GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 2585, 4 October 1884, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [united press association.] Wellington, October 2. The House resumed at 7.30. GOLD DUTY ABOLITION BILL. On the motion for the Gold Duty Bill going into Committee, Mr Rolleston opposed, and said be hoped the House would insist upon this duty being retained until some other provision was made for subsidising local bodies. Mr Fergus strongly supported the abolition of the Duty, Mr Shrimski opposed it. Mr O’Conor said the expenditure of the goldfields compared with the receipts had been very little. The gold duty hud been handed over to local bodies, as local rates, but as such they

had never been subsidised, and great injury had been done to the gold industry. Sir J. Vogel would not oppose the Bill if the date of its coming in operation was altered from 31st March to 30th September. In the meantime Government would consider how to make up the amount which would be lost by the abolition of the duty. The motion for going into committee was carried on the voices. In committee, Mr Ballance moved as an amendment that the operations of the act be suspended until brought in by Government by Order in Council. After discussion the amendment was carried by 38 to 9. _ Mr Seddon moved as a further addition the words—Provided that said Order in Council be not delayed beyond 30th September, 1885. The debate was. kept up, during which Mr Seddon argued to extend the time from 30th September, 1885, to 31st December, 1885. The committee divided—Aves 9 • Noes, 46. ’ 3 The bill was then reported with amendments. The House adjourned at 1.5 a.m. A correspondent at Wellington sends the Argus the following particulars iu reference to the debate on the Gold Duty Abolition Bill Mr J. C. Brown’s Gold Duty Abolition Bill went into Committee at 9 p.m. last evening. It eventually passed at 1.15 this morning, Mr Seddon used every means to stay the progress of the Bill, raising various amendments, which were rejected by the House with a large majority favoring the Bill. He was on his legs more or less the whole evening. His last effort just before the last division this morning almost emptied the House, and it was feared a count out would take place, but on the division bell being rung, members trooped into the House and the bill was carried by 49 to 9, in addition to a large number of pairs who had left the House tired out. Sir Julius Vogel at the outset, when the bill was called on, intimated the Government would give their support if the member for Tuapeka, in charge of the Bill, would accept an extension of time for its coming into operation to 30th September, 1885, and that the Government next session would bring down somo comprehensive measure of Local Government with increased revenues, instead of the present sham kept going by the shifts of the late Government The bill was ultimately altered that it could be brought into operation at any time by an Order in Council before the close of next session, which met the approval of its supporters. Mr Seddon’s action is universally condemned. Mr Rolleston spoke strongly against the Bill, saying the goldfields were a burden upon the colony, and that the West Coast goldfields had cost the people of New Zealand .£1,500,000; which amount was pointed out by other members as including expenditure for harbors, and railways for coal purposes, and had no connection with the production of gold. The member for Tuapeka deserves credit for the way he has stuck to the bill, which in several instances has received unnatural opposition. An effort will be made by these members to prevent its passage in the Upper House.