PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1144, 11 September 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PEB UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

Legislative Council. WELLINGTON, This day. The Council resumed at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Mr Stevens continuing the debate on the Loan Bills. He deprecated the loan being divided into two parts. He failed to understand why a country with such a fine climate and abounding with rich resources should borrow at a higher rate of interest than other British Colonies.

Mr Oliver was surprised at so much opposition being given to the loans, and assured the Council the Colony could not get along without borrowing. Mr Miller while upholding the present Govarnment for their honest management of public affairs said he could not conscientiously vote for the Three Million Bill. He did not believe a direct railway line from Picton to Christchurch would connect the two places more than at present because most of the travelling public would take steamer between Wellington and Lyttelton. Messrs Wilson, Holmes, Fraser, Reynolds, and Peacock also spoke against the second reading. Mr Robinson spoke at considerable length in favor of the Bills, saying he knew most of the lines proposed and quite approved of them. The only one he aid not know and had any doubts about was the Cent ’al Otago one, and as his hon. friend Mr I o 1 nes had stated this was really the best line of all he was content to accept that assurance and vote for the loan a’chough Mr Holmes would not. Mr Dignan supported both Bills. Mr Menzies expressed regret that borrowing could not be dispensed with for another year, but could not oppose the Bills as tho Government declared them necessary. Mr Bonar strongly supported further borrowing. Mr Mautell did not approve of increased loans, but was prepared to yield his convictions to the strongly expressed opinion of the representative chamber. Mr Whitaker in replying said he did not think the amount proposed to be borrowed was at all unseasonable. He was quite sure the whole of the railways would pay interest on the cost of their construction. In conclusion he hoped to see all political distinctions and political boundaries done away with. The Council divided on the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Bill: Ayes (24) ; Messrs. Ackland, Baillie, Bonar, Brett, Buckley, P. Dignan, Grace, Gray, Hart, Henderson, Johnson, Lahmaun,Martin, Mantel!, McLean, Menzies, Miller, Oliver, Pharazyn, Robinson, Whitaker, Wrigley, Williamson, and Woods. Noes (9); Fraser, Holmes,Peacock, Petrie, Reynolds, Scotland, Stevens, Whitmore, and Wilson. On the New Zealand Loan Bill the House divided. Ayes 20, Noes 13 : Ayes : Ackland, Baillie, Bonar, Breit, Buckley, P. Digna l ' Grace, Hart, Henderson, Johnson* Lahmann, Mautell, Martin, McLean, Oliver, Pharazyn, Robinson, Whitaker, Williamson, and Wood. Noes : —Messrs Fraser, Grey, Holmes, Menzies, Miller, Peacock, Petrie, Reynolds, Scotland, Stevens, Whitmore, Wrigley, and Wilson.

Both Bills were then committed and reported without amendment and passed. Mr Oliver moved the second reading of the Inscribed Stock Loan Bills which was agreed to. Mr Whitaker moved the second reading of the Roads and Bridges Construction Bill. Mr Reynolds said it was absurd to think hon. gentlemen could study Bills as they were being rushed upon them. He hoped such an agitation would take place shortly that would be the means of doing away with the Legislative Council altogether. For himself, he wiped his hands of all business and so let the blame rest on the heads of the Government. The second reading was then agreed to, and the Council rose at 5.30 p.m. At the evening sitting, the following were finally passed:—Colonial Inscribed Stock Loan Bill, Roads and Bridges Construction, Customs Duties, Consolidation, Mining Companies’ Registration, Validation of Counties Act Amendment, Auckland Museum Endowment, Otago Harbor Board, and Fencing Act Amendment. The Gisborne Harbor Board Bill was read a second time and passed through Committee, The Council adjourned at 11.45

House of Representatives. The House met at 2.30 on Saturday. The Orakei Native Reserves Bill was reported with amendments by the Legislative Council, and approved of. In reply to a question by Mr Taiaroa, Mr Dick said the alleged disqualification of Mr Pharazyn, who was covicted of corrupt practice, was a matter for the attention of the Legislative Assembly, and not for the Government.

The amendments made by Legislative Council on the Special Powers and Contracts Bill were not agreed to, and a committee was appointed to frame the reasons of dissent. On the motion of Mr Rolleston a committee was appointed to frame the reasons of dissent to the amendment proposed by the Lerislative Council on the Land Bill. Tiie following bills were read a second time :—The Public Revenues, Banka and Bankers’ Act Amendment, (Atkinson).

In committee, the Tauranga-East Coast and Hot Lakes District Railway, Public Revenues, Banks and Bankers’ Act Amendment Bills passed. The House adjourned at 5.30. At the evening sitting, the Registration of Births and Marriages Amendment Bill passed through committee, and it, and tho Banks and Bankers’ Bill, Taurangu and Hot Lakes Railway Bill, and Public Revenues Bill were read a third time and passed. The Council’s amendment in the District Railway Bill, and Road Boards Bill, were disagreed to. Major Atkinson intimated an intention of asking the House to express an opinion whether Ministers would not now be justified in drawing the 20 per cent by which they had voluntarily reduced their own salaries some time ago. The House then went into Committee on the Supplementary Estimates. Class 1, £36oB.—The item £3OOO for introducing the electric light passed after discussion. The cutlery and glass for Bellamy’s, £133, was objected to by Mr Shepherd ami others, and passed by 40 to 9. The item “Librarian — addition to salary, £50,” was struck out by 21 to 14. The item lawn tennis ground, £46, was struck out, the committee saying they had not asked for it. At tiie request of the Speaker, Major Atkinson promised to pay an additional £I.CO I

to the clerk assistant, and an extra £5O to Fie Sergt-at-Arms out of the unauthorised expenditure. The vote as reduced was passed. Class 2.—Colonial Secretary, £11,465. The item £5OO for the Loudon International Fisheries Exhibition was retained by 26 to 16. The vote passed, as also the votes of Class 3, Colonial Treasurer, £18167. Class 4, Minister of Justice, £2421 ; Class 5, Postmaster-General, £630; Class 6, Commissioner of Customs, £5088; Class 7, Stamps, £658 ; Class 8, Education, £9170, including £6OOO subsidies to district libraries. Class 9, Native Affairs, £2129 ; Class 10, Mines, £2460; Class 11, Public Works, £44,681 ; Class 12, Defence, £70,457, including £5OO additional to the Rifle Association.

Considerable discussion took place over the item £50,000 for harbor defence. Tiie item was ultimately agreed to. On the item of pay to the Thames Volunteers for service at Parihaka, as recommended by the Public Petitions Committee, Mr Bryce moved that the item be struck out. He considered the mercenary spirit displayed in this claim was a disgrace to the Thames men , and brought the whole volunteer force into contempt. Major Harris, Mr Dargaville, and Mr F. Whitaker warmly defended the Thames Volunteers.

At 1L55 the discussion was interrupted, and the House adjourned till 10 this morning. The House met at 10 a.m. On tiie motion to go into Supply, Mr Sheehan moved that the House take into favorable consideration the report of the committee on the petition of Detective Farrell. Mr McAndrew supported him. Mr Bryce objected to interfering with discipline. The amendment was withdrawn.

In supply the debate was resumed. On the item miscellaneous defence, Thames volunteers, Mr Sheehan supported and Mr Hursthouse opposed the vote. Mr Bryce said the corps was entirely mistaken regarding their engagement. They expected only to be engaged a couple of weeks, but he informed them explicitly that they might be required for two months, or till lawfully discharged. After 31 days they were lawfully discharged. The officers of the corps had acquiesed in the compromise already carried out. Mr Sheehan said the telegram was explicit enough that the term of engagement should be at least two months. Mr Rolleston thought they had been liberally dealt with. The motion to omit the item was carried by 30 to 26. The vote as aeduced passed. Crown lands, £l5O ; Miscellaneous, £9,784, including £3,695 to meet the awards of military and land claims commission, A division took place on the item of compensation and interest to John Kelly for loss of land, £l5OO, which it was proposed to reduce by the amount of interest, £564. Tho item as printed passed by 31 to 30. The total vote passed, mines and prospecting, £5OO ; Colonel Treasurer, miscellaneous, £3,508; Public Trust Office, £220; native reserves, £301; Government insurance, £8,500; printing Brogden papers, £400; Havelock wharf, £4OO ; all passed. Public buildings. £21,000; on the item £20,000 Parliament Buildings, Johnson Baid the £lO,OOO suggested by Montgomery was found insufficient to provide for afire proof library, widen corridors, erect a new kitchen, and other absolutely necessary improvements. Mr Barron opposed the vote. No further expenditure should take place, also a suitable room should be pravided for the use of the leader of the Opposition. Mr Fergus, as a practical man, said £lO,OOO would not do the works required. Mr Shepherd said to reduce would be parsimony not economy. McAndrew opposed spending more than £3,000.

Mr Wright considered better provision should be made for strangers, as there were constant interruptions from behind the Speaker’s chair. Replying to question, Mr Johnston said that the services of a professiohal architect outside of the Government would be called in. Mr Hall thought that a comprehensive plan of improvements should be submitted to Parliament. The amendment that this item be admitted was lost by 26 to 33.

Mr Barron moved that the sum be reduced to £3,000. Lost on voices, and the motion to reduce the item to £lO,OOO was carried on voices.

Mr Barron moved to reduce it to £5,000. Lost by 31 to 25, and the item £lO,OOO passed. The remaining votes on supplementary estimates passed as printed. A Conference was appointed to confer with the Council on the Land Bill.

The House adjourned for lunch at 1.30 p.m,