PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5103, 1 August 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 31. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. NEW MEMBER. Sir Francis Dillon Bell was introduced by the Hon. Major Richmond and the Hon J. Johnston., and sworn in. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to the Hon. Mr. Robinson. NOTICES OF MOTION. Several notices of motion were given. MOTIONS. The Hon. Mr. BUCKLEY moved,—Thatthere be laid upon the table of the Council copies of all correspondence between the Government and the banks of New Zealand and New South Wales, with reference to the loan of £500,000 each obtained from these banks. —Carried. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved, —That a committee, to consist of fourteen members, beappointed to consider all Bills that may be introduced into this Council affecting the waste lauds of the Crown, with power to confer with any similar committee appointed by the House of Representatives, and to report generally upon the provisions and principles of such Bills, The committee to consist of the Hons. Sir F. D. Bell, Captain Fraser, Dr. Menzies, Colonel Whitmore, Messrs. Acland, Bonar, Campbell,. Holmes, Hall, G. B. Johnson, Patterson, Robinson, Williamson, and the mover. Subsequently, after discussion by the Hons. Mr. Hall, Colonel Whitmore, Dr. Menzies, and Major Richmond, it was carried that the members of the committee should number nine (net fourteen), and that they should be chosen by ballot. A ballot was then taken, which resulted in the following gentlemen being selected:—The Hons. Drs. Pollen, Menzies, Sir F. D. Bell, Captain Baillie, Colonel Whitmore, Messrs. Acland, Bonar, Hall, and J. R. Johnson. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved for leave to introduce a Bill intituled an Act to encourage the planting of forest trees.—Granted. The Bill was then read a first time, ordered to be printed, and to be read a second time on Thursday next. orders op the day. Civil Service Acts Amendment Bill, second reading.—The Hon. Dr. Pollen moved, — That this Bill be discharged from the Order Paper.—Carried.—lt was understood that this amounted to the final withdrawal of the Bill. Industrial and Provident Societies Bill, second reading. This Bill passed its second reading, and was then ordered to be committed. Constabulary Bill, third reading. This Bill went through its third reading, and was passed. The Council then went into committee on the Friendly Societies Bill, and shortly afterwards adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 31. The Speaker took the chair at halfpast two o’clock. PETITIONS AND NOTICES OP MOTION. Petitions were presented by Messrs. Swanson, Cox, Stout, Lusk, Reynolds, Bryce, Hon. Mr. Bowen, Sir Robert Douglas, Oapt. Morris, and others. Several notices of motion were given. Among others was one by Mr. Burns, for information regarding the working expenses of the Government s.s. Hiuemoa; also for the appointment of a committee to enquire whether there is any necessity for the continuance of the weather reporting and storm signal department. QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr. Rolleston, the Hon. Mr. Whitaker said it would be too expensive to print the suggestions made by the several county councils and road boards, and by conferences of members of those bodies, as to amendments in the Counties Acts and the future system of local self-government. In reply to Mr. Seymour, the Hon. Major Atkinson said a return referring to reductions made on the Estimates in Committee of Supply was being prepared, and would be laid on the table shortly. In reply to Mr. Richmond, the Hon. Mr. Whitaker stated that it was the intention of the Government in amending the Rating Act. to relieve the road boards from the compulsory annual valuation as laid down in clause 6; but it was not proposed to leave the road boards themselves to determine when it was necessary that a new valuation should be made.

Mr. TOLE asked the Commissioner of Customs, —(1.) If the Government intend, during this session, to introduce a Bill to amend and consolidate into one Act the Marine, Steam Navigation, and the other Acts in the colony relating to ports, navigation, and shipping? (2.) In the event of no such present consolidation, would the Government during this session, by Bill, • amend the Marine Act, 1870, so as to extend the provisions thereof relating to pilot exemption certificates ?

The Hon. GEORGE McLEAN said the Acts relating to shipping were being consolidated, and the Government proposed taking recommendations from the Harbor Boards on the subject. In answer to Sir George Gret, as to whether any steps had been taken towards the prolongation of the Mercer Railway to Taranaki, The Hon. Mr. Ormond stated that the extension of the railway through Waikato, which was the first work to be undertaken, could not be completed within the present year. Mr. MAC ANDREW asked, without notice, whether the rumor had any foundation that the Government had given notice to the contractors for the Middle Island steam service that the subsidv had ceased. The Hon. GEORGE McLEAN replied that the service was being carried on from month to month, and that he had called for tenders, but none would be accepted until the sum placed upon the Estimates was voted by the House. In answer to a question by Mr, HUNTER, whether steps had been taken to ensure the speedy publication of a revised edition of the “ New Zealand Pilot,” the Hon. G. McLean said a fresh supply had been ordered, and steps taken to ensure that copies might be obtained at the different Custom Houses throughout the country. A number of questions were asked relative to matters purely of local interest in different localities throughout the colony. The House then proceeded to the orders of the day. Motions Nos. 1 and 2—Committee of Supply and Committee of Ways and Means, were postponed till a later hour. AUCKLAND HIGHWAY DISTRICTS VALIDATION MLL. Mr. REES moved the second reading of this Bill, which was carried, and the House then went into committee upon it. The different clauses were fully discussed, and passed without amendment. The Bill was then reported to the House, read a third time, and passed. CROSSED CHEQUES BILL. On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Whitaker, the House went into committee on the Crossed Cheques Bill.—An amendment was proposed by Mr. Swanson that the Act should not apply to cheques for a less amount than £2O. He pointed out that unless cheques under that amount were made negotiable without being crossed, it would be a source of hardship to the laboring classes.—The Hon. Mr. Whitaker intimated that he would accept the amendment. A discussion ensued, and another amendment was proposed, to the effect that the sum below which no cheques were to be

crossed should be £lO instead of £2O. Both amendments were lost, and the Bill passed through committee without amendment, was read a third time, and passed. CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS BILL. The adjourned debate on the second reading of the Charitable Institutions Bill was resumed. • Mr. HODGKINSON considered the operation of this Bill, as constituted, would be of no practical benefit; the burden of relieving the poor would be unfairly distributed under the system of charitable institutions, and he believed the Bill would be ineffectual, inasmuch as the Consolidated Revenue would not bear the burden which would devolve upon it. • Sir R DOUGLAS desired to know whether the Government intended to regulate the payment of subsidy, so that the people would be able to erect cottage hospitals and such like institutions. If so, he should be found in the ranks of its supporters.. The Hon. Mr. FOX regretted that the mover of the Bill had not offered the House more information relative to the position of the country regarding this subject. He quite recognised that the House was bound to pass some measure to meet present emergency, and he would be prepared to support the present Bill, on condition that its duration should be understood not to extend further than next session of Parliament, when a Bill should be brought down, based on information as to the working of the Act in other places. _He approved of the principle of throwing the administration of relief upon the localities themselves, because they could grapple with the reality of the cases brought before them. Unfortunately that House had, by an Act of last session, given to the local, boards and councils the strongest inducements to act in a way which encouraged the worst class of paupers by giving them (the local bodies) the revenue derived from public-house licenses. What he suggested was that the Government should appoint a commission to draw up a report, which should enlighten the House as to the mode in which such a measure should be framed ; and unless an assurance to that effect were given he should vote against the Bill. At this stage the debate was, on the motion of Sir George Grey, adjourned. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The House went into Committee of Supply, and The Hon. Major ATKINSON delivered the Financial Statement as follows : Mr. O’Korke, —It is true, as is generally believed, that we have reached that point in our scheme of Public Works and Immigration when the revenue is suffering to the greatest extent possible from the large unproductive expenditure upon railways in course of construction. It is also true that there is abroad a considerable feeling of uneasiness, amounting in some quarters to anxiety, arising, from the belief that the services of the year cannot be satisfactorily provided for except by the imposition of increased taxation. I have therefore, knowing the strong desire for early information upon this important subject, taken the first opportunity afforded by the rules of the House to place before the Committee the financial policy of the Government. I trust the Committee will approve of the course I have taken in this matter, and that honorable members will believe that in submitting for their consideration the statement and proposals which I am about to make I am fully conscious of the magnitude and responsibilities of the trust which this House has seen fit to repose in me; and I hope that, looking at the very exceptional circumstances against which the Government have •had to contend, the Committee will extend to me its consideration and indulgence. I shall, sir, to-night endeavor to direct the attention of the Committee to the broad features of our finance, avoiding as far as possible all mere details, which honorable members will find very fully set out in the usual returns and tables which will be in their hands immediately. I propose, as on previous occasions, to consider, first, the Loans and Public Works Account, and then our Expenditure and Revenue. LOANS. —PUBLIC WORKS ACCOUNT. The Public Works Account, as honorable members are aware, consists of the balance of the General Purposes Loan, the Immigration and Public Works Loans of 1870, 1873, and 1874, certain contributions from the Canterbury Land Fund and the Confiscated Lands, £750,000 of the New Zealand Loan of 1876, and of one moiety of the Stamp Duties collected up to 31st December, 1876. But before considering this account, it is desirable that I should state shortly what action has been taken under the New Zealand Loan Act, 1876. That Act gave authority to raise £1,000,000 for the following purposes:— £350,000 additional Ways and Means required for Public Works to the 30th of June last ; £400,000 for such expenditure as the House might direct between the close of last year and the date at which further funds could he provided during this session for the continuance of our Public Works; and £250,000 to provide for probable contracts, and other liabilities of the Provinces requiring to be met before the end of the financial year. When authority was asked to raise this £1,000,000,1 stated that we had grounds for believing that we could get the money in the colonies, and that if this should prove to be the case we should gladly avoid going upon the London market for another year at least. Our expectations in this respect were realised, and we have succeeded in obtaining the required amount upon the following terms:— From the Bank of New South Wales, r my colleague, Mr. G. McLean, obtained an advance of £500,000, secured upon short-dated debentures, bearing 5 per cent, interest, payable half-yearly in Wellington, and one-half per cent, commission. The principal is repayable in London in three equal instalments, at intervals of one month ; the first instalment falls due on Ist December, 1878. From the Bank of New Zealand we have also obtained £500,000, secured upon short-dated debentures, bearing five per cent, interest, payable half-yearly in Wellington. The principal is repayable in London upon the 16th February, 1879. We have also entered into a further arrangement with the Bank of New Zealand by which, under the bank agreement, we can obtain an advance of £400,000 upon remittable securities, instead of £300,000, makiag the total advance we are entitled to under that arrangement £500,000, and fixing the 15th February, 1879, for the repayment of all such advances. I shall presently explain the object of this arrangement. Papers relating to these transactions will he laid upon the table. The House during the last session made very liberal provision for Immigration and Public Works, the total sum voted for these services being £2,032,286 6s. 3d. Of this large sum £1,480,617195. 2d. has been actually expended; the balance being £551,668 7s. Id., which represents a saving to that amount upon the year’s expenditure. The Committee will remember, that in asking for these votes, I said I regretted having to ask for so large a sum, and that my honorable friend the Minister for Public Works would restrain the expenditure as far as was compatible with prudence. That is, we pledged ourselves to the House to reduce the expenditure under these votes, if in our opinion it could be done without injury to the Public Service. I wish to call the attention of the Committee to this fact, because the Government have been very unjustly blamed for not having expended the whole of each vote. If any particular district has been unfairly neglected the Government are clearly blameable. But, sir, I have no doubt my honorable friend the Minister for Public Works will be able to give a good reason, to the satisfaction of the House, not only for what has been done, but also for what has been left undone. If I understand the feeling of the House upon this point, it was this, that the works were to be steadily pushed forward as rapidly as might be, but always bearing in mind that our expenditure must be largely reduced and brought within more manageable limits. I will now state the position of the Public Works Account, as a whole, on the 30th June last.