Untitled

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 556, 13 August 1851, Page 3

sUncos of Jsfp, tLe very objection uiged pioved the applicability of the principle. In a young colony like this, congregations would'in many parts of the country be often small, and the objects of the bill.ifeaniod out, vvtTQ so simple as to ptove its utility. The Colonial Tblasuufii thought if this were the only clause in the bill it would be very useful, but as the bill at present stood, it would be better omitted ; he considered the danger to be not m granting the privilege, but in taking- it away, should circumstances afterwards render such a course necessary ; ns persons living in the interior of the country who were infoimed of the appointment of an individual as officiating Minister might not be made acquainted with the subsequent withdrawal of his appointment. Sin Gtonoi Ginr said they had been told this wai the only usoful clause in the' bill, but he *vould lemind the Council that under the existing law he might appoint Deputy Registrars, and the Colonial Secrptaiy had written to Ministeis of diffeient denominations offering, on the pait of Government to appoint them ; in. reply to his offer some Ministeis had consented to be named, otlieis bad indignantly refused. It would shew great ignorance of the prejudices of humau nature to force persons to accept an office against their inclination ; if they wished to be hbeial they should not enforce their liberal measures in a tyrannical manner. As soon as objections were raised to tho Oidinance, he might appoint Registrars, but he could not compel them to serve. lie (Sir G-porge) had offered to create the Ministers Deputy Registrars. The Council might, if they pleased, pass an Act compelling him to play the tyrant, but in that case they must also enact penalties, as banishment or imprisonment, on clergymen who should refuse to serve. The Colonial Treasurer's amendment was notseconded, and after the consideration of the remaining clauses of the bill the Committee adjourned.

Tuesday, July Ist. Cantlrbury. Association. Mr. Cautley gave notice La would move for the appointment of a committee to prepare an address to the Crown on the proposed extension of their district by the Canterbury Association. Fiom previous discussions he thought it evident that the Canterbury Asso1 ciation had attempted an encroachment on another settlement ; lie should prefer seeing the address prepared by the united wisdom and judgment of three or four members, than that so delicate a matter should be undertaken by himself. Sir Glorge Grey considered the best plan would be to agree to an address in general teims, praying that no privileges should be granted to Associations which vrere not equally granted to all classes of her Majesty's subjects. As an illustration of the principle which was at present in operation in the Canterbury Settlement, if it weie supposed that the block of land of that Association was to be extended in such a way as to embiace two hundred families who had been pieviously settled in, the district then, as it must be admitted that it was not an extravagant supposition that a hard working industrious man should wish to increase his property to the extent of fifty acres, if the whole number were to purchase 10,000 acres they would have to pay a tax of £10,000, for the endowment of a church to which they might not belong. It appeared very hard that a law should be suddenly made to this < fleet, that a settler i could not increase his property without being subject to j the operation of an indirect tax of this kind. If something were demanded in the first instance, if an Association were required first to pay for its land, in the same manner as the lest or' her Majesty's subjects, a guarantee would be given that they would not ask for moie that they could use. It appeared a hard case because a body of men possessed powerful influence, that they should be able to impose restrictions on the rest of her Majesty's subjects to obtain advantages which were not accoided to them. Or to place the 1 argument m another shape, if it were supposed a work- [ ing man could lay by £20 a year for the purchase of I land, the effect of the regulation complained of was to say, you shall not become a proprietor of such a property as every man might fairly look to ncquiie, until you have worked two years and a half for a church to which you may not belong. It would be necessary that one uniform principle should be adopted to enable porsons with confidence and certainty to embark capital in New Zealand. The Colonial Treasurer thought that, apart from the consideiation of the good or evil to that settlement, there was quite evidence enough before the Council to induce them to tiy to pi event the extension of this pnnciple. From the mere working of the New Zealand Company for ten years immense difficulty had arisen, and the formation of other Associations with such privileges would increase these difficulties. He thought it would be better to address the Crown against the piinciple generally. Sir GkonoK Gaby said the Crown land 3 should be disposed oi under one uniform system to all classes of her Majesty's subjects. If the object of an association were to buy r million of acres, they would be able, under bucli a system, to do so, and then would be at liberty to do what they pleased with their own private property; but this *as not the case at present. Her Majesty had foimerly given up her power over all lands in the Austiahan colonies, and an Act of Parliament had been passed, which declared that henceforward land in these colonies should be disposed of on one uniform system, and on equal teims to all persons. An act had subsequently been passed for the purpose of enabling the New Zealand Company toanange their affairs, which repealed the Australian Lands Act as far as i elated to New Zealand; the effect of this lepeal was that the Crown was again at liberty to make what airangements it plaised with regard to Crown lands in New Zea and ; and advantage waa taken of that repeal to have upwarcis of two millions and a half acres of land placed at the disposal of the Association. He wished to see the Council confine themselves to one principle, to the lecogmtion, as a great national principle, of the establishment of one unifoiin system m the disposal oi the waste lands of the Crown, and to the existence of an equal right in all her Majesty's subjects to obtain land under that system. He agreed with a previous speaker that they should do every thing in their power to promote the inteiest of the Canteibury settlers, but this Council might think it incumbent on them to ad» dress the Crown, praying that land should, for the future, be disposed of on one uniloim system, to make it perfectly certain that no indirect tax should be im- ] osed on any classes of her Majesty's subjects, that no large distnets should be closed against their enterprise, and to secure to all an equal light in the pui chase of land. Mr. I3lix thought it would bs expedient to examine the various ways th°.t land had been disposed of in this colony. There was no difficulty in coming to an opinion on the profuse gnnt to the Canterbury Association, but he should prefer onteimg into the more extended question. After some further discussion Sir George Grey said he was afraid, unless a stop I wtre put to persona in England acquiring tracts of land, tt> try expt-iimenth on, without being i squired, in the fir^t instance to purchase such lands, there would he no land to tiy a uniform system upon. Her Majesty had foimerlv used most gracious and touching expio&sions on the subjtct, and wished to assist these colonies in every way. Oi.ly yesteiday he (Sir George) had accidentally heard i fa new association to be formed, and that application had been made to tbe Secretary of State for a track of laud as compensation to certain absentees r Jheie was already a debt of £268,000 owing horn the colony to the New Zealand Company, 360,000 acres were admitted to be due to their land puichaseis, and this additional compensation was proposed to certain absentees. It was desirable to reveit to the former plan, which wimld be acting in conformity with the Royal pleasure. No argument was necessary in England to establish tins, a-* the whole ptmciple was long since admitted by the most eminent men ot all paities. la aij&wer to a few observations by the Attorney G( neral of New Zealand, Sir Grouoc Grly said at the present moment this feeling, winch had never existed before, had grown to this heigh', that an agent of a private association should have tbe power to send home a recommendation that a laige ti net of land should be taken from her Majesty's subject-, instead of sending it tlnough the Governor, who could then have Lid it beture this Council for their infoi nwtion, and have taken the opinion of the colonists upon it. 'Ihe first time he leceived officially a copy of the act, giving the Cameibuiy Association the entire condol over their pies-ent large block of land, was in the Statutes at huge, lie had lecdved a copy privately from an lion, member. In lejily to some observations of Mr. Cautley on the liberal provisions made bv the Nelson settlers for administeiiii" their liust Funds, His Excellency caused some menunent by a&king the lion, member, as a proo of the good voi king of the system he had descnbed in such glowing tonns, to inform the Council when these Tuist FuiNb weie paid, and how theywete applied; and w hen the interest had bean paid, and who had received U.

Addhl^s uo hie Cuown. Mr.^CAiurxv baitltb.it, seeing an attempt had been made i\y thp CanteiJuiry Association to encroach oil tbe JVelton iJittlemuKt, he kit U incumbent on him to resist

tins enrioacbnient ; I avin« it, tbeirfoip, to anUhei member to mow a general address, lie would mo?e the following lesolut ion ,, — ■ 'lli.it this council hfvvuisj i"a^on to lipli«vp that it i& the intention of me( antcrbuiy Association toemlr.mun to obtain an extension oi the limits of iheii pic-fiit teintoiy, a committee he appointed to report wlietiici. looking to the principles on v% hicli the A-s<>mno:i has been founded, and the po it'on of thp Lnd adjoining to that tcmton, suoh extension would tend to promote the iutetpsts ot the whole colony, in oidei tli.it, it they lie of a contiaiyopimon,an Aildi'^sto the Cionn should be prenaied bv them to that eileel, and should bo -?übiniued for the coiisuleiation of the Council on a fuUne occasion; and fiat the committee do consist of the lion. Colonial S«,ro\iry of ISew ftluus-ter, Mi. 8011, J\Jr. Caiitley, Mr. llk lison. j '1 he motion was bonded bv Mr. Hick-son. The Cof.omal TiiuAsuiun thought it would be better thp address should be fiarntd on general grounds, as otherwise it might appp.ir as if directed against the Canteibiuv Association, r.ither than against the puu<'iple of that Association to which their objections applieif. Mr. Dillon said a positive evil was inllictpd hv this encioichiucnt. ih believed the settlers at Nelson wcie unaninH)ii-l> 0,-posed, -posed to it. At Akaroa theie weie two LundiPfl Koiu.in Catholic families living tln>re before the formation of the C.'.ntPiburv settlement; these persons had not been consulted in any one of the nilansrcments that were made, and would have to pay £l to the Anglican church for ever,) acre ol land they puichasetl. Tho Colonial Sicuft\ry of Xlw JMunstir proposed that thcie should be two spp.ir.itp addiet-scs, one refening, to the peculur injury caused by the operation of the piinciple oo, .iplauicd of, the other on general gioundt-, he vrouul thi-iefoio moye — Tli-at an address he piesentcd to Her Majesty praying that in ouW to enable the settlers of New Zealand to engage with seouiitv imhl confidence in the vanous pursuits connected w-j th the occupationc upation of land, Jler Majesty will, in accoid.uice with the course «o bencficiallv followed by the Ciown on a forinoi occasion, m sauctiouui^ the c'luic-lmpnt by Parliament ot the Australian Waste Lands Act, be graciously pleased to direct the •adoption oi some one simple and umfoim system for the oii[,inal disposal, in the first instance, of waste lands by the Crown, whether to individuals or associations, foinied (or the puipose of founding settlements on peculiar systems, with divei.se modes, of disposing subsequently of such lands, and to cause such uniform system to he rigidly adhered to foi the fuline. Sir GroßGh Guly said one difficulty pi esonted itself to the motion in its pie^ent foini, that the Canterbury Association was not the only Association. Some time ago a gentleman had infoimed him the Oiago Association might obtain a cuaaer if they pleased, he had al&o heaul the absentees weie applying for alaige tract of land. If lln-y waited until they received detailed information on the subject they would wait until the mischief was done. These Associations acted as if the people and the Government of Now Zealand weie not inteiested m the mattei ; no infoimation was afforded, and tb«y conespoiukd with their \ gents as so many independent Governments. Both her Majesty and her Majesty's advisers, in confening these privileges, believed they were consulting the wishes of her Majesty's subjects, and if they weio opposed to such a system they should state their sentiments. A representation had already been made upon behalf of the Nelson settlers, to the Governor which had gone home. The Council then divided on Mr. (JnutU'y's motion. In favour of the mo'ion 7 ; against it 6 — Carried. The Colonial Sioßr.rAiu's motion was adopted and Le was requested to piepaie the address.

Thursday, July 3rv, 1851. Dunns or Customs B^ll. On the motion of Mi. Ilickson the Council went into committee on Customs bill. Mi. Hickson moved, as tin amendment, that the duty on flour bo permanently taken oIT, Mr. Caujlia opposed the motion, and in answer to the hon. member's argument on a foimer occasion that the freight and charges on flour from the Aus'ialinn colonies amounted to a piotcctive duty, observed that it was well known the fi eight from ono settlement to another was as expensive as the freight from Sydney. The CoLLiCTon of Customs said this was not a question of freight or of value, but the object being to tax as few articles as possible for the purpose of raising a revenue, the quebtion was what articles should be taxed. Ihe Coiomal Secretary of New Muxerrn said the duty on flour was easily collected, and, being an aiticle of geneial consumption, pressed more equally on all classes than any other duty. Foimt'ily when duties were altogether lemoved, the leveiiuewus thrown aw ly. In repealing the duty on tobacco ior sheep washing, the Council lelicrved an auicle necosoiry for pioduction. Mr. Bell said thib was a tax on one of the necessaries of lifb and pressed upon the poorer classes. The Colonial StcRLrARY of Nlw Mus'stlr wished to know who weie the pooier classes 1 Such an argument might be applicable m an old country, but he did not believe there was such a class heie. Tobacco, on which the duty was remitted tor sheep washing, v.is an ingredient required to assist in the pioduction of the most valuable expoit in the colony. The committee then divided. For Mr. Ilickson's amendment 6 ; against it a ; amendment carried. The Coi lector or Customs proposed a further amendment on the iepe.il of the duties on all ai tides of corn, meal, and flour, which was lost. Mr. 811 l wished, as they had leversel the decision they had made a formight ago by lepe'ding" the duty on flour, they would recoiioider the duty on another aitide, lie would piopose an additional dutj' of one shilling a gallon on spirits to ma! c up for tl\e loss of revenue by the repeal of the duty on flour, a loss which would bo moie consuleiable a» population increased, lie thought that if the duty were taken off a noces-...ry of life, it would be light to make good the deficiency '03 imposing it on a luxvuy, especially a» the duty was iemoved fiom an article wbicl> was least likely to be smuggled. > Mr. Uicksov could assure the Councd if the duty en sjuius were laised to peven shillings a gallon, the amount of duty would be less than was icceivod at picsent. The Committee divided. For the amendment 5 , against it 7 ; Amendment negatived. The committee then adjourned and report was brought up. The Collector, or Cusioms said ho hoped, when the now scale of duties came into opeiation, that all paitios would bo Uented alike ; if a diilerence was to be made in favoui of thoso who had spirits in bond, an undue advantage would be given te mercantile houses heir. He thought if a higher rate of duty were imposed, it should be imposed at once, whether on s pints now in l>ond or on fiesh impouauons. Mr. 811 l thought the postponement of a month, in imposing the additional duty on spirits, would occasion a considerable loss to the revenue. Mr. UicKsoN said thnt it would m/iko veiy little diffeience to the revenue whether the met eased duty c.une into operation in a few days or a month , as, 111 the interval however sboit, pei sons would laise money to take spirits out of bond. 'lhe Collector 01 Customs moved the bill be lecommltted; seconded by Mr. Bell. The Colonial Si enr 1 ahy of New Ziatand wis of opinion, as tbo intention o( tho legiilatuie was known in this settlement, the advantage of a previous notice should be given to the other settlement*!. Mr. Bill thought there were fair grounds for recommitting the bill, as during the absence of the Collector of Customs, two important previous decisions of ; the committee weie 1 everted. The CoiLicroa of Customs, when he fiist proposed a date at winch tho bill should come into operation, liad no idea any diff'eiencc would be mr.de between goods in bond and those imported. Colonel MCli vi hty was of opinion tho mercantile inteiest would gain by any delay in imposing the higher duty at the expense of tho icvenue, as they •would obtain the spints at the lower duty, and chnige the additional shilling a gallon to their customer 1 -. He referred to the Customs' Oidmance of IHJG, the last clause of which enacted that the Ordinance should come into opeiation at Auckland the day following the passing thereof, and at evury other poit of entiy within the colony the day next following the receipt of a copy thereof by the principal officei of Customs of <-ueh poit, and thought the Council should follow the example of their predecessois. Sir Gforgt Ghey desired, after what had passed, to see the bill recommitted, to obtain further intoimation on the subject. In the hist place, the piesent bill was intended to bo a permanent measure, and would form lhe babis'of considerable fu'uro modifications in the taiiff. Hip intention vns Ik-i falter to 'Ac tho duty oft" many articles, when l\w c^pciience oi tbo pifocm 6}^tem had shown f 10111 tho duty on \\ !iich ;u!icics ft sufficient revt'uue cui«!d bi iij.ii l , -o a^^lo p.e-^tiio lesst on die (O'timuiiity- 1\ .vas d< -ii.,!,ic, th-nlnn 1 , tli.it the measure should be !>>ou.,ht into ojjO'at.tin 111 such a maiinpr as tv u<> ilw *„! good, am! to i.iiorfcie least with ecu^iy mtdi.'il-. ho ap.mliend 'd if

1 the bill weie not hiotinhl into ojK'i.itioo toi a mouth, (he spintt, would bell at the same pi ice ; it" he weie to allow that two m >i'nis' consumption of spmts were f Avn out oi bond, thcio would bo a co.'isidei.ihlf loss nil-ing horn loss of interest, expuue of sioie loom, and othoi causes, so (hat it was not cpitnin t hat an additional duty of odd shilling pei gallon would be so great nn inducement, as to cause so huge a, stock to be taken out of bond as was supposed, but thcoe were que-tions on which b Q desned to be inibimetl. The bill was then ieconn<nt(»d. Mr. Jjili. was of opinion that the bill should come into opeiauon the day alter its pavung, in Wellington , and at all other pom of entry in the colony the day after it was re<.eived. If the bill was an improvement on the former one it could not too i,ooti oorne into opeidlioii, and he thought it advisable (hat the Council should come to a final \ote on the subject, and bung the measure into operation. Mr. Hicksos ofo&eued that no alt^iation had been made m (he duty on tobacco, except that used for sheep washing 1 . 'Ihe increased duties on wines would consult lably exceed what had pio.viou'Jy been collected. Wine had been entered for duty at the avei.igp value of £o the quarter-efsk, whicli at ten per cent, pioduced a duty ol 10s. A quaitei-cask contained '?6 gallons, a. id, at the rate fi-i dby rhis Act of Is. Od. por gallon, would pay a duty of ol's. After Mune fmtLoi diseuss-ion Sir Gi ohoe Gni-> said tbeie were several points that 1) id not been touched upon. II the amount of spr.ifs i.i bond woie supposed to h" 5,000 gallon«, the lota! proht tv having tiie additional duty of one shilling per gallon would amount to JS^.V.); to obtain that a n->k would be incurred of £1,^50, the amount of duty paid at st-. per gallon: for if nny accident occurred on spirits in bond, occasioning loss, the duty was not charged on the bpnits so lost; but if any accidtnt occmred to them out of bond, the whole duty was lost. There was also to be cnnsuleied the loss of interest on the money paid lor duty; agam, the uicuhnnt could ha idly hope to realize the whole of the additional duty ns his profit, as fiom the efleU of competition the piofit would be dnided anion^ peusoin, and to mako that small proht ore.n n-Jz would be incuneJ. he thought, therefore, the profit that u igbt be made was fsom the-^e ] cuises overestuiiatPil, as were consequently the objection-, against allowing; the bill to come into operation I after the proposed delay. Mr. Hi i l said the bphil: now in bond in this settlement woie estimated not fo exceed ten weeks con^tunp- j tion; taking into account the discount on the money [ requned foi the payment of duties, it would t-tdl l»-ave a considerable piofit to take the spmts out of bond at lower rate of duty. •'Hie Li i uiLNAN-i-GovrßNOii wag in favour of passing the bill as pi iiited for two leasons — first, that even lithe re\emie should suffer by the spirits being taken out of bond at the lower rate of duty, it would be better to fall back on the general inciease of revenue produced by the alterations now made ; and secondly, he thought that due notice should be given to the public of so important an alteration. The Committee then divided on the amendment. There weie in favour of the immediate opeiauon of the increased duty on spirits 10 ; against it 3— carried. The Committee adjourned, and tho leport with the alteiations was brought up and adopted. ! The CoLLi-cion of Customs moved that the standing oiders be suspended, and that the bill be read a thud time. Mi. IJicKsox moved that the Council be adjourned, as he considered the suspension of the standing oideis to be an extraordinary pioceeding. '1 he Coi onim. Si.cn li a uy of Is'kw Ztai and seconded Mr. Ilickson's amendment, and considered it unseemly and utiusuvl thut the bill should be passed with such precipitancy. Mr. Hickson could not conceive what emergency existed for requiring such haste in passing the bill. Mr. Hill said it was necessary to pievent the operation of the bill being fiustiated, he for one should say let it be done. The Cotonial Ss ( rliary of Xcw Munster observed that all the reasons which apply for the delay of one month apply for one clay. Unless hon. membeis wished io frustrate v. bat was done they would let the bill l>e passed at once. ! Jmi'Giorou Gnfcv objected to the proposed course for i he following reason. As the bill stood yest-iday, it was not intended to come into opeiauon for seveial clays, tho ?th of July having been fixed as the penod for us coming into force. That land of warning had been given, when a memorial was presented to the Council asking for further delay, end ou the receipt of the mcmou.il an additional delay of one month was gi anted. 'I hat resolution was now rescinded, and it was piopofeed to pass the b'H immediately. The memomhsla may compl tin of lnv'ng been tin own oft' their guut.l by jesteiday's proceedings, and though, strictly <,ppakm o -, they bad no right, they nri^ht with some bliow of justice complain they had not received sufficient warning, lie was not quite satisfied these sudden changes were judicious, and thought tho proceedings of the Legislature should carry with them a ceitaiu degree of weight from the deliberate manner in w Inch they were conducted. He should therefore much prefei the Council would allow these alterations to be printed, and that the bill should be passed to-morrow, instead of hurrying it through the Council in the manner now pro posed. The Committee then dnided. For the suspension, of the standing oideis, 9; against it, 1. Mr. llickljn said tbt- piocoedings li?d taken such an extraoidinaiy tit t n that he must decline to take fuithei charge of tLo bill. The Con icrou of Customs moved tho third reading of the bill, which was seconded by Ah. 8111, and the bill was lead a third time and passed.