there shall be deducted from salaries fixed and payable uuder the Permanent Act of the Assembly 10 per cent, for each month, commencing with August, 1880, and ending with June, 1881. The Act does not apply to salaries fixed by the Governor's Salary and Allowance Act, 1873, or the Civil List Amendment Aot, 1873, or to the salaries of Judges of the Supreme Court, or to officers of both Houses of the General Assembly. The Bill was read a second time. In Committee, The Hon. E. Richabdson moved that the Chairman leave the chair, which was lost on division of 9 to 29. Mr Maoandbbw moved as an amendment that the clause be made to read without any exemption whatever. The motion was lost on a division of 18 to 19. The Hon. W. Gisbobne moved an amendment to make the reductions apply also to the Governor's salary. The amendment was lost by 19 to 11. The Bill was reported, road a third time, and passed. The Publio Works Appropriation Bill was introduced, read a first and second time, considered in committee, read a third time, and passed. The Appropriation Bill was also passed through all its stages. Mr Johnston desired to place on record a statement of the amount of money spent by the Roman Catholics of New Zealand on education, and the number of children attending their ochools. They represented oneseventh of the community, and they, naturally, felt very sore at the way they wore treated under the existing law. Mr J. O. BbowN complained that by the Representation Bill, two Taranaki districts, which did not together contain as many electors as his district, were to be given double representation. Mr Macandbew protested againßt the late hours to whioh the House had been forced to sit, and against money being votod at Buch hours.

Mr Montgomeby gave a number of reasons for considering the result of the session as exceedingly unsatisfactory. Messrs Bakron and Thomson criticised the work of the session at some length, the former stating that barren as the results had been, they would have been much more so but for the assistance given by the Opposition to pass the few measures that had gone through. The Hon. J. Hamd replied that there never was a session when discussion for tho sake of discussion was indulged in as the present. The secret of tho time being spent needlessly was that a more disorganised and disorderly set than the Opposition had never been known in that Honso. The Opposition itself repudiated everything like a leader, and oach man appeared to lead himself. The member for the Thames was one of those singular men who could not lead and would not follow. The Opposition hitd tried the member for tho Thames, the member for Port Chalmers, and as a last resource they had tried the member for Akaroa. During the recess it would be the endeavor of the Government to remodel the Representation Bill, and base it on the soundest possible principle that could be obtained. Thoy had adjusted the finance of the country —they had discussed the West Coast difficulty—and brought a number of other measures before tho country, the effoct of which would yet be felt in the legislation of the country. At 1 a.m. the House was called, when no quorum was reported. There being no quorum, the Speaker left the chair, but will resume at 2.30 p.m. to-day.