WELLINGTON AND HAWKE'S BAY PUBLIC DEBT APPORTIONMENT BILL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 12, 19 September 1861, Page 5 (Supplement)

WELLINGTON AND HAWKE'S BAY PUBLIC DEBT APPORTIONMENT BILL.

Tltsday, August 20. Mr. Orjiond moved for leave to bring in a bill to apportion the permanent debt of the Province of Wellington between the Province of Wellington and Hawke’s Bay. Hr. Featheestox opposed the introduction of the bill on the grounds that throe Wellington members had left this House, understanding that no measure on this subject would be introduced this session, and that the House should not force an arbitration till the principles on which arbitration should be based had been settled and agreed to by both Provinces. Mr. Richmond said he trusted the House would not refuse the common courtesy of granting leave to bring in this bill. Ho urged the great necessity there was for a speedy settlement of the questions in dispute between the Provinces of Wellington and Hawke's Bay. These questions were three: — First, what was the amount of the debt at the time of separation P loans to the amount of £IOO,OOO having been raised by "Wellington, but only £75,000 of which had come into the Provincial chest before separation. Secondly, whether a particular loan of £50,000, negotiated by the Union Bank of Australia, was to be considered ns part of the perrnament debt of the original Province for the purpose of apportionment. Thirdly, whether, in the terms of the Act, apportionment should commence at November Ist, 1858, the date of separation, or at July Ist, 1850, the commencement of a new financial year of the G cncral Government. Mr. Fitziterbert replied to the speech of the member for New Plymouth. He opposed the introduction of the bill on the grounds mentioned by the hon. member for Wellington, and simoested the following course: that there should bo laid before the House, cither before the close of this session or at the commencement of the next, printed statements of their case by the superintendents of both Provinces. In the meantime the question should be specially brought under the notice of the respective .Provincial Councils, with.-a view of agreeing u})on a basis for reference to arbitrators. Failing their agreement, the House being thenpoeessed of sufficient information, should step in and settle the question itself, but at present it was premature for them to do so. "Mr. Colenso denied that there had been any 'understanding that no measure on this subject would be introduced this session, and suggested

■that his presence there, instead of the first elected member for Napier, was a sufficient declaration phut means would be taken for settling this question. Ho urged the necessity of a speedy settlement of this question on equitable principles, and ■■replied to various points raised by the hon.members jfor Wellington. He could not see that any advantage would be gained by again referring the jmatter to the Provincial Councils. ' Mr. Bell supported the introduction of the bill. He should oppose any compulsory arbitration between the two Provinces, but he could see no objection to a bill giving power to the Superintendents to appoint arbitrators. If they could not agree to this, it would bo compulsory for them next session to lay statements on the ta■ble, as suggested by the member for the Hutt, and the House should then lolfe no time in taking the necessary stops to enforce a settlement. Mr Stafford spoke at some length in reply to arguments used by the lion, member for Wellington and the Hutt. Ho repudiated the idea of any such unde: standing as that which had just been stated having been cometo. Onthecontrary, he had himself expressly brought this before the notice of the Government on the occasion referred to, as one that must be settled this session. So frequent •were the attempts made by a few hon. members to bind the House by out of doors understandings of their own, that he declared he W'ould never again become a party to any understanding whatever. I He urged upon the General Government the necessity of at once settling this question in dispute, asking them whence they would otherwise obtain the funds with which to pay off the interest of the debt unless they left Wellington to find them entirely, which he did not suppose the Government would do. There was no reason why this question should not be settled now, as it was not n new question, but one that had been prominently before those members most interested in it for the last eighteen months, and the respective Superintendents of Wellington and Hawke’s Bay had been informed that the question would be submitted for the decision of the Legislature this sessiou. He could see no object to be gained by referring the matter back to the Provincial Councils of Wellington and Hawke’s Bay, who would pass resolutions utterly irreconcileable. All they could possibly agree upon would bo to refer the matter to arbitration, as this House could do. But such arbitration must be founded on the amount of the debt on the Ist of November, 1858. To delay the settlement would only bo the source of continued irritation between the two Provinces and of much embarassment to the General Government. He, therefore, trusted the House would assent to the introduction of the Bill.

Mr. lox moved that the debate be adjourned till to-morrow, which was agreed to.

The adjourned debate was resumed by Mr. .Fox next day, and continued by Messrs. O’Neill, Waring Taylor, Wilson, R. Graham, Domett, Williamson, Hall, Keuall, and Wood ; after which Mr. Ormond replied, and the question being put, that leave be given to bring in the Bill, the House divided with the following result: — Ayes 21—Messrs. Stafford, A. J. Richmond, Curtis, Hall, Domett, Colenso, Ormond, Wilson, Bell, Atkinson, Cookson, Rowley, Firth, C. W. Richmond, Mantell, Ward, AVells, Russell, .lollie, Creyke, and Ward (teller.) Noes 11—Messrs. Fitzhcrbcrt, Featherston. Harrison, W. Taylor, Williamson, Henderson. C. J. Taylor, Munroc, G. Graham, O’Eorke, Mason, O’Neill, Wood, and Fox (teller.) Bill brought up, read a first time, ordered to be printed, and to bo read a second time on Friday next.