GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2630, 11 September 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Saturday, Septehbeb 9. The Council sat at 11 a.m. MAN BILT* The Loan Bill was then introduced by the Pbkmier, who said no subject had given Government so much trouble as to ascertain whether orjnot a loan should be raised this year. There was an antipathy to borrow on one side, and dislike to stop publio works on the other. This, of course, rendered the question one of difficulty, but it was ultimately decided amongst themselves to raise a loan to complete the works already commenced. The Hon. Colonel Whitmom opposed the Bill, holding that the country had made up its mind not to borrow for the present, but Government had debauched public feeling. He moved—" That the Bill be read this day six months." The Hon. Mr MoLbah would not now oppose the Bill, but hoped the expenditure for the future would be eased down. The Hon. Mr Stbtbks oontinued the debate on the Loan Bills, and depreciated the loan being divided into two parti. He failed to understand why a country with such a fine olimate and abounding with rich resouroes should borrow at a higher rate of interest thin other British colonies. The Hon. Mr Olivbb was surprised at so much opposition being given to the loans, and assured the Oounoil the oolony could not get along without borrowing. The Hon. Mr Miller while upholding the present Government for their honestmanagement of publio affairs, said he could not conscientiously vote for the three million Bill. He did not believe a direct railway from Piotoa to Chrißtchurob would oonneot the two places more than at present, because most of the travelling publio would take steamer between Wellington and Lyttelton. The Hon. Messrs Wilson, Holmes, Fraier, Beynolds and Feacook also spoke against the second reading. The Hon. Mr Eobihson spoke at considerable length in favor of the Bill, laying he knew most of the lines proposed, and quite approved of them. The only one he did not know and had any doubt about was the Central Otago, and as his bon. friend Mr Holmes had stated that this was really the best line of all, he was oontent to accept that a<a correot, and vote for the loan, although Mr Holmes would not.

The Hon. Mr Disnan supported both Bills.

The Hod. Dr. MEuaiaa expressed regret that borrowing could not be dispensed with for another year, but could not oppoie the BPh as the Government deolared them necei•ary. The Hon. Mr Bonab strongly supported farther borrowing. The Hon. Mr Mantbll did not spproTO of increased loans, but was prepared to yield his conviction to the strongly expressed opinion of the Representative Chamber. The Hon. Mr Whitakbb, in replying, said he did not think the amount proposed to be borrowed was at all unreasonable. He was sure the whole of the railways would pay interest of their construction. In conclusion, he hoped to see all political distinction and politioal boundaries done away with. The Council divided on the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Bill. Ayes, 24—Messrs Acland, Baillie, Boaar, Brett, Buckley, Dignan, Grace, Gray, Hart, Henderson, Johnson, Lahman, Martin, Mantell, McLean, Menzies, Miller, Oliver, Pharazyn, Robinson, Wb'.taker, Wigley, Williamson, and Moore. Noes, 9—Messrs Eraser, Holmes, Peacock, Peter, Reynolds, Scotland, Stevens, Whitmore and Wilson. On the New Zealand Loan Bill the Counoil divided.

Ayes, 20—Messrs Acland, Baillie, Bonar, Brett, Buckley, Dignan, Grace, Hart, Henderson, Johnson, Lahman, Martin, Mantell' McLean, Oliver, Pharazyn, Robinson, Whitaker, Williamson, Moore. Noes, 11—Messrs Fraser, Gray, Holmes, Menzies, Miller, Peacook, Peters, Reynolds, Scotland, Stevens, Whitmore, Wigley, and Wilson. Both Bills were then committed and reported without amendments and passed. INSCRIBED STOCK LOAN BILL, The Hon. Mr Olivhb moved the second reading of the Inscribed Stock Loan Bill. Agreed to BOADS AND BBIBOKS OONSTBUCTIOX BILL. The Hon. Mr Whitakbb moved the second reading of this Bill. The Hon. Mr Reynolds said it was absurd to think that hon. gentlemen could study Bills as they were having rushed upon them, He hoped such an agitation would take place shortly that would be the means of doing away with the Legislative Counoil altogether. For himself he wiped b ; a hands of all business, and so let the blame rest on the heads of the Government.

The second reading was then agreed to. The Council rose at 5.80. HVHNINaSITIINa. The Council rammed at 7.80. LASS Bru»

The Pbemihb moved that the Council do not insist on the amendment moved in the Land Bill. Sir Geobgb Whpemobb moved that Messrs Holmes, Reynolds, Stevens, and the mover be appointed to draw up a report to show reasons why the Council should not give way. The amendment was oarried.

Sir Obobob Whitmobe moved the second reading of the Customs Duties Consolidation Bill. Agreed to. The following Bills were then oommitted: —New Zeal nd Inscribed Stock Loan Bill, after whioh the Road Construction Bill was passed through committee. The following Bills were reported : —New Zealand Colonial Inscribed Stock Loan, Roads and Bridges Construction, Customs Duties Consolidation, Mining Companies Registration Validation, Counties Act Amendment, and the Auokland Endowment Bills, whioh were passed. The Gisborne Harbor Bo rd and the Ashburton Racecourse Bills were read a second time. The District Railways Bill was postponed until Monday. The Otage Harbor Board Bill was read a third time and passed, The Conuoil rose at 11.30 until 11 a.m, on Monday, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Sattthdat, Sbptbmbeb 9. The House met at 2.80. OBAEBI NATIVE BBSEBTBB BILL. This was reported with amendments by the Lesislative Council and approved of. THE HOW. MB PHABAZYV'S OABB. In reply to a question by the Hon. Mr Taiaroa, The Hon. Mr Dice said the alleged disqualification of the Hon. Mr Pharazyn, convicted of corrupt practices, was a matter for the attention of the Legislative Assembly, and not for the Government. SPECIAL POWBBB AND CONTRACTS BILL. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Speoial Powers and Contracts Bill were not agreed to, and a committee was appointed to frame reasons of dissent. THB BAND BILL. Oa the motion of the Hon. Mr Roxxbstoh a committee was appointed to frame reasons of dissent to the amendments proposed by the Log'ilative Council in the Land Bill. bills. The following Bills were read the second time:—Public Revenues, Banks and Bankers Act Amendment (the Hon. Major Atkinson). In committee, the Tauranga, East Coast, and Hot Lakes Distriot Railway, Public Reserves Sale, Banks and Banksrs Act Amendment Bills passed through committee. The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House re-assembled at 7.30. BILLS. The following Bills were reported, read a third time, and passed—Registration of Births and Deaths Amendment; Tauranga, East Coast, and Hot Lakes Distriot Railway ; Public Revenues ; Banks and Bankeia Act Amendment Bills. The following were from the Legislative Council with amendments, whioh were agreed to—Boad Board Bill; and the following without amendment—Amnesty and North Island Loan Bills. AIT BXMANATIOH. The Hon. Major Atzibsob said that baore proceeding with the business he desired to make an explanation somewhat perioral to Ministers. It would be remembered that two years ago they had consented to reduce their own salaries 20 per eent. They now proposed to draw the full salaries, and before doing so they desired to get an expression from the House. He asked the Bouse to

express its candid opinion on the point, end to do so opart altogether from a party consideration, and with that view he would efford them an opportunity on the motion for going into oommittee of supply on the sup plementary estimates. Mr If oftgohbbt asked that the Tre&sur n should explain where the extra amount proposed to be oharged to the consolidated rerenue was to come from. The Hon. Major AtkinßOH said that the Government did not intend, as at one time proposed, to rcduoo the property tax to a half-penny. The Government did not anticipate any defioit, but if there was, it was better that there should be than that any extra money should be taken out of the pockets of the taxpayers. The motion for going into Oommittee was put and oarried. Glass I—Legislative, £3608. Mr Hurst objected to the item £SOO for an additional chief librarian. He thought £3OO was quite sufficient. He moved it be struck out. Item, olerk (assistant) Houte of Representatives, £SO. Sir Q-. M. O'Boekb said it should be £2OO. The Hon. Major Atkinson protested that the larger amount would be agreed to, and paid out of contingent expenditure. Bir Q. M. O'Bobkb urged that the Sergeant- at-Arms should be increased £SO. The question was put that the item £SO for an additional librarian be omitted. Ayes, 31 ; noes, 14. The item was omitted. The item Bellamy's, £133. On the question that it be omitted, The Hon. Mr Dick said it was an old amount put on the estimates hut year by mistake. Mr Shbfhbkd said suoh a vote was disgraceful. If members in their hilarity broke the glasses, the country should not be expected to pay for the fun. Mr Geobge said that ne did defend the vote, but he hoped this would be the last that would be asked. Sir John Hall called attention to an item under miscellaneous —cutlery and electroplate for Bellamy, £9B 8i 81. Captain MoKbnhie thought it would be better if the establishment was closed up altogether. He gave it as his experience that it was very badly managed. The praotioo was to order these things and pay three times their value. Mr Smith gave it as his experience in contradiction to the last speaker, that the living was too good. That was the only mistake. The establishment lacked one item of food, viz., oatmeal. Had that been provided he had no doubt some members wculd have been better pleased. The question was put that the item be omitted. Ayes, 9 ; noes, 40. The item was retained. Introduction of electric light, £3OOO. Mr Tttenbull moved it be struck out. Mr Johnston said that the light would, in the course of three years, save its cost. The item was oarried on the voic js Parliamentary lawn tennis ground, £4O. Captain MoKbnzie moved it be struck out. Mr Dabgaville said that the committee never asked this sum. Those who used the ground were quite able and willing to pay for it. Omitted on the voices. The Hon. Major Atkinson said he understood the sergeant-at-arms was to bo paid £SO additional out of the unauthorised expenditure. Assented to. The vote as amended was put and passed. The following also passed without challenge :—Government statist, £SO; charitable, £30,000 ; lunatic asylums, £ll6O ; printing and stationery, £3500. Vote, miscellaneous, £11,463. Captain MoKbnzie moved that item " Ohristohurch International Exhibition, £200," be struck out. Lost on the voices. Mr Turnbtlx moved the item " London International Fisheries Exhibition, £500," be struck out. Ayes, 16 ; noes, 26. The item was retained, and the vote as printed passed. The following passed : —Property Tax Department, £18,040; miscellaneous, £27 ; Supreme Court, £575 ; Resident Magistrates' and Wardens' Courts, £576; miscellaneous, £1270; General Post Office, £SO; chief offioe and sub-offices, £380; maintenance, £250; Customs Offioe and service, £514; marine and harbors, £4574 ; miscellaneous, £158; EducationJDepartment, £16,750; miscellaneous, £9170. Minister of Native Affairs—Miscellaneous, £629 ; Native Lands Court establishment district offices, £1500; Minister of Mines, £625 ; miscellaneous, £1835 ; Minister for Public Works— Working railways, £33,696 ; public buildings, £10,500; miscellaneous, £385. Mi< ister of Defence —Militia and volunteer, £16,198. Item—Harbor defence, £50,000. The Hon. Mr Bbyoh said that he thought they should adopt a moderate means for the defenoe of the colony. Sir John Hall spoke strongly in favor of the item. Mr Kelly thought the great bulk of the money could be spent to muoh better advantage. Mr Maoansbbw said the sum proposed would secure no protection. Mr Pxxb argued that the only possible danger that could arise to New Zealand was her connection with Great Britain, ?ud he had no doubt but that the day was not far off when both New Zealand and the Australian colonies would float an independent flag. Passed as printed. Miscellaneous, £4258, item pay of Thames Volunteers, recommended by the public petitions committee. In the oonrse of a discussion on the item, Mr Bbych said that this claim was a scandalous shame to the volunteers. The mercenary spirit which the Thames men had displayed brought contempt oa the whole volunteer system. Mr Whitakbb defended the volunteers against the imputations thrown out against them, and referred to the recommendation of the petitions oommittee as a guarantee that the claim was well founded. The Hon. Mr Bkyoe said no one could imagine that he was withholding the money from any personal motive. Mr Macanubew moved they report progress, which waa agreed to. The House adjourned at 11.55 till Monday.