GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2560, 22 June 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

|?BB PBBSS ABIOOIATIOR.J LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, June 21. BILLS. The Trades Marks Bill and the Waikato Nativo Boserves Bill were road a first time, and the Friendly Societies Bill a third time. The Auckland Harbor Board Bill (Mr Williamson) was read a seoond time, without debate. BBTUBNS. On the motion of the Hon. Dr. Mbnzies, a return was ordered of the number of sheep, amount of sheep assessment, amount of fineß under the Sheep Act, and the number of sheop inspectors and their salaries for the paot year. WEST COAST MACK PBBSBBVATION BILL. The debate on the West Coast Peace Preservation Bill was resumed. The Hon. Captain Frascr and the Hon. P. A. Buckley opposed it, and the Hon. Dr. Pollen and the Hon. Mr Peacock supported it. Ultimately the seoond reading was carried, on a division, by 26 votes to 3, the dissentients being the Hon. Mr Mantel 1, Hon. Captain Fiaßer, and Hon. Mr P. A. Buokley. INDEMNITY BILL. i. IThe second roading of the Indemnity Bill was then carried without discussion, and the House rose at a quarter to five. ROUSE OF EEPHE3KNTATIVES. Wednesday, June 21. The House mot at 2.30. NEW MBMBEB. Mr Ivess, the newly-eleoted member for We.kanui, was introduced by Mr Montgomery and Mr Whito, and took his seat. SECOND BEADING. The Thorndon Reclamation Bill was read a second time. NOTICE. Mr O'OallAGHan gave notico that ho would a»k if facilities for railway travelling would be given on Wednesdays, the same as on Saturdays, by moans of the ioaue of return tiokets. QUESTIONS. Koplying to Mr ivlaoandrew, The Hon. Mr Dick said the Government were aware tbat Mr J. Forsyth, of the Publio Works Department, Otago, had invented a method of destroying rabbits, for whioh great merits were claimed. Mr Forsyth would be transferred to tlio Babbit Department for two months, and afforded every facility for thoroughly testing the value of his invention. Beplying to Mr Cadman, The Hon. Major Atkinson said Govern ment did not intend to provide for members going bofore their constituents on taking office. NEW BILLS. The following Bilis were introduced and read a first time : Bluff Harbor Waterworks (Mr Joyoo). Eduoation Distriots Bill (Mr Dick). LBATB OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence for ten days was granted to Mr Mitchehon and Mr Taiaroa. motion. Following motion carried:—(Mr Tole) Beturn of lioenaed pawnbrokers in the colony. VISIT TO THB EXHIBITION. Mr Shbimski moved that the adjournment of the House for the purpose of visiting Ohriatohurch Exhibition bo from Friday, the 30th June, to Wednesday, the sth July." The Hon. Major Atkinson moved as an amendment the addition of the words " and Wodnesday evening be devoted to Government business." After some discussion, Sir John Hall understood that a programme for the entertainment of members in Ohriatohurch had been received, and asked that it should be read.

Tho proposal was negatived on the voioes. Sir Gbobqe Gbei objeoted to the Government depriving private members of one of their days. He suggested that they should fix a sitting for Monday in lieu of tho day that would bo loßt.

The House divided on the amendment. Ayes, 52 ; noes, 20. After further dieoussion, Mr ToiE moved, as a further amendment, " That the House sit on Monday, 10th July, at 7.30 p.m., for the purpose of taking up private members' business." Mr Sbddon protested against the whole arrangement, stating that tbe House and oountry had been made to dance to the tune of two rtere adventurers, Messrs Twopony and Joubert, and he would be no party to it. The amendment was carried on the voioe?, and the motion as amended was agreed to. BORuOWING. Mr Baebon movod, " That any proposal for tho increase of the public debt of tho colony by further borrowing should be submitted to electors, and receive tho approval of three-fifths of their number before boing finally Banolioned by the legislature." He dwelt on the temptation borrowed money afforded to members to sanotion fresh loans, whon more mature refleotion would show that tho polioy was altogether bad. The prinoiple he advocated was already in force in regard to municipal loans. Mr Hubsthouse supported the motion. Ho had all along been of opinion that it would be most reprehensible to add to tho debt of the colony. He was satisfied that many of tbe railway works proposed to be bo undertaken would not pay 2£ per cent, for many years, ar.d such being the caso, he would not bo doing bio duty if he did not resist further borrowing. All the Nelson members had been returned on the distinct understanding that they would disoountenaaca further loan proposals. Ho bnlievod it would be an evil day for New Zsaland when she undertook to complete many of the main trunk lines. Again fresh loans would be bound to give rise to the initiation of other works which would bo equally unsatisfactory. Mr Febgtjs thought that the subject ought to bo delayed unt;l tho public works statement was before them. Up to the present time loans had been borrowed ;on the authority of Parliament If they now went to the country, it would follow that districts well provided for would vote against fresh loans, and tbe other districts would go in favor of them. In all tho provisoes there wore railway works which could nover bo mads to pay until a more complete system had been carried out. It Wfis only last year Mr Barron spoko in favor of borroKing to go on with the Otago central lino, and now ho was opposed to it. Referring to the looal bodies, he had hoped to see a measure introduced to facilitate their borrowing for onrrying on their necessary works. Ho also controverted tho opinion that lines to bo completed would not pay more tban 2£ per cent. The majority of them he know would yield far moro—as much as 5 per cent, or more—direotly and indirectly. The motion had a, most selfish aim, and would tend to retard tho progress of sp.trsely popubitfd districts. Mr Moss*spoke in support of tho motion. It was only right that the perßons who hsd to defray the cost should have a voice in the policy of contracting tho debt. Sir Gbobgb Gkey supported the motion, admitting that it had been brought forward rather lote in the day. Still it was the right thing to do, and tho sooner it was done tho better.

Mr Smith thought it was a mistake th»t the districts to which publio works had been given should not have been called upon to make good any deficiency in the ourrett expenditure. In other respects ho apoko in favor of the resolution.

Mr Sutton opposed the motion. It would bo utterly impossible to get three-fifths of tho elootorp, as proposed in the motion, to vote nt all, oithsr one way or other. Then again, it would create all the trouble, diffi onlty and delay incidental to a go::oral election, and the result would be that before tho voice of the eleotors could bo made known Parliament would bo out of session, ar.d before a row sestion was held the conditions might bo altogether altered. Mr HOBBB contended that the question of a freah loan had been affirmed by the late eleotion. H) would support one if his district got a fair share of it. He would, therefore vo l e against the motion. The Hon. Major Atkinson said that if a question of this kind was to be relegated to the electors, then it would virtually affirm tho principle that not only this, but every other question, should be so relegated to the elcotors for permission to act. A prinoiplo of that kind ought to havo been preceded , by a distinct showing that the time had come when representative institutions should be abrogated altogether. It was true that a reference of this kind was made in the oase ) of local bodies, but the oases were not analogous. Ih.e members of these bodies were only

delegated, whereas the memb6ri of this Home were in every sense of the word representatives. The motion struck at the very foundation of their representative institution!. He objected to have tuoh a blow atruok in regard to a third-rate question like that of borrowing.

Mr Babbon denied that this was a thirdrate question. It was one of vital importance, affeoting as it did their peouniary position. L would be best to get the question disoussed apart from the strong passions excited in regard to a no-confidence motion. He admitted there were lines which ought to bs finished—the Waikato-Taranaki through line, for example. Lines like that one would be provided for out of the lands through which they would be made to pass. As to the manner in which a vote of this kind should be taken, he said that it could be submitted is a separate question at the triennial elections, when the electors were called on to vote for the candidates.

The motion was put and negatived on a division.

Ayes, 25; noes, 44. TEOHNIOAL EDUOATION.

Mr Hutchison moved that the House resolve itself into a committee of the whole co oensider an address to the Governor, praying he will recommend for appropriation this year the sum of £IOOO, to be divided among the Education Boards of the oolony, for the purpose of encouraging technical eduoation by means of night schools or otherwise, and for the establishment and enoouragement of female classes for sewing and oookery. Mr Shephebd considered the vote ajked inadequate. At the same time, ho thought the policy of encouraging night schools a laudable one.

Mr M. W. Gbebn spoke in favor of the proposal so far as it referred to the establishment of night eohools, expressing an opinion that the sum asked for should be at least double.

The Hon. Mr Dick admitted that the motion was one in the right direction. If they found that night sohoole were taken advantage of, then thoy oould next year ask for a larger sum. In Dunedin the Caledonian Society had established lehools of this kind, which were largely taken advantage of. He saw one difficulty, and that was the eight hours' movement. Teaohers who had been employed all day oould not be considered in a fit state to teach these classes at night, and outside the ordinary teaohing staff he did not know where proper teaohers were to be got. That was a question whioh might bo considered more fully hereafter. Mr Lbtbstam considered that the ompuloory clauses of the Aot should be enforced, and in that case children's education would be provided for without the neoessity for night schools. The colony paid half a million of money for primary education, and they should Bee it was taken full advantage of. The motion was put and oarried on the voices. LIGHTING PABLIAMBNTABY BUILDINGB. Mr Kelly resumed the debate on the question that the House was of opinion that the Government should, during the recess oause enquires to bo made by oompetent persons as to whethor tho Parliamentary buildiogs oould, with advantage, be lighted with electricity. Mr Johnston supported the motion, which was put and carried. Tho House adjourned at 5 30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. GOLD DUTY ABOLITION BILL. Mr Sbddon moved the second reading of tho Gold Duties Abolition Bill. He argued at some length that the miners were a most desirable class of colonists. The duty represented at least 2\ per oent. upon their moneys. If every other olass of the community was similarly heavily weighted they oould dispense altogether with the oustoms duties.

The Hon. Mr Kollkston said tho subject had come before the House year after year. The impression oreated was that the goldfield members wore not in earnest, but such was not the oaso with regard to the mover of this motion, although many of bis arguments were not by any means either favorable or effective. It bad boon argued that the duty and the miners' right created an unfair tax. This duty was not properly a tax, it was a fair payment for a service rendered. The deferred payment settlers' annual payment was not a tax, it was a fair payment for tbe land they received. The same was the case with the goldminer and the sawmiller. For facility of collection the impost was a most convenient one. If it were taken off it would rest with the Government to Had other moans for local government purposes. Private water races on the goldfields represented £BOO,OOO, and the machinery about £400.000. To meet local requirements a very heavy tax would have to be levied to raise an income from either of theie souroea. Ho could see no advantage that could possibly compensate for the removal of this duly and the imposition of some other imporc. He denied a statement made and reiterated that a large proportion of the industrial population had lately left the colony. The preponderance was in favor of immigration. A few parties had left belonging to tbe floating population, but the disposition manifested by these parties was to relieve end bring along with them the fruit of these contraots. They had gone away to other places to work. The looal bodies would he knew view a proposal of this kind with the greatest possible alarm. He would not be slow to see that justice was dono to the mining districts, as witness the efforts being made by tbe Government in that direction. He hoped members would pause before taking any steps to disturb seriously the financial arrangements of the local bodies. Mr SnEEHAN had convinced himself that this was an arbitrary and unjust impost. As regarded the plea of compensation for the uae of tho land, he disposed of that by saying that the mining was now almost exclusively confined to land otherwise worthless. He had to face the fact that the abolition of this duty would leave certain local bodies almost destitute. Efforts were now being made to make some kind of provision for them, and until that was done he suggested that the Bill ahonld not be pressed. Ho suggested for that purposo a delay of one week. The Bill of laßt session oontained a permissive olaueo, and if this Bill wbs insisted on at present he would ask the House to assist bim iri getting a similar clause put into this Bill. He had no faith in the generosity of the Government in making provision for the loss of the revenue. He would therefore hesitate in giving the Bill as it stood his unqualified support. He moved, in no hostile spirit to tho Bill, that tbe dobato be adjourned for a week.

Mr Wbston supported the amendment. The miners were quite unanimous on the Wcßt that this was an unfair impost. The arrangement was that other means be found for making their roads without dipping their hand too deeply into tho pockets of this c's:s, as wasjthe case under the present impost. The miners got no permanent benefit from the road, for when their olaims wero wrought out they had to leave tho place, and the roads were left to be used by another clacs different altogether from the class thus heavily taxed for maintaining them. That was far from being either fair or just. In whatever way they viewed the question its unfairness thrust itself upon their minds. They had been told of the value of water races. That, he oontended, was a tax of itself. When the gold wob extraoted from the ground these races became- simply useless. The mining enterprise, he contended, had been too long neglected. The Minister of Mines had nevor visited them until recent years. He hoped the Government would see its way to deal moro fairly with tho miners. It was not for the goldflelds members to propose a policy to the Government, they ought to be prepared to recognise the situation, and to put forward a polioy that would moot all the exigencies of thn oase. The industry was a most precarious one, and it was most unfair that a heavy tax should be imposed after the poor miner had struggled into something like gcod fortune. In many instances these men were weighted with debts inourred during the days of their nonsueoess. Mr Munbo opposed the adjournment and supported the motion. He oombat.ted the local government view of the question, and argued that the miner was most unfairly taxed. Mr Fbbqub said tha* Parliament had broken faith with the miners in not subsidising goldflold revenue £ for £, the same as other revenue. He reiterated that the miners were making roads which should eventually be of sorvice in the settlement of the oountry. Ho thought that the proposal for a week's adjournment was reasonable, but unless the amendment was accepted by the movor of the motion, he would go with him to a division.

Captain MoKenzik claimed to be in part a goldfields representative. He argued that while this had been called a local tax, unlike other local taxation it was not a voluntary one. They had no roioo in the making of the

tax, at was the caae in the eleotion of local bodiei. The miner* had to pay gold duty whether they liked it or not. He deprecated the duty, and arged that the question should be put at onoe to the rote. Mr Pbtbib asked that the Government should take over the main arterial roads on the West Coast. He suggested that as a substitute. Sir G. Gbky reprobated a statement by Mr Eolleston that on previous occasions the goldflelds members had not been sincere in their endeavor. He denied there was any truth in the assertion, and in proof of whioh he reminded them that the Bill had been paised in that House. Mr Eolleston did not understand the question. Deferred payment settlers were mentioned, those men purchased the freehold. If he had to pay a duty like the miner, the time would come when he would be bound to throw up hia holding. In the same way this duty was bound to olue up a certain cla«s of miners. He would, as he always had done, support the motion. . Mr FiTzO-BEAtD supported the motion. He was a supporter of the Govawment, still he was forced on this occasion to'vote against them. He complained that the Government had all along failed to give him satisfaction on this point, although he had frequently asked for it. Mr Pykb said that a conference of the goldflelds members had been held to frame a policy, which they had done, and whioh was now before the Government. This was only a portion of the policy they had enunciated. He would ask the mover of the amendment to withdraw it, and allow the Bill to be read a second time. It could then be made, as in reality it was, part of the aforesaid policy. Mr Siibbhan slid that he had an assuranoe that sufficient time would be given before the ooramittal of the Bill to allow of the goldfields members maturing their plans, and would therefore withdraw the amendment. The Hon. Mr Bbycb said that sufficient had transpired to show that there were no moans outside this duty to provide for looal works. Members should therefore understand that if they abolished this duty the oolony would have to provide what other distriots now provided for themselves. Mr Sbddkn replied, saying that the goldfields were prepared to face the question of local revenues. The motion was oarried on the voices. GOLDVIELDS BEVBNUB BILL. On the application of Mr Dk Lautoub, the Central Otago Goldflelds Bevenue Bill was withdrawn. EMPLOYMENT 01 JBMALBS. Mr M.W. Gbebn moved the seoond reading of the Employment of Females Act Amendment Bill. The motion was carried. ELECTION Or SCHOOL COMMITTBEB. Mr StbwAbd moved the seoond reading of the Sohool Committees Election Bill. Mr Pbaoook and Mr Hutchison supported the Bill. Mr Munbo defended the cumulative vote, but otherwise supported the Bill. Mr Connolly and Mr Watt supported the Bill as printed. The Hon. Mr Dick approved of the provisions of the Bill as to the date for eleotion. He agreed that the cumulative vote was objectionable, and ought to be abolished. He would like to have seen the absence from three consecutive meetings declared a disqualification. He would support the Bill, but asked that it should be adjourned, to enable members to give their opinions on its provisions. Mr Butherford, Mr Fulton Mr Smith, Mr William Green and Mr Dodson supported the Bill. The motion was put, and oarried on the voices. The House rose at 12.50.