PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 7 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, August 6.

in the Legislative Council to-day, ?<ir. Buckley raised a question of privilege He had' received a printed docnmetic unsigned, out purporting to express the wishes of the brewers, publicans, aiid spirit merchants of Dunedin. It was almost an intimidation' of the- Council. He believed other members had received copies. He was also often waylaid on coming to the Chamber, and asked about things of which he knew nothing. After some discussion the matter dropped, it pointed out that the Council could take no action on an unsigned document. I:i movitifc- fm' uiv printing of a return, Dr. Pollen s n.t.'v' -.hut '.. he revenue fvo.jj li:;: ies fi-i- use 1 i.« tineo years had hc-m L 40.376, L4:3,73'J, and L 44,151 respectively, He also complained of the incomplete accounts kept of the license fees through their not being under Government control. ■.. . The Council rose at 5 p.m.

In the House of Representatives today, Mr. J. B. Fisher moved that the report of the Goldfields Committee, in the case •if H. Rose and others, be approved oi. The motion w:t3 carried. The House went into Committee on the Native Land Sales Bill. Clause 3.—Mr. Reader Wood moved that the word " may " be substituted for the word " shall," so as to make the clause read " that the natives may at their own option bring the lands under the Act." Captain Russell felt that the effect of the Bill would be to prevent land being sold at all. He did not think the Bill as it stood would give satisfaction, and he would therefore support the amendment. Captain Colbeck concurred. So strongly did the natives feel on the subject that he felt quite convinced they woul<| be pared to fight rather than submit to the measure. Mr. Sheehan was quite sure if the Bill passed as it stood no . land would be brought under its operation, or if it did it would pass out of the hands of the natives without any corresponding advantages being sepured by thpftl, Sir G. Grey said that when the amendment was disposed of he would move the following addition—"Except as herein provided in case of native lands vested in trustees."

The question was put that the clause as printed remain part of the Bill, Ayes, 34 ; noesj 25, Sir G. Grey moved toe amendment of which he gave notice. His object was to provide that the sale of the lands would he competed for in open market, and the natives themselves g -t a fair price for the lands, The details of the plan would be unfolded in thp amendments introduced into other clauses of the Bill. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. At the evening sitting, on the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr. Oliver delivered the Public Works Statement, which will be found elsewhere.

Mr. Macandrew, in suggesting that the House dp no>v adjourn, referring to the Statement just made, said he was disappointed but not greatly surprised. Had the late Government been allowed to remain in office, lie believed that no interruption would have taken plaep in the prosecution of the public works policy of 1870. Mr. Hall said the Government was in the hands of the House as regarded the question of adjournment. He thought, however, they should go an with some other work. He hoped that hon, members would in the discussion that must necessarily ensue show how it was possible to go on with their public works policy as they had been doing two years ago. There was this difference between their present position and that of the preceding two years—they knew the real state of affairs now, whereas two ye?.rs ago they did not. Mr:'lreland demanded that the Government should state what was proposed to be done about the Kelso line;

- r, Oliver said that the hon, member was not singular in his desire for information of this kind. It was impossible for them to fulfil one-half the promises made regarding tiip prosecn'ion of railways. They would just have to w.'iit on, ami see what the development of events would bring about. Mr. Barron directed attention to a motion standing in his name re the withdrawal of the subsidies to local bodies, which had lapsed. He concluded by moving that these subsidies be paid up to the end of 1881.

Mr. Pyke said that he could see no reason whatever why the Government should delay givjng the Efousp iqfqrmation on the subject of its intentions regarding subsidies. The present stale of matters was exercising a most injurious effect on the Colony generally. Local bodies were, in view of the present uncertain state of matters, debarred from prosecuting necessary works. Until the Financial Arrangements Act was repeoled, the subsidies would have to be paid. Mr. M'Lean asked where the money to pay these subsidies was to be got, There was 3, deficiency of L22{S,QOQ, ans if they added L 275,000 for subsidies, that would make a total deficiency of L 500,000. The country could stand no more taxation. The Hon. Major Atkinson said that if the motion had been coupled with a proposal to double the property tax, then it would have been worth while discussing ; but with an empty exchequer it was impossible to find the wherewithal to. pay a sum of L 300,000. It ill became the member for Dunstan to make the remarks he had done, seeing ft tar. he was Ohairtnan »t Ci.-uutv in debt to the Government. It

whs no breach of faith on the part of tluGovernment, the suspension of these subsidies. Last year they had full notice that these subsidies would be stopped. There was not, as a matter of fact, any subsidy due up to next June, the sums having been paid up to 30th June last. He regretted the necessity for stopping these subsidies, but be did not sympathise with those bodies who had entered into large engagements on the faith of their subsidies. He advised that the motion should be withdrawn, as the payment of subsidies simply meant additional taxation.

Mr. George moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr. Pyke said they had been asked how the subaidieg \i-ere to be provided for. There was L 300.000 of estimated Land Fund. That was a fund out of which the subsidies' should be paid without the necessity of going to the Consolidated Revenue at all. It was a mistake to say there had been no breach of faith in the matter. Under the Financial Arrangements Act, the Government and Parlia-ment-undertook to pay those subsidies for a period of five years. In virtue of that the local bodies were justified in entering into contracts in anticipation of subsidies being paid until the expiry of that time. The notice given last year was accompanied with an assurance that other satisfactory arrangements would be made for these bodies, He would strongly advise the Government to take their fjpancial proposals ana get them remodelled. Major Harris said that abolition was .carried out on the understanding that five years J subsidies were to be paid. This was a direct breach of faith.

Mr. Richardson was sorry that in accordance with the usual practice the House had not adjourned after the Statement had been delivered. The motion for the adjournment of debate was withdrawn; also the motion made by Mr. Barron ; and on the motion of Mr, Hall the House adjourned at 9.15.