HOUSE OF REPRESENATTIVES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 286, 3 December 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENATTIVES

Wellington, Saturday. The House met at 2*30 this afternoon. Leave of absence for ten days was granted to Messrs Pyke and Seaton. In reply to a question from Mr Hursthouse. Mr Sheehan promised to comply with the request of the settlers of Motueka for a flying survey of a railway liue there. The Financial Arrangements Bill, introduced by message, was read the first time. Sir G. Grey moved the second reading of the Land Sales Bill. It was only a temporary measure, and to some extent to regulate the price of land until a regular system of classification could be introduced, which would be done next session. Ifc would not in any way interfere with the progress of the Settlement Bill, and ! would pave the way for an uniform land law. Mr Reid moved the adjournment of the debate, so that the Bill might be considered with the Financial Arrangements Bill. A clause in the other Land Bill could have done all this Bill proposed, and much better, as thc Bill was very contradictory. He feared it would stop all land sales. The Bill was supported by Messrs Stoufc, Macandrew, Gisborne, Kelly, Mauders, De Latour, and opposed by Messrs Travers, Sutton, M'Lean, and Lumsden Major Atkinson urged that the Bill should be considerd wifch the Financial Arrangements Bill. • If it would really do what the Government desired the Opposition would not oppose this Bill, but he feared it would not The question was really one of finance more than of policy. After some further discussion, the debate was adjourned till Monday. Mr Sheehan moved that the House adjourn till Monday, Mr Rolleston opposed this, and was speaking wheu the dinner hour arrived. The new Financial Arrangements BUI provides that all land revenue shall form part of fche consolidated revenue in lieu of sums payable to local bodies under the Public Reyceniies Act, 1867. Each County Council, Borough, or Road Board, shall receive from the consolidated revenue £1 for every £1 of general rates received by the Council. A separate account of land revenue accruing in each district shall be kept, and 20 per cent shall be deducted in respect of each district in which it accrued; the per centage to be paid out of the consolidated revenue, is to be divided between County Councils, Road and River Boards, and so much of the subsidies authorised to be paid by the Financial Arrangements Act, 1 .87*5 to County Councils, Road Boards, and River Boards, in respect of the fir3t half of the present finananciaf yesp, •shall be paid in accordance with the said Act. AU revenue arising from leases, or letting for go-11-mining purposes, shall be deemed as revenue, payable from the day this Act comes into operatiooj ajso aJ.J fees and fines arising under the Weights and Me.*^sujres Act, 1868. A number of sections of the laafc financial arrangements Act, inconsistent with i£e present Bill, arepealed. The Act comes into force on the first of January next.