GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2613, 22 August 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM. 1 legiblaiiyF COUNCIL. Monday, August 21. BILLS. The Otago Harbor Board Bccinstitutional Bill (Mr Wilson); the To Aroha Streets and Buildings Bill (Mr Whitaker), and the Biplosives Bill (Mr diver), were read a first time. The following were read a third time and passed : —Bluff Harbor Foreshore Reclame•ion Bill, Dangerous Hoods Bill, Supreme Court Bill, and Law Amendment Bill. The Thorndon Reclamation Bill, Stamp Bill, and the Coroners Act, 1867, Amendment Bill, were received from the Lower House and read a first time. The rest of the afternoon was spent in further considering a number of Bills iu committee. The Connell adjourned at 5 p m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, August 21. The House met at 11 o’clock this morning. BILLS. The Tramways Bill was received from the Council and read a first time. The consideration of the Hokitika High School Bill, the Westland High School Bill, and Christchurch District Drainage Bill, which were opposed, was postponed. The House went into committee on the Napier High School Bill, the Portobello Road Board Enabling Bill, the North Timatn Cemetery Sale Bill, and the Gladstone Recreation Reserve Bill, each of which, with the exception of the Portobello Bill, was read the third time and passed. The third reading of the Portobello Bill was fixed for Thursday next. The question was a-ked as to whether the House ehould next proceed to the consideration of opposed local Bi Is, or whether these should be deferred till Thursday and the Orders of the day gone on with. The Acting-Speaker (Mr Hamlin) called on the Hokitika High School Bill, one of the opposed Bills. Mr Wynn Williams moved that progress be reported. After same discursion progress was reported, Mr Petris then briefly moved the second reading of the Westland High School Bill, Mr eeddon moved the adjournment of the debate till Thursday, which was carried, Mr Sbddon and Mr Holmes opposed the Rangiora Domain Board Empowering Bill, which was postponed till Thursday. Mr Pbaeson next moved the second reading of the Ohoka and Byraton Domain Board Empowering Bill, which was also opposed by Mr Seddon and Mr Holmes, end postponed till Thursday, The Law Practitioners Bill (Sir George Grey) was further considered in committee. Mr Holmes moved to strike out clause 3. The clause was retained by 45 votes to 22. Sir Qeobge Geby moved that the Bill be read a third time. Mr Weston moved as an amendment, and Mr Wynn Williams seconded, that it be read a third time that day six months. The motion was carried by 33 to 23, and the Bill passed. Mr Tole moved the second reading of the Publio Health Act Amendment Bill. Carried, On the motion of Sir George Geby, the Affirmations Bill was discharged. In committee on the Resident Magistrates Act (1867) Amendment Bill, various amendments were put and lost, with the view of restricting the jurisdiction and limiting the class of cases over which the Court could exercise jurisdiction, Mr Weston said that as the committee had affirmed the principle of allowing a Court of inferior jurisdiction to try oases of the magnitude proposed by the Bill, slander, false imprisonment, seduction, &3., in opposition to his views, he would move that breach of promise of marriage be also added to the list. The committee divided—Ayes/|26 ; Noes, 35,

Progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 5 30.

EVENING SITTING, The House resumed at 7.30. BILLS. The Dangerous Goods Bill, received from the Legislative Council, was read a first time. A message was received from the Governor assenting to the Bailway Construction and Land Bill. The following Bills were read a second time: Eesumption of Land for Mining Purposes; Reserves in Mining Districts ; Mining Companies Act, 1872, Amendment Bill. THE NEW ZEALAND LOAN BILL. In Committee on tho New Zealand Loan Bill, the consideration was resumed of Mr Shrimski’s new clause affirming the principle of rating lands. The Hon. Major Atkinson appealed to the mover that he would, having had the principle contended for affirmed, be conteat to withdraw the amendment, as he felt sure it would seriously damage the Bill. Mr Ehrimski declined to withdraw. Mr Pish said that although in favor of borrowing, he would oppose the Loan Bill altogether unless this clanes was inserted, and that although his constituents were in favor of the loan, he was sure they would approve his action, Mr Hurst opposed the insertion of the clause in the Bill. Mr Holmes supported it. The following spake against the clause ; Messrs W. C. Buchanan, Fergus, J. B. Brown, Hnrst, Petris, Stevens, Dodson. The following spoke in favor of it:— Messrs Holmes, Fisb, J, Buchanan. Mr Seddon moved, as an amendment—--11 That the clause be made to read 1 that cny railway or portion of a railway passing through private property proved to bo theroby benefited to tbe extent of 10 par cent., the owners of such land shall pay 5 per cent, per annum upon the said improved value into the consolidated revenue, the said valuation to ha ascertained under the provisions of the Property Tax Act, 1880.* ” Mr Pyke spoke at some length against the clause, and moved as an amendment thereon —“ That the now clausa ha referred to the consideration of the Select Committee already elected to enquire into and report upon the beat mode of taxation." Mr Barron moved as a further amendment —“That the tax be levied on lands benefited by such railway. Mr Montgomery denied that the clause would interfere witn the negotiation of the loan, contending that being in the form of an additional security it would add to tho prospects of the loan. Tho Hon. Major Atkinson said that it would be at once construed into an opinion on their part that they were doubtful of the stability of their own securities, and that such an opinion would be fatal to their credit. He had been asked to report progress, and not to press the Bill to a third reading until the committee had reported. Tho Government could do nothing of the kind, but would press the Bill on without delay, Mr Sheehan could not sea that the clause would injure the prospects of the loan in the loan market. He should vote in favor of the clause.

The question was pa-, that the original motion stand part of the question. Ayes, 33 ; noes, 42. Mr Seddon’s amendment was then put. Ayes, 26 ; noes, 43. The remainder of the clause was then struck out on the voices.

Mr Eabeon moved his amendment, but the Chairman ruled it out of order, being in substance identical with the question first decided cn.

Ou the schedule called on, Mr Fish moved that progress be reported, so that the report of the Select Committee might be brought down before the Bill was passed. The Hon. Major Atkinson said the House had already decided against this course. He would not agree to report progress. Negatived on the voices. Mr J. Buchanan moved—“ That the item on the schedule ‘ Napier-Woodville, to complete,’ be reduced from £160,000 to £IOO,OOO, with the view of £60,000 being devoted to Napier harbor works," Mr Montgomery pointed out that although the committee could strike eff the €60,000 from the railway, they could not appropriate it to harbor works unless the Government recommended it, which they said they would not do. After discussion, the committee divided. Ayes, 15 ; noes, 42. Item passed, Mr Munko proposed that ti e vote Grey-mouth-R;e!ton line extension toward Beef-

be reduced by £50,000, as the money could be more profitably ipent oa other works on the coast.

The reduction was negatived by 45 to 10. Mr Holmes moved—“ That the Albnry Creek branch extension to Bark's Pass be reduced fay £25,000." He did this because to carry the line to Sark’s Pass would be a scandalous waste of money. He wished to strike out the words Burk’s Pass, but The Chairman ruled that the words could not be altered. All the committee had power to do was to redace the amount, or pass or reject the whole amount.

Messrs Pish, Montgomery, Sheehan, and others took exception to this ruling, contending that the Bill was not an appropriation Bill, and wording could be altered. Colonel Trimble and Major Atkinson supported the Chairman’s ruling, and after some discussion an adjournment for a quarter of an hour took place.

On resuming, the Chairman uphold his former ruling that the words could not be amended.

Mr We stow moved to report progress. A discussion ensued, and at 4.30 Colonel Trimble relieved Mr Hamlin as chairman. At 5 o’clock the motion to report progress was negatived by 35 to 24, and the item passed as printed. Mr Turnbull moved a redaction of £200,000 in the item Otago Central. Lost on a division of 40 to 8, and the item, was pEs.ed. Mr Joyce moved that the item LumsdenMaroroa Branch, to complete the section to Mokereta, be struck out. It would open up little if any Crown land of good quslity. The motion was rejected by 23 to 21. Captain Mackenzie then moved that the item be reduced to 20s, intimating his intention to oppose and divide oa it £1 by

Oa a division, the reduction cf the vote from £13.000 to £1 was carried bv 24 to 12

A motion of Mr Duncan’* to report progress was then lost oa the voices. Mr W. Gbben moved the omission of the item £200,000 for the purchase of Native lands.

Lost on the voices, and the item passed. Mr Geeen then moved that the item public buildings, £300.000, be omitted, but subsequently recommended this to a reduction of £IOO,OOO. Lost on the voice*. Mr Turnbull then moved the item be reduced to £200,000. Lost on a division—2l to I®. Item passed. At 7 am. Mr Hamli j resumed the chair.

Mr Geobge moved the item immigration, £200,000, bo struck out. Lost on a division by 34 to 11. Mr Leyestam moved to reduce the item to £IOO,OOO.

Lost on a division by 29 to 16. Mr J. Buchanan moved another reduction to £50,000.

Lost on the voices, and the item passed. Mr W. Green moved item roads to open up Crown lands, £200,000, be reduced* to £IOO,OOO.

Lost on the voices, and the item passed. Mr Turnbull moved to reduce the item roads and bridges, £IOO,OOO, to £50,000. Lost on the voices. Mr Turnbull then moved it be reduced to £50,000.

Last on the voices, and the item passed. The other items having all been'agreed to, the question that the schedule as amended by the one reduction (Lumsdeu-Maroroa) be agreed to, was carried on the voices.

The Bill was reported as amended. Oa the motion to adjourn, Mr Feld wick called for a division, in order to record the names of those who had been there all night. The adjournment was carried by 26 to 18, and the House rose at 8 a.m. until 7.Sothia evening.