PARLIAMENTARY.

Kumara Times, Issue 2805, 17 September 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LOCAL BODIES FINANCE AND POWERS BILL. (l-UIOM OUR OWN OOKKE.srONDUNT.] Wellington, September 10. In Committee, on the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill, all the clauses giving borrowing powers to locil bodies were eliminated. Clause 57, repealing the 4i Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882," caused considerable discussion. Mr Seddon carried two additional clauses to the effect that the Governor in Council might vest in

local bodies, with their consent, waterraces or sludge-channels or by public tender sell and dispose of the same; also, that it be lawful for local bodies to expend moneys in defraying the cost of prospecting for diamonds, gold, silver, tin, or other metals or minerals. The schedule to the bill giving .£2OOO each to the goldfields counties was negatived by 35 votes to 22. Sir Julius Vogel then moved that gold duty be treated as rates. This proposition was lost by 31 votes to 24. Mr Seddon complained of the treatment the goldfields counties had received at the hands of the House. The wealthier districts, with large rate rolls, had secured the subsidies, and left the goldfields counties to starve. The House had thrust the maintenance of Hospitals and Charitable Aid on these counties, and, had, by repealing the Roads and Bridges Construction Act and striking out the special grants promised under this bill, taken away from the Buller, Inangahua, Grey, and Westland County Councils £20,000. The whole subsidies under the present fraud of a bill would only give £2OOO. For his part he was sick of the Government and their measures; there was no backbone in them. Mr Fergus made a very powerful speech against the action of the House in regard to the goldfields members. Messrs Be van, Guinness, and Menteath also protested against the injustice done. On the motion being reported, Mr Guinness moved the recommittal of the bill for consideration of clause 57. The repeal of that clause, he said, repealed the Roads and Bridges Construction Act; and an injustice was done to the goldfields counties by the elimination of the special votes. Mr Monteath was surprised that the hon. member should be made a tool of. The Premier hoped the House would come to a division at once, in view of the expressed opinion of the House in reference to goldfields subsidies. j Messrs Seddon. Cadmau, Moss, and Bevan also spoke. Major Atkinson denied the statements that had been made against hiro in connection with the goldfields. He claimed that his Government had been the best friend the goldfields had ever had, and he defied any one to contradict that with figures. His Government gave the goldfields districts gold duty as local revenue and passed the Crown and Native Lands Rating Acfc. Mr Bruce denied that in supporting economy, as he had done this session, he had been actuated by hostility to the goldfields members. Mr Guinness denied that he had been urged to his present course by any one. The motion to recommit the bill was lost, and the bill was read a third time and passed. The House rose at 2.50 a.m. There is a very strong feeling created against the Government in regard to their action in allowing twelve of their supporters to vote for striking out the special giants to goldfields. Pressure is being brought to bear on the Council to get it to throw out the bill.