PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 11 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(by telegraph.) Wellington, August 10. In the Legislative Council to-day, The Diseased Cattle Proclamation Bill, the Crown Grants Act Amendment Bill, and Otago Road Hates Validity Bill were read a first time. Mr. Taiaroa sent in a petition asking to be allowed to give evidence re his disqualification. Mr. Wilson gave notice for the appointment of a Committee specially to consider Mr. Taiaroa's case. The Disqualification Committee reported that after examining the Uw they found it necessary on a member becoming disqualified that the Council should pass a resolution to the effect, and communicate it to the Governor. The report was ordered to be considered next day.

Colonel Whifcmore asked Mr. Whitaker to make a statement as to the public business, so that the Council might be guided in its action for the rest of the session, and not be debating Bills to be ultimately dropped.

Mr. Whitaker said he could add nothing to what had been said by Mr. Hall in the Lower House on the previous day. The Public Health Act Amendment Bill, Oamaru Waterworks Act, 1875, Amendment Bill, and Invercargill Drill Shed Site Bill were read a third time and passed. Mr. Whitaker gave notice to bring in a Bill to amend the Debtors and Creditors Act. The Council rose at 4.40. In the House of Representatives today, Mr. Macandrew gave notice that he would move that a new clause be added to the Native Lands Sale Bill, affirming the principle that an equal number of natives be associated with the Waste Lands Board in dealing with the native lands question. Mr. Bowen asked what steps Government propose to take to give effect to the offer made by Mr. Gilchrist's trustees of the scholarship of LIOO per annum tenable for three years to the candidate who passed best at London University Matriculations held in New Zealand.

Mr. Rolleston was glad the opportunity had be«n given to refer to this matter. Recently a communication had been received from the authorities in England that the scholarship in question would have been opened for competition if the examination papers had been received, and would have to be sent Home as soon as the examination could be held. It was somewhat unfortunate that the notice should be short, but it could not be helped, and the official notice would appear in the next Gazette. The value of the scholarship was LIOO per annum for three years, and would be held upon condition that the holder goes home to England and attends either the University of London or Edinburgh to prosecute the study of lav/ or medicine. He hoped, short notice as it was, it would bring some one of the young men of the Colony to the front. Replying to Mr. Richardson, Mr. Oliver 3aid there was no truth in the statement in one of the Christchurch evening papers of yesterday that a new office had been created in Dunedin, viz., that of Assistant Paymaster on Railways.

Replying to Mr. M'Donald, Mr. Bryce said that L6OO, being a year's salary, had been paid to the widow and children of the late Judge Young.

Replying to Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. Rolleston said the Government has had its attention directed to certain proposals for obtaining land on deferred payments made by the men employed at road \york on the Waimate Plains, and that the land would be opened for selection by every one, but Government did not intend to deal with these proposals in any speoial way.

Major Atkinson said that the Beer Duty Bill would be brought down in a few days. The following Bills were discharged from the order paper :—Town District Fisheries, Education. Reserves Amendment, Public Entertainments Prohibition, Cemeteries, Eire and Marine Insurance Companies, Gaming and Lotteries, Hawkers and Pedlars, and Peace Preservation Bills. Mr. Turnbull resumed the debate on the motion for going into Committee of Supply. Mr, Lundon moved the adjournment of the debate.

Mr. Moss, speaking to the question of adjournment, blamed the Government for attempting to suppress the question of local administration, but cautioned them that the outside public would not be so easily silenced. Government sat there day after day doing nothing more than the work which should be done by an under-secretary, while the House was discussing large and important questions. He only desired to raise a debate that would tend to guide public opinion. He would rather withdraw his motion than see it go to a division on a silent vote.

Mr. Swanson contended that the proposal was unavoidable. If a Commission was to be appointed, they ought to have appointed it out of the House. He was very glad that the motion was going to be withdrawn, despite the strong feeling he had on the question of local self-govern-ment.

Mr. Dick said that had the Government entered on the debate they would simply have been encouraging an endless debate out of which nothing could possibly come. It would be necessary that they should first ascertain that this was the wish of the people.

Mr. Reeves said that "this was one of the most important questions of the session, and that was more than Government had attempted to propose. They saw the Premier come down that day and withdraw a number of Bills upon which they had wasted a lot of time. Mr. Pyke said he did not know but a drifting to provincialism would be better than to go on as they were going. He asked Government to lead the House. Mr. Hall said Government had endeavored to lead the House in really practicable measures. The Opposition, however, had done its best to impede that progress. Mr. Sheehan said that abolition had been a failure. Half of the time of the House was taken tip discussing parish business. They had just seen a number of important measures slaughtered while their time was being occupied with questions of roads and bridges. He did not think they could go back to provincialism, but they could do this—they could adopt a modified system of provincialism and thereby relieve this House of a deal of business that was not only keeping the really useful business back, but was actually demoralising the House. There had been an unfair distribution of public money; really needful districts were to get nothing, and other districts were to get more than their fair share. There were a number of most important works for which no provision was made in the Public .Works Estimates. They were told that there was no money for these works, but he could tell them where money was to be got if they were at all honest in looking for it. There was a liability against the loan of over L 1,100,000 for native land purchases. Now they were going to abandon these purchases, so that fund would be available for public works purposes. Mr. GTsborne was disappointed with the character of the Public Works Statement. He had expected to see a document with a broader grasp of the subject, and one which dealt more fairly with different parts of the Colony. Mr. Hall said that it could not be said that the jjWest Coast had been unfairly treated, when the documents before them showed that the sum of L 1,300,000 had been spent in the district. It is not denied that there were breakers ahead, but what they were counselled to do was to go on, and all would come right. That was not the policy of prudent men. They were told it was not a statesmanlike Public Works Statement. Had it scattered broadcast moneys, then it would have been a statesmanlike production, but he would contend that it was a thorough statesmanlike document. It dealt with the question of the unemployed. Then it dealt with the question of how railways were to be made to pay. He contended these were subjects in all respects statesmanlike. They had prepared the material for revising the railway tariff, and so soon as they were relieved from the cares of Parliament they would at once proceed to elaborate these proposals. They were in that position when they must not only provide for the current year, but, in consequence of their inability to go into the money market till 1882, they had to finance up to that period. It had been suggested that, as they had a certain amount of money to spend, they could spend it at once. That was the course folio wed for some years, but after it was done they found the appetite for railway works increased. It was their aim to bring back the Colony to its normal state. In doing so they were ijo unpopularity, and if they consulted their own popularity they would abandon their seats to those who were less scrupulous. Before sitting down he would refer to the remark made by the member for Cheviot. He had described Mr. Blair's letter as disgraceful. There he differed from his hon. friend. What Mr. Blair showed was that these waggons had not been made by contract for which he was responsible. Mr. Saunders said that the report itself simply left the blame upon the dual system, which, there could be no doubt, was responsible for the slovenly way in which these waggons were turned out. Mr. Barron hoped they would not borrow any more for payment of interest on loans, and that they would be enabled to trust to the internal resources of the Colony. He hoped their desire for economy would not; lead them to under pay railway employes, to whose care and attention the lives of hundreds of people were entrusted.

The motion for going into Committee of Supply was then put and carried on the voices, no division being called for. Class 10. Vote, Mines, L 22,550.

Mr. Oliver, in the course of the discussion, said there was an intention on the part of the Government to redistribute portfolios, and that the mining interest would receive more attention than had been given. The item was reduced LXSO, and the balance passed. Class 2. Vote, Railways, L 608,818 4s W.

Mr. Oliver proposed to reduce the item L 47,889. Mr. Hutchinson inquired if no attention was to be given to the report of the Civil Service Commission in dealing with this vote. On the question of reduction, Mr. Speight asked if it was meant that cleaners, set down at 6s 6d and 6s per day, were to be reduced 10 per cent. Mr. Oliver replied that they did not undertake to make a 10 per cent, reduction on every item. On some they might make more and others less.

In reply to a question put by Mr. Andrews, Mr. Oliver said they were not at all likely to require any wore engines for some years. Mr. Hurst said in the North they had railway workshops, and he could not see how it was that railway carriages, even although they cost a little more, should not be made in the Colony. Mr. Richardson pointed out that on some sections wages were set down at per day and others at per week or per year. This rendered comparison difficult. He saw a large item for stores, and would like to know whether stock had been taken lately, and whether if so the value could be stated. Mr. Oliver said stock had been taken lately, but he regretted he could not at the moment state the value of the stock on hand. He still more regretted to state that, within the last few weeks, the Auditor-General had discovered a very serious deficiency in the store account, one amounting to nearly LIOO,OOO. Since the initiation of the Public Works policy, he might add that no charge of misappropriation was made against any particular officer. The matter was being inquired into. Mr. Shrimski could not understand how such a discrepancy could have occurred if there was an annual stock-taking and balaqc^,

Mr. Stevens thought a full enquiry should be macfe into the matter, and the result made known to the House before it rose. Mr. Oliver said that the matter ha 4 been brought under notice by the AuditorGeneral, and he was waiting further in-

formation. These deficiencies hod nam mulated from 1871.

The item as proposed to bo reduced passed. Architect's Office, L 1485. Passed. Government Domains, Lll9l 4s. Carried on a division of 34 to 14.

Item, Public Buildings, 1,20,585. Agreed to. Item, Inspection of Machinery, LI9OO Agreed to. Progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 1.5. TO-DAY'S SITTING. Wellington, August 11. The House met at 11 o'clock, and went into Committee on the Counties Act Amendment Bill.

Mr. Sutton said the measure was paltry and trifled with important subjects, oil which comprehensive legislation was required. He moved that the Chairman leave the chair.

Mr. Hall said there was no doubt the whole subject of local government would have to be considered at some future time but the present Bill waß required to amend patent defects. The motion was negatived, and the Bill reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. Mr. Rolleston moved the Becond roading of the High Schools Reserves Bill. He stated that it was based on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on higher education. ' Mr. Tole thought there was no necessity for the Bill.

Mr. Hursthouse also hoped the Bill would not be allowed to be passed. Mr. Rolleston stated that the proposal to withdraw the Bill involved the question of the stoppage of secondary education in many districts. The House divided : Ayes, 40; noes, 33. The Bill was read a second time.

The Joint Stock Company's Act, 1860, Amendment Bill was committed, passed through Committee, and reported with amendments.

Mr. Sheehan protested against Committees being allowed to sit when tho House was sitting. The House was just now almost empty, and if a division was called members would rush from committee and vote without knowing very well what they were voting for. Mr. Hall said the House was no thinner than usual any evening after ten. The Dogs Registration, Brands and Branding Bills were read a second timo. Mr. Hall moved the second reading o£ the Fencing Bill. Mr. Swanson moved as an amendment that the Bill be read this day six months, The House divided—Ayes, 34; noes, 16. The Bill was read a second time. The Thames Water Supply Transfer Bill was passed through Committee with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 2 o'clock.