GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2628, 8 September 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(LEGISLATIVE OOVSOIIu Thubbday, Septembeb 7. The Council met at 2.30. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. In reply to the Hon. Mr Buokley. The Hon. Mr Olitbb »aid the Government knew nothing about a contagious disease known as leprosy existing in New Zealand. HOTJB OF MEETING. The Hon. Mr Whitakbb moved that for the remainder of the session the Council oommenoe sitting at noon. Inst on a division of 21 to 12. NATIVE BBBBBTBS BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. LAND ACT 1877 AMBNDMHNT BILL, This Bill was further considered in committee. The Hon. Mr Bbynolds moved in clause 31 to insert the following cew clause—- " Should the lessee within the period of six years have complied with the conditions of improvements as set forth in seotions 33 and 36, then he shall be entitled to acquire the fee simple of the l*nd comprised in his lease, at a prioe to be fixed at a time when lease -is granted." After two hours' discussion the Council divided. Ayes, 15 : noes, 15. The Chairman gave his casting vote with the ayes. Clause 36 was retained on a division of 16 to 13. In olause 37 it was carried on a division of 17 to 14 that the following words be added—- " Provided that at least two heads of unpolluted water bo left in the stream to which this olanse refers."

At the suggestion of the Hon. Mr Olives the clause as amended was then struck out At 5.15 Council rose.

The Council resumed at 7 30, and further considered the Land Aot in committee. In clause sixty-five—Mr MoKeczie'a clause, The Hon. Mr Holmes moved the following proviso—" That nothing in the clause shall apply to or affect any persons taking transfers by way of mortgages." The discussion was interrupted by the 10 o'clock adjournment. After resuming, the following words were now proposed to be added to the proviso : "Or any rights, interest, or titles vested in mortgagees." The proviso, with the addition, was oarried by a division of 19 to 5. The olause was then carried as amended. Sir Giobgb Whitmobe moved that clause 76 be struck out. The clause was struck out. The Hon. Mr Bbtnolds moved a new olause giving tho leßsee power to purchase within eleven years. The Council divided. Ayeß, 14; noes, 8. The clause waa added. The Bill was then reported with amendments, to be recommitted to-morrow. bating bill. This Bill was read a third time on the motion of the Hon. Mr Whitakeb. The Oaunoil rose at 12 25. HOUSE OE REPBEBKNTATIVEB. Thursday, Septembeb 7. The House met at 2 p.m. WBLLTNGTON HABBOB BOABD AND COBPOBATION LAND BILL. This Bill was reported with amendments by the Legislative Council, which were agreed to. THE FABLIAMENT BUILDINGS. Mr Geobge brought up a report from the House Committee, recommending that a sum of £3OOO be plaoed on the supplementary estimates for the improvement and ventilation o? the Parliament buildings. Mr Mobbis suggested that a sum of, say, £15,000 or £20,000 should be brought down for the re-building of these buildings altogether or elsewhere. Mr Pyke agreed in the opinion that the edifice required re-building. A small sum such as that proposed would do no good. The state of the building was rotten to the core. They had evidenoe of that from the Colonial Architect. They should either provide a new building here or in some other place. r Mr J. O. BbOWN concurred, adding that last year they had spent £4OOO and done no good, and he was quite sure the proposed £3OOO would be equally useless. Mr Kelly suggested that the whole responsibility of renewing the buildings should be oast on the Government. They should have a sufficient sum placed on the estimates for the renewal of the whole edifice.

Mr Maoandbhw thought they should allow , {he things to remain ei they were, and next session they should rsaka some arrangements for doing their work during the day. Mr Babbon thought it was a proper thing, in connection with this question, to consider whether Wellington was a suitable place to be the capital of the colony. In othar plaoes the teat of Legislature was removed from the bob coast, whioh was always exposed to attack by an enemy. Again, if they removed to a place like Ohristehurch, the applianoes of the Press were so complete that they might dispense with " Hansard," and that of itself would be a very great saving. Mr MoNTGOMKBr suggested that at least £IO,OOO should be appropriated for the purpose. The accommodation was altogether inadequate to the requirements of the work. The Hon. Major Atkinson concurred in the opinion of the last speaker. Mr Wynn Williams »uggested that the Government House should be so altered as te appropriate it for the Legislature. In that case the present Parliament building could be be done up sufficiently for the accommodation of the Governor when in Wellington. The buildings would be quite sufficient for any peripa etio Government. Mr Shebhan thought the building they had, with the addition of a suitable fireproof building for library purposes, was quite sufficient for all the requirements of the ease. Mr J. W. Thomson thought they might very well do away with Bellamy. That would give them all the additional room they required, and on the other hand the abolition of that establishment would be attended with many collateral advantages. Mr Moss thought they had rather an exaggerated idea of the value of the library. The faot was that thej cculd get the most of it replaced on a very short notice. There were that could uot be replaced, but a very smalt fire-proof apartment would do for them. The motion for allowing the report to he on the table was put and carried. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Duncan, The Hon. Mr Bollbston said steps would be taken to introduce early next session a Bill dealing with riparian rights. Beplying to Mr Petrie, The Hon. Mr Dice said means would be taken to secure a thorough revision of the electoral rolls. Bepljing to Mr Petrie, The Bon. Major Atkinson said Ibat duiirijs the recess the Government would enquire into the services rendered by the various volunteer fire brigades, but he was not able to say that any annual allowance similar to that of the volunteers would be provided for. Beplying to Mr Pyke, The Hon. Mr Dick said steps would be taken to prooure either the originals or copies of all records and papers relating to ths oolony during the time it was under the oontrol of New South Wales, and which are now in the latter oolony.

Beplying to Mr Wynn Williams, The Hon, Mr Bollbston, in absence of Mr Johnston, said the Government intended, in addition to the revision of the charges for oarriage of grain, to revise ths whole of tbe railway tariff for loading and unloading timber and other goods, and espooiallv in respeot to that at Lyttelton for Port Coalmen, Auokland, and other ports. Beplying to Mr Darjtaville, The Hon. Major AtkIKSON i*id i-, was the opinion of the Ciowa Law Offiosrs that tbe provic-ions of the Alienation of Lind Bill were not retrospective, but worda to mate the point perfectly clear would ba inserted in Committee. BILLS TO BB PBOCEEDBD WITH.

Mr Mohtgombby ir.viled the O-overnment, to state what Bille they intended prooeodicj; with this session. The Hon. Major Atkinson said he would not indicate the measures the Government intended to drop but ho would indicate those they intended going on with. These were the New Zealand Colonial Inscribed Stock Loan, Boads and Bridges Construction, Oonntief Act Amendment, North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan, Customs Duties Consolidation, Rabbit Nuisanoe, Sheep Act Amendment, Rhodes' Bstatei Duty, Education Districts, Am icety, Rangipo Murimotu Agreement Validation, Oemeterie«, Graymouth Nativi Reserves, Registration of Births, Deaths, &s., Amendment, Lioensing Aot Amendnrnt Mining Oompanies Registration Validation, end Education Beierve* Act Amendment,

A qneetion being put in reference to the Alienation of LaiiQe bill,

'"he Hon. Major Atkinson sail the Government did not propose to push it through this seßiion. It was the opinion of many members that it went a greatjdeal too far, and a*-, this period of the session there would not bo timo to disouss the point. AnoLhei- question beirg put as to the Baijgipo Murimotu Agreement Validaticn Bi!i, s

1-i.ke Hon. Major Atkinson said that if it was not passsd this session a very great ii justice would ba done to the purohasers of this block ; also, in reference to the Licensing Ace- Amendment Biil, to which Mbjor Atkinson replied that the local bodies would be very greatly inconvenienced if it was not paescd. He proceeded to say if the other measures on the Order Paper were opposed at any length they will be dropped. The Estimates would be in the hands of members that night, and would be gone into tomorrow. Such being the case, he saw no reason why they should cot finish the work by Saturday. There were several of the Bills iw should like to Bee put through, and altl-ough he did not name them, he would be prepared to give 6very assistance in getting them through. amnesty bux, The Hon. Mr Bbycb moved the second reading of the Amnesty Bill. Mr Shbbhan heartily supported the Bill, " stating that it would have a most beneficial efffotin finally determining the King Country settlement. Mr Coholly pointed out the indefinite charaotor of the wording of the Bill. The Hon. Mr Bbtce said that in the very nc-ture of things tho language employed by the Bill must be indefinite. The motion for the second reading was put and carried. in committee. In committee on tho New Zaaland Colonial Inscribed Stock Loan Bill, The Hon. Major Atkinson moved in clause 8, that the rate of interest; named there be 6 per cent, instead of 4. The committee divided. Ayes, 46 ; noes, 18. The amendment was oarried, and with tbe view of getting a clause framed providing that debenture holders will be subject to the property tax, progress was reported, and leave granted to eit again. BOADS AND BRIDGES CONSTBUOHION BILL, The adjonrned debate on the third reading was resumed by Mr Hutchison, who protested against the passing of the Bill, and moved it be read that day three months. Mr Maoandbbw concurred in that opinion, stating that the Bill was simply designed to perpetuate the system of grab. He suggested that they should simply negative the Bill. Mr Hutchison agreed and the amendment waß withdrawn. The Hon. Major Atkinson said the ma'ter had been before the country three years, and therefore it must have had time to be felly considered. Last Parliament it would have

The Hon. Major Atkinson said the ma'ter had been before the country three years, and therefore it must have had time to be fullyconsidered. Last Parliament it would have been carried by a large majority, had it not been made a party question. He denied that it would make the Boards dependent oa the Central Government. It would really make them independent. It was the duty of that House to open up the ooun'ry by roads, and if they delegated that duty to local bodies they must provide those bodies with adequate fund;, even although at - some further date they were called upon to pay for the roads they were bound to make. The House divided Ayes, 48 ; noef, 14. On (be motion that the Bill now pass, Mr Montgombby blamed the Government for making the third reading a party question. Mr Shebhan did not understand that it had been made a (arty question. He had voted against it on principle year by year. Xha Houee would be inundated with private business, and the length of the session would exteisd to five or eix months.

The Hon. Major Atkinson denied the imputation made about the measure being a party question.

The Bill then passed, and the House adjourned a; 5.50 p.m.

EVENING BITTIHG. The House resumed at 7 30. counties act amendment bill.

This Bill was read a third time, and passed.

KOHTH ISLAND MAIH TETOI LOAK BILL. Thii was read a third time, and paaf«d, ~SBW ZEALAND LOAN BILL.

T he Hon. Major Atkinson moved the recommittal of the Bill for the purpose of substituting the Seaward Bush, Kelso, Harare* line, £35,000, for the item Marawa line.

Mr Maoandeew and Mr J. Greek expressed deep regret that the vote as originally proposed should have been altered. The latter said that a great deal of land had beea taken up in the neighborhood on the strength of the railway being made. Mr Joyce said a complete answer to the remarks was that Southland members to s maa were in favor of the allocation now proposed by the Government. He admitted the land was there, hut the population was located along the other proposed lines.

The motion for going into committee was put and carried. The Hon. Major Atkinson then moved—- " That Seacard Bush, Lumsden, Mararoa, Gore, Ksloo, Biversdale, Switzera line, £35,000, be substituted in place of Mararoa, £l."

The motion was oarried, and the Bill was reported as amended. On the motion for the third reading, Mr Macakdbbw said that although most anxious to see the public works of the colony progress, he felt, in view of the publip burdens, that the time hid come when they**"- _ should stay their band. This meant an additional annual outlay of £2OOOOO, a sum that would go a great way towards prosecuting all necessary works. Apart from that, he contended that the colony was in a position to spend from one to one and a half millions per annum, without the intervention of foreign aid. The way in which that was to be done was the qusetion to solve j but he had no doubt that if the Treasurer would eat hie strong will to the task, he had no doubt but that it could be done. Ho hai been twitted with being tbo apostle of "a bale of paper and a printing prest." He asked upon what the colony had been suuekting for the last twenty years but " the bale ot and the printing press." But the unfortunate part of the _raneaotion was that the printing was all done for the benefit of the money market in London. They did not want any more loans from England. What they wanted was more men from England, with money in their pockets and stout arms and willing hands. What they were doing was to send £4OO per doy to England. What they should strive at wa« to turn the table and make England send them £4OO per day for their wool, their sold, and their cattle on a thousand hills. What they required was faith in the colony and trust in its great reßourcss. If these were properly operated upon, instead of being a borrowing community they would be a lending community. He would vote against the third reading. The Hon. Major Atkinson said the last speaker had altogether failed in showing how this great problem of his win to be solved. What ho seemed to argue was that they should create ospitai out of nothing. He i 3aied absolutely that what was called a drain upon the colony existed &t all. The money borrowed was used for reproductive works, and coDEequently they made a profit on that which was called a " drain on the colony." If they were going to realise more than £290,000 per annum upon the expenditure, then they were justified in incurring that expenditure, and that was what he contended they wore doing. The Bill was read a third time and passed. CUSTOMS DUTIES CONSOLIDATED BILL. This Bill was recommitted, and a further clause wes added, after which the Bill was tt poited as amended, read a third time, and pawed. BABBIT NUISANCE BILL. This Bill was recommitted. i'ho Bill was reported with amendments. INSCBIBBD STOCK LOAN BILL. 'The- Hoii. Alaj jr Atkinson said that he hvi ascertained that tbe holders of debentures under ttie Inscribed Loan Bill resident outside Now Zealand would not be made t;:cenible to the property tax. The Bill was reported with amendments. OTHEB BILLS. The, District Railways Act Amendment was p iased through Committee, and wsb ordered to ba reported. Also, the Sheep Act Amendment Bill and the Education Beserves Act Licensing Bill j as there were a number of now clauses. The Hon. Major Atkinson moved that progress be reported. Carvied. Jl'lo House rose at 1.15.