PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1127, 19 August 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[I>EE UNITED PIIESS ASSOCIATION.] House of Representatives. The House met at 2.30. Replying to question, it was stated in granting licenses to keep open until 11 p.m. the Licensing Commissioners of St. Alban's did so contrary to the Licensing Act. The business transacted at the Post and Telegraph Offices, Waimate, was not sufficient to warrant the erection of a new building. A letter had been received from the Mayor of Kumara complaining of the way in which Warden Stratford discharged his duties, and it would be laid on the table of the House. It was agreed the House should meet on Monday, at 11 a. m., for despatch of private members’ business. Major Atkinson said, before calling the first order of the day, he wished to explain that the Government had under consideration the amendment to the Loan Bill proposed by Mr Shrimski, and they came to the conclusion that the Clause was foreign to the object of the Bill, and would tend to defeat public interest; they would, therefore, ask the House not to consent to the introduction of the Clause into the Bill. The member for Motueka had tabled a motion which would raise the same issue. Believing that the House desired to discuss the question, he would ask them to postpone all the orders of the day in order that the motion might be at once considered, and in doing so he would move certain amendments to the motion, expressive of the views of the Government on the point, and to refer for consideration to a select committee, to report within one week after the motion was disposed of. The Government would proceed with the Loan Bill. Every facility would be given to the House to consider what action should be taken, and in order that the whole subject might be the better decided upon, he invited them to consider it apart altogether from party considerations. Mr Montgomery would oppose the Loan proceeding until the point raised had been decided.

Mr McDonald said that unless embodied in the Loan Bill the clause would be rendered imperative. The House divided on the motion for postponement of the Orders of the day to allow Mr Hursthouse’s motion to be brought on— Ayes 45, noes 29. Mr Hursthouse then moved that those districts thx-ough which Government railways ran should be charged with the difference between working expenses, including interest on cost of construction) and a receipt for such railways.

Major Atkinson moved as an amendment that the principle of special taxation of pro petty increased in value by expenditure of public money, and the construction of railways, harbors, etc. ; that to give effect thereto was beset by ;nany difficulties, and that the same be referred to a Select Committee to consider and report upon the whole subject within one week, the said Committee to consist of J. E. Brown, Sir G. Grey, Hursthouse, Macandrew, Hurst, Shepherd) Sutton, and the mover,

The debate was interrupted by the 5.80 adjournment. At the evening bitting of the House the debate was continued at great length, Sir George Grey asked that his name might be left opt as he had no hope of converting such a committee to his views, Mr Montgomery contended the only way to do justice was to avert to the original revenue of 1870. Messrs Trimble, Levesham, and Kelly opposed the motion altogether, Mr Williams spoke strongly against borrowing at all for some time to come, Mr Connolly supported the amendment. He thought a progressive land tax on an increased property tax the best course. Mr Holmes supported the motion, and Mr Hurst the amendment. Mr O’Callaghan thought a progressive property tax would meet the case. After the usual adjournment Mr W. C. Buchanan urged not to waste more time, but divide at once. Messrs George and Smith said to refer the question to the committee would simply be to shelve it. Mr Barron thought a month might profitably be spent in discussing such an important question. Mr Munro supported the amendment, and Mr Duncan and Mr Harris the motion. The House divided on Mr Hursthouse’s motion, which was lost by 38 to 22. The amendment then became the substantive motion, when Mr Seddon moved the following amendment—That an address be presented to the Governor asking him to introduce a measure to provide that when any railways are made through private or Native lands, and where such land or lands adjacent are proved to be increased in value by the construction of such railways, the lands should be valued and classified before the railway is commenced, and thereafter that on the increased value given to such land the owner shall pay — per cent, of such increased value to the Crown, or as an alternative shall 5 per cent, per annum on the whole amount of the increased value given by the construction of railways to such land. That should the land-owners refuse these terms then that the Crown be empowered to purchase such lands at the price at which they were valued prior to the construction of the railway being determined, the terms and conditions to be settled by arbitration. After further considerable discussion Mr Seddon’s amendment was rejected by 32 to

Mr Moss then moved a further amendment that further consideration of the New Zealand Loan Bill be deferred until the Committee reports and the report is adopted. This was also rejected, on a division, of 30 to 21, and Major Atkinson's motion was carried, Mr Seddon’s name being substituted for Sir G. Grey, and a proposal to substitute Mr Ahrlmski's for Mr Hutton's, being lost on the voices. The House rose at 2.25,