PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1133, 29 August 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PEB UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION.] House of Representatives WELLINGTON, Yesterday.

The House met at 2.30 a.m. On the motion of Mr McKenzie the Land Act of 1877 Amendment Bill was, on a division of 29 to 50, recommitted, and the following was added as a new clause—“No original holder, transferee, or other person occupying any pastoral land, either by himself or jointly with any other person under license or lease from the Crown, capable of carrying, in the whole, twenty thousand sheep or more, or of four thousand head of cattle or more, shall be entitled to become tne purchaser or transferee of any pastoral licensee or lease after the coming into operation of this Act; and should any original holder, transferee, or other person so occupy any pastoral lands as aforesaid become the purchaser of any run hereafter exposed at auction, all payments of rent made in accordance with the conditions of sale shall be forfeited to the Crown ; and any license or lease issued shall be deemed to have been void and of no effect from the date of issue.”

The Bill was read a third time and passed in Committee of the whole House. Mr Johnstone moved as follows:—(1.) That it is not expedient that an attempt should be made for the present to establish a direct steam postal service between England and New Zealand, the large subsidy which would necessarily be required would more than counterbalance the advantages; (2.) That the San Francisco mail service, now in operation, should be extended for two or three years if the cost of extension does not exceed the present cost to the Colony ; (3.) That it is of importance that there should be a monthly passenger and mercantile steam service established between England and New Zealand, by suitable steam vessels; (4.) That the length of the voyage each way should not exceed fifty days ; (5.) That any contract should not be for more than three years ; (6.) That the cost of such service to the Colony should not exceed £40,000 per annum; (7.) The Government are hereby authorised to take the necessary measures to give affect to this resolution. He said that it was found that a subsidy of £160,000 would be required for a service to be performed in 30 days, and that was considered too much at present.

Power to renew the San Francisco service was asked, subject to any arrangement that might be made with New South Wales to defray part of the cost. At present New Zealand paid £5350 for this service, and they asked the power of renewal on the understanding that the amount would be about the same as at present. The mercantile service referred to would be of great service in developing the trade of the Colony and encouraging passenger traffic. Mr Dargaville moved as an amendment that power be given to the Government to make the terms five instead of three years for renewal of the San Francisco contract.

The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

This Day. At the evening sitting, Mr Dargaville’s amendment was negatived, and the original resolution agreed to. On Clause 3, Mr Johnston said tenders would be called for for the direct mercantile service.

Mr Levestam moved an addition to the Clause—That the subsitly should be raised by those ports of the Colony which were benefitted. Sir J. Hall moved as an amendment— That the service should be every two months instead of every month. Messrs Levin, Pyke, Macandrew, W. C. Buchanan, Connolly, M. W. Green, and Daniel, supported the original motion, and Messrs Seudon, Shepherd, and Sheehan opposed it. Sir John Hall’s amendment was negatived by 52 to 22, ami Mr Levestam’s by 64 to 4. The resolution was then passed as printed, as also No. 4.

No. 5 was carried by 44 to 23. After the usual adjournment, on Clause G Mr Shrimski moved—That the amount of subsidy be £20,000 instead of £40,000. Mr Johnston said the Now Zealand Shipping Coippany offered a service for £30,000, but wanted a long term, It would be better to give more for a shorter period. The route and ports of call would be left to the contractois.

Several amendments were proposed, but ultimately the £40,000 was utruok out on a division of 46 to 30, and £20,000 inserted, by 58 to 18. After further discussion, Clause 6 as amended was passed. No, 7 was, at Mr Fish’s suggestion, amended by requiring tenders to be called for the service, and, as amended, was agreed to.

The House then resumed, ami the resolutions, as a whole, were reported and agreed to on division of 52 to 9. The House rose at 2. The House met at noon.

The Protection of Telegrams Bill was reported from the Legislative Council with amendments which were agreed to. Replying to Sutton, Bryce said the Government understood that the petitioner, Walter Shrimpton, was satisfied with the action taken, and that there was no further intention of of taking the opinion of the Court of Apical as to whether the Native laipin duty paid by him was uoiTectly assessed by the Chief Jjid/ge.

Replying to Mr Pyke, Mr Bryce said that the Government considered that the police were fairly well paid, and that no addition to their present rates of pay was contemplated. The claims of long service men were at present under consideration. Replying to Mr Wright Mr Dick said the Government would be prepared to take steps to supply public libraries with copies of “A Treatise on the Grape Vine,” by Dr. Fredk. Mohr.

Replying to Mr Daniels, Mr Dick said a subsidy for libraries would be proposed on the supplementary estimates, and, if passed, would be distributed amongst libraries without delay, care being taken that small libraries would have a fair share of the sum.

Replying to Mr J. W. Thomson, Mr Rolleston said the expense of Forest Conservation was so great that the Government could not consent to timber licenses being made County Revenue. Replying to Mr Tole, Mr Dick said that in the case of Wren at Auckland, charged with embezzlement, a miscarriage of justice appeared to have taken place, and an amendment in the Larceny Act would be made so as to meet the requirements of similar cases. Replying to Mr Feldwick, Mr Dick said as it was so late in the session the Government did not propose to press the Bankruptcy Act this session. The Bill would be circulated during recess, so as to enable the mercantile public to form an estimate as to its provisions. Replying to Mr Steward, Major Atkinson said the ten per cent, reduction had been generally restored on salaries of officials. The House adjourned at 1 until 2.30 p.m.