PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5837, 13 December 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. FkIDAT, IiF.CEMBER 12. The Hob. the Speaker took the chair a' half-past two o’clock. GENERAL. One petition and ten committee reports wert laid on the table. Ou the question that the Kawakawa Incorporation Bill be ordered foi second reading next day, Sir F. Bell moved the throwing out of the Bill, as it was too late to be properly dealt with.—Bill thrown out by 24 to 7.—On the motion of Mr. Mantell, his name was discharged from the Native Affairs Committee.—Captain Baillib moved, —That whereas it is impracticable to proceed with the Bills now brought up at this late period of the session, yet the Council is willing to receive them, and give them such consideration as the time at its disposal admits ; at the same time, this Council records its opinion that it would be very desirable, and tend to expediting the public business, if a practice were adopted to take up Bills in succeeding sessions at the stage at which they were left in the last preceding session of Parliament. —Mr. WatbrHODSE said much was to bo said in favor of such a motion, but inasmuch as it was of great importance and would be largely an innovation, there was not time to discuss it now. Captain Baillie should bring forward the motion early next session. Mr. Mantell and Mr. Reynolds opposed the motion, and it was then withdrawn. —On the motion of Mr. Whitaker, it was agreed that the standing order relating to the passing of public Bills be suspended for the remainder of the present session. Mr. Whitaker said be proposed that the Council should sit next day, and that Government business should have precedence. THE TB AEO RECLAMATION BILL. Dr. POLLEN moved,—That standing order No. 79 of the rules relating to private Bills be suspended, in order to allow of the passing of the Ta Aro Reclamation Bill this session. The hon. gentleman said there were circumstances in connection with this measure such that if his motion were not agreed to its passage this year might be endangered. The committee who were inquiring as to the interlineation on the plan might finish its labors so late that the forms could not be complied withunless the order were suspended —The Hon. Mr. Ketnolds and the Hon. Mr. WILSON did not see why an exception should be made for this Bill. It should take its chance with the rest. —Dr. Pollen said there were exceptional circumstances in this case, and he had been requested to move the motion by the committee.—Motion carried, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS. The Wellington Harbor Board Bill and the Ashburton County Connell Waterworks Bill passed their third reading ; the Electoral Acts Rep-ial Bill was read a second and third time; the Forest Trees Planting Encouragement Acts Amendment Bill and the Slaughterhouses Act, 1877, Amendment Bill were read a second time ; the Resident Magistrates Act, 1867, Amendment Bill was read a second time; the Registration of Hogs Bill was thrown out; amendments made by the Lower House in the Wellington Provincial District Highway Boards Bill were agreed to. The Council adjourned at 4.20 till 2.30 next day, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, December 12. The Speaker took the chair at half-past two o'clock. Several petitions were presented, notices of motion given, and papers laid upon the table. QUESTIONS. The Hon. Mr. CIS BORNE asked the Minister for Publie Works, —Whether the Government will, in accordance with the report of the Hokitika and Greymouth railway com. mittee, ordered by the House to be referred to the Government, direct a survey forthwith to be made to show the best line of diversion, in order that it may pass through Knmara, Goldsburougb, and Staffordtqwn ; and, should the cost of the diversion not increase the original estimate of the whole line, or only necessitate a small addition thereto, proceed with the line in the direction indicated. Also, whether the Government would in the meantime, as recommended by the committee, prosecute with all practicable despatch the formation of the line and bridges from Hokitika to the Arahura, and from Greymouth to the Teremakau 1

Tho Hon. Mr. OLIVER said the matter had been reported on, and the works were estimated to cost £20,000, which amount the colony was not prepared to spend under the present circumstances. Mr. LUNDON asked the Minister of Lands, —Whether the Government will give effect to the report of the Waste Lands Committee upon the petition of the*Borough Council of Onehunga on the subject of granting to the borough of Onehunga an endowment tinder the 350th section of tho Municipal Corporations Act. ISfd ? The Hon. Mr. ROLLESTON said the Government had no power to make any such exchange as that suggested. Mr. ANDREWS asked the Government, — IE they will make provision for persona to make deposits in Post Office Savings Banks without being compelled to produce the passbook ? The Hon. JOHN HALL thought that such a system would cause a great deal of trouble, and would not afford the same check which now existed. Mr. ANDREWS asked the Government, — If they will take the necessary steps to extend the money order system to £2O, instead of £lO, as it exists at present ? The Hon. JOHN HALL stated that the average of the orders sent was £3 only ; onetenth of the orders were for £lO, and any person wishing to send £2O could take out two orders. The Government, therefore, did not think it would be wise to alter the present system. Mr. LUNDON asked the Government,— If they will expend out of the vote for Public Works north of Auckland sufficient sums to carry out the followiog works recommended by the Bay of Islands County Council, viz.:— (1) Main Hue of road from Kawakawa to Ruupekapeka, as recommended by the Public Petitions Committee ; (2) continuation of Bay of Islands road from Kaikohe to Taheke bridge ? The Hon. Mr. OLIVER said it was very unfair to expect the Government to answer these questions, but they would do what they could after full consideration on the subject. The same answers would apply to the other questions on the paper by the same bon. member. Mr. LUND ON asked the Government, —If they will expend out of the vote for public works north of Auckland sufficient sums to carry out the following works recommended by the Mongonui County Council, viz.— (1) road from Awanui Portage to Rangaungu Bay ; (2) road from Awanui Portage to the West Coast Beach, as promised to Mr. Williams, the late member for Mongonui and Bay of Islands, by Hon. Mr. Richardson when Minister for Public Works ; (3) road from Mongonui to Ctuni, as recommended by the District anrvt'i-.;- Mr. Wheatman ; (4) bridge across Kaio, , uangaroa River, as recommended by tbo District Surveyor I The Hon. Mr. OLIVER said he could only give tho same answer as he had done to the last question. Mr. LUNDON asked tho Government, —If they will expend out of the rote of £65,000

for roads, bridges, and wharves, north of Auckland, sufficient sums to carry out the following works recommended by the Hokianga County Council, viz.—(l) wharf at Herd’s Point, as promised by the late Gov.-.i-am-.-nt, and in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the Public Works Department ; (2) main trunk road from Taheko Bridge to Herd’s Point ; (3) road from Okaihou to the head of (he Waihou River, at Pukeaitanga, as promised by the late Government, and recommended by toe Native Affairs Committee ; (i) a sum to supplement the survey vote for the widening of the road from Herd’s Point to Victoria Valley ?

The Hon. Mr. OLIVER had nothing to add to his former reply. Mr. LUNDON asked the Government,—lf they will pay over to Mongonui County Council the sum of £2900 in aid of local works, in like manner as was paid to all the other County Councils in the Provincial District of Auckland • The Hon. Mr. OLIVER said he had no reply to make. THE TELEGRAM INQUIRY. Mr. TOLE said that now that the evidence in this ca-e was p iuted, ho would like to knew what step the Government intended to take with regard to the report, its adoption or otherwise. The Hon. Mr. HALL stated that the hon, member for K-ien inn-t give notice of his question, and Mr. Tolu then said he would ask it on next sitting day. WORKING MEN’S CLUB SITES BILL. The House went into committee on the Working Men’s Club Sites Bill. Dr. WALLIS would not oppose the Bill, but he di<] not know why scientific and literary institutions, temperance societies, and young men and young women’s Christian associations, should not be included. Colonel TRIMBLE wanted to know how they were g"iu_' to define working men. Mr. ANDREWS said it was his opinion that these clubs were little gambling hells, ami were collections of men to get a drinking license who could not otherwise do so. Hu

wag opposed to the whole Bill, aud shou.d vote against it in all its stages. Other hou. gentlemen objected, and Mr. MURRAY would like to see a clause put in the Bill to prevent beer or spirits being drunk in the clubs. If the hon. member for Christchurch would move that progress be reported he would support him. Mr. SIiDDON considered the remarks of the hon. member for Bruce were a calumny upon the working man. After some discussion, an alteration was made in the Bill, striking out the words “ fee simple,” and inserting instead the words “such terms as may be determined upon.” On the motion of Mr. Stewart, it was resolved that such sites should revert to the Government if the objects of the club were diverted from for the period of six months. Mr. MURRAY moved the insertion of the following words :—“ Provided that no malt or spirituous liquors were supplied on the premises.” Mr. LEVIN would rather see the Bill thrown out altogether than these words added, for they would bo an insult to the working man. Mr. SPEIGHT thought they should pass the Bill as it stood. The way in which these clubs were conducted was in many respects better than the way in which some of the so-called fashionable clubs were conducted. The working man did not want patting on the back. Mr. FULTON did not think they should place any such restriction as this on the establishment of these clubs. Mr. MURRAY withdrew his amendment. The Bill was then reported with amendments and passed. OTAGO HARBOR BOARD EMPOWERING BILL. This Bill was committed, Mr. MACANDEEW strongly opposed the Bill, and said it ought to be postponed until next session, particularly as Sir John Goode’s report would probably be received in a couple of months. He indignantly repudiated any idea of having tried to prejudice the miud of such an eminent engineer as Sir John Goode. He had only had a few minutes’ conversation with tiir John, who had told him of his own accord that unless they were very careful they would wake up some fine morning and find their doors locked, that was to say, that they would find the entrance to the harbor blocked.

Mr. DICK, who was in charge of the Bill, reminded the House that Mr. Maoandrew represented Port Chalmers, which was to be affected by this Bill.

Mr. MAO ANDREW would inform the House that he held and expressed the same views now which he had held for years past. Mr. THOMSON moved that the borrowing power he restricted to £50,000 in lieu of £250,000. Mr. BARRON seconded the amendment.

After a oousidetable amount of discussion, a division was taken, and the amendment was carried by 28 to 18 votes. Mr. DICK then proposed that tho sum be £150,000. This was negatived on the voices, and a division called for with the following result : Ayes, 20; noes, 28. Ultimately the House agreed upon the sum of £IOO,OOO. Mr. MAOANDREW moved the addition of the following words : “Provided that not less than one-half of the proceeds of the loan be expended in deepening and improving the entrance to I )tago harbor.” The motion was declared to be lost on the voices. A division showed the following figures :—Ayes, 25 ; noes, 27. The Bill was then reported to tho House with amendments, read a third time, and passed. BILLS FROM THE COUNCIL. The Wellington Harbor Board Bill was brought down from the Legislative Council with amendments. The amendments were agreed to. The Ashburton County Council Waterworks Bill came down from the Upper House, and was read a first and second time, and ordered to be committed later. The Electoral Act Repeal Act also came down from the Council, and was read a first time. A message came down from the Council that that body did not further persist iu their amendments to the Mines Act, 1877, Amendment Act, 1879. A resolution reported from the Committee of Supply was agreed to. CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL. Major ATKI.SfSON moved the second reading of the Customs Duties Bill. Mr. SHEPHERD objected to the Bill, as he considered it pressed too heavily upon the backs of the people, who were already overtaxed, and did not sufficiently touch the pockets of the rich. When the Bill went into committee he should propose a reduction in this tax. Mr. MOSS also objected to tho Bill, which would throw upon the present burdens of the people an additional sura of £400,000. Mr. Moss was speaking at 5.30, when the House adjourned. On resuming,— Mr. MOSS continued his address to the House, and referred to a number of articles which he contended ought not to be taxed. Sir GEORGE GREY also pointed out that some of these Customs duties were of a very objectionable nature. The Government had already modified a great many of their proposals, and he hoped they would modify a great many more. They were placing very heavy burdens on the poor, while they were taking them off the rich. Dr. WALLIS would not allow the Bill to be read a second time without entering his protest. Mr. SEYMOUR GEORGE also protested against the Bill, and said he would divide the House upon it. The Hon. Major ATKINSON said it was very easy to be patriotic, but he would like his hen. friend to show how they were going to pay the debts of the country. The House then divided on the second reading, tho division being called for by Mr. George, with the following result : Ayes, 41.—Adams, Allwright, Atkinson, Bain, Barron, Beetham (teller), Bowen, Bryce, Colbeck, Dick, Finn, Fulton, Gibbs, Hall, Hirst, Hurst, Hursthouse, Kelly, Levin, Mason, Masters, McCaughan, McDonald, McLean, Montgomery, Oliver, Pitt, Reid, Richmond (teller), Richardson, Saunders, Seymour, Stevens, Studholme, Trimble, Wakefield, Whitaker, Whyte, Wood, and Wright. Noes, 21.—Ballance, De Lautonr, Fisher, J. 8., Fisher, J. T., George (teller), Grey, Harris, Hi lop, Macandrew, Moss, (teller), Reeves, Seddon, Shephard, Shrimski, Tainui, Tawhai, Te Wheoro, Thomson, Tole, Turnbull, and Wallis. THE FIVE MILLION LOAN. The Hou. JOHN HALL said he had that evening received a telegram from the AgentGeneral at Homo, stating that the loan had been subscribed twice over. (Cheers.) In answer to Mr. Kelly, The Hon. JOHN HALL stated that the price was 97J.

THE STANDING ORDERS. Stone discu-si n took place on the question of the i-taiiding orders being suspended with a view to new business being taken after halfpast twelve o’clock. A g.md deal of discussion took place, and a number of bon, members left the House, iu order tha: th-re should not be sufficient members to .owi.-od lb-- standing order-:. Mr. SJIUf.L-KI ..ugge.-’.-d that ir.-te-d ~f wa-ting time trying to couol; t!,e :I e.r. , Ihcv solved to adopt this eonr-e. MINIS i EUS. Tin; Civil List B U was brought down in a message from hi.-; Exceli- ncy the Governor. In answer lo a q..estioa, the Hon. JOHN Hall said the object of the Bill was to di.slribu'c the money now voted for raven Ministers .among eight. The Bill was then read a first and second time, mu] the House went into committee cn it, and ’t was afterwards reported to the House. BILLS. Ih e Tobacco Manufacture Bill was read a firs', lino, and (he House then went into commill.-; ou it, :l dit was afterwards reported to His iou-o, rer i a third time, and passed. The Ashburton County Council Waterworks Bill passed through ail its stages. CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL, The House then went into committee on the Cu-toms Duties Bill, and a good deal of dieciission took place on some of the clauses, bat no matcri d alteration was made, although there were several amendments proposed and divi-

sions taken. Mr. DICK hoped the Government wouhl see its wav next session to propose a duty on be r, and obtain taxation by means of education, and take the duty off some oilier things that were largely consumed by all dosses of the community. The Hon. Mr, ROLLESTON did not think it was a good tiling to have these constant changes in the incidence of taxation every session, if it could be avoided. Dr. WALL IS proposed that the tax should be taken off grain and pulse, but the motion was lost on the voices. Mr. ANDREWS proposed that the duty on timber he reduced from 2s. to Is.—Motion 'ost. Mr. ALL WRIGHT moved that the duty on tobacco be reduced by 6d. a pound. Motion lost. It was proposed to strike out the following line altogether : “ All articles not otherwise enumerated which are now chargeable with duty at 10 per centum ad valorem 15 per cent, ad valorem. The motion was lost on a division, the numbers being -13 —18. Progress was reported without amendments, and the Bill read a third time and massed. PROPERTY ASSESSMENT BILL. The Property Assessment Bill was recommitted for the purpose of introducing the following :—Section 2. After the subsection “property" insert—“assessment” means an estimate of the value of any property, as well as the amount of tax imposed on any property, and includes all matters comprised in any statement of property required by this Act. Same section. In the subsection “ notice,” after the word “ business” at its first occurrence, insert “in the colony,” Section 12. Omit “to which any person is entitled substitute “of which any person is owner.” Section 16. Add thereto : “ And no such insurance company shall be liable to taxation under this Act in any further respect. Section 21. Add to the proviso, and the interest of any occupier of such land shall be estimated at the sum such interest might bs expected to bring, if offer-d at public auction for cash. Section 26. Add thereto, all vessels of every kind ; all politics of life assurance, Section 77. Omit all words of the section after “ deputy commissioner,” in the sixth line, and substitute “on behalf of the Crown by suit in his own name.” The amendments were reported without alteration. The amendments were agreed to by the House. On the motion for reading the Bill a third time,

Mr. MAC ANDREW again recorded his protest against the Bill, although it had been greatly amended in committee. No modification would render it acceptable to the people. So long as they continued to find the means, the cost of Government would go on increasing. He held that the existing taxation of the country was perfectly sufficient, if properly dealt with, to provide for the ordinary and necessary requirements of the country ; hut assuming that he was wrong, he yet said that this was not the way to increase the taxation of the country. Why, for instance, should the people of the Bay of Islands be taxed for railways, when there were no railways within hundreds of miles of them. And the same might be said of other districts in New Zealand. The deficit ought to be made up in other ways. Those were the views which he entertained, and he thought the House, by passing the Bill, had belied its duty to the country, and ho should feel it to be his duty to divide the House on the third reading of the Bill. Mr. DE LAUTOUR wished to know whether the Government would keep their word and now state what was their intention with regard to the Bill. Mr. GISBORNE also believed the Bill was unnecessary and vicious in principle. He believed that very large sums of money might have been saved on the Estimates if the Government had thought proper. The hon. gentleman proceeded to state how he considered a considerable amount might be saved on the Estimates, and other certain sums placed into the exchequer by the sale of ministerial residences, furniture, &o. He also indicated the class of taxes which he contended ought to have been imposed instead of the property tax. Even at this the eleventh hour he asked the Government not to proceed with this Bill. If they did they would tie a millstone round their political reputation. Mr. SHEPHARD also protested against tbe Bill being passed, and addressed the House at some length. The Hon. Major ATKINSON replied. He said the remarks of Mr. Macandrew and Mr. Gisborne weuld have had a much greater moral effect if they had not come from two of the members of the late Ministry who had been ejected from the Government benches for their reckless expenditure. Why. that Government had expended money to the extent of several millions in two years, besides leaving a legacy of two millions of debt and four hundred thousand of deficiency bills; and now they came down and said there was no need of fresh burdens on the people. Could they believe then in their sanity or sincerity—how could they ? He had no hesitation in saying that these burdens were necessitated by the extravagance to which he had referred. Let them look at their deeds and not their words, and the country would then know how to judge them. The Government had looked upon this Bill as a stern necessity, but they had beeu compelled to put on sufficient taxation to cover their expenditure. They had declined to make great redactions, but they wmld do what they could in the matter. Their predecessors had in this respect been very lavish in their promises, but very chary in their performances. The Government would probably bring down a Bill for a penny tax. He hoped the House would agree to the third reading. The House then divided on the third reading, with the following result :—Ayes, 38 ; noes, 25. As the Speaker was about to declare the Bill passed, Sir GEORGE GREY said he desired to say a few words. He begged to state that when his Government came into office they found an empty chest, with a number of important works in progress, whose completion was a necessity. He had been pained at the remarks of the lion, the Colonial Treasurer. They were having money taken out of their pockets—stopped on ttie highway and robbed of their money, with the cry of “ Stand and deliver !" Tbe bon. member then proceeded to speak against the hon. member for Waipa, saying that if certain things eventuated his father would put his foot down on a certain Bilk Mr. WHITAKER rose to state that the remark was absolutely untrue. Mr. LUNUON could bear out the words of Sir George Grey. Mr. WHITAKER said his word should he judged as against the word of the hon. member for the Bay of Islands. Mr. LITNDON was continuing his remarks, when he was called to order by the Speaker. Sir GEORGE GREY continued his remarks, and said he was not quite sure what he should do now, as the word “ untrue ” had been made use of, and no attempt made to stop it. The Bill was then passed on the voices. A division was called for by Sir George Gsbi, but was not persisted in after the doors were locked and the voices were taken a second time. THE ESTIMATES. Mr. TURNBULL .-aid that before the sitting had closed he should vote that a million of money be struck off. The House then proceeded to consider the Estimates. (Left sitting.)