PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 228, 5 September 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Press Association.) Legislative Council. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. Appointment. The Colonial Secretary (Mr. P. Buckley) informed the Council of his appointment to that office, and said he proposed to-morrow to state the polios of the Government. The Council adjourned at 2.40 p.m.

House of Representatives.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4. The House met at 2.30. Notices of Motion. Mr. Shepherd gave notice that he would move to-morrow, That Mr. J. W. Steward be elected Chairman of Committees. Mr. Guiness gave notice that he would ask if Government intended abolishing the postage of newspapers in this Colony. Mr. Fergus gave notice that he would ask Government to place a sum on the estimates to enable local bodies to keep down the kea pest.

Replies to Questions. Replying to Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Richardson said that railway employees known as workshop hands had special privileges in respect to holidays, and as these were quite equal to anything tradesmen outside the Government employ had, he could not undertake to increase the number of holidays. It would, he said, cost something like £l,OOO per day to carry out the hon. gentleman’s suggestion. Replying to Mr. O’Callaghan, Mr. Stout said that Government could see no necessity for amending the Rating Act, 1882, with a view to the relief of tenants not beneficially interested in the capital value of property leased to them, but if upon inquiry a deficit was discovered, that would be remedied. Replying to Mr. Fulton, Mr. Stout said that if a Post-office savings bank was found necessary at Greytown, Taieri County, it would be established. Notice of Questions. Mr. Johnston gave notice that he would ask when Government intended appointing a Committee to inquire into the best route for the North Island Main Trunk Railway. Notice of Appointment. Mr. Stout intimated that the Hon. P. Buckley had been appointed to the Government from the Upper House, and had been allocated the portfolio of Colonial Secretary. New Bills. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :— Kowai Domain Board Empowering Bill (Lance). Bill to enable trustees for religious, charitable, or educational purposes to form themselves into corporate bodies (Harper). Mining Company’s Act, 1878, Amendment Bill (Monteith), Bills of Exchange Act, 1883, Amendment Bill (Taiaroa). Second Readings. On the motion of Mr. Richardson, the Kaiapoi Domain Board Empowering Bill was read a second time. Mr. Ross moved the second reading of the Otago Horbor Board Empowering Bill. Mr. Holmes objected, contending that the object of the Bill was to hold out induce-

ments to vessels going to Dunedin instead of discharging at Port Chalmers. That would be a contravention of the express condition on which the Harbor Board Loan Bill of a previous session was sanctioned. Moreover it would affect the railway revenue, as the goods at present conveyed from Port Chalmers by rail would be landed at Dunedin wharf Messrs. Fergus and Stout supported the Bill, contending that it simply arrived at a uniform rate chargeable at all the ports in Dunedin harbor. Mr. Macandrew charged the Otago Harbor Board with having driven away traffic from the port in question. He would not oppose the Bill, but in committee he would oppose any attempt to increase the rates. If these rates were to be equalised, he would equalise them in the reduction of rates. Major Atkinson supported the Bill. The Otago Harbor Board was a body charged with a great duty, and not for the mere purpose of increasing traffic. It should not be handicapped in the way proposed. Mr. Mackenzie moved the adjournment of the debate, which was seconded by Mr. Shrimski. The latter complained that while Major Atkinson had opposed previous bills introduced by a supporter of his, he was found supporting this measure. Mr. Gillies supported the bill, arguing that the imposition of an excessive rate for goods landed at Dunedin was a most unfair proceeding to the commerce of Otago generally. Sir G. Grey supported the bill, contending that it was only right and proper that harbor dues under such circumstances as those in question should be uniform. If any injustice

was done in the way of reducing the railway traffic, then the manifestly just way to proceed was to vote a specific sum for such reduction, and not to equalise it by the imposition of unjustly unequal harbor dues. Mr. Richardson was understood to say that he saw no reason why the rate should not be repealed, so lung as it was not reduced below the amounts charged at similar ports through* out the colony. Notice for adjournment was lost on the voices. Mr. Ross, in reply, said that he had it on the bet.t possible authority that the reduction of tne iuil»vay traffic would not be affected by this bill in the slightest degree. The motion was carried, and the bill read a second time. Mr. Barron moved the second reading of the Caversham Drainage Bill.—Carried. Mr. Hatch moved the second reading of the Invercargill Reserves Leasing Bill. Mr. Stout opposed the bill, in respect that it desired to alienate a Recreation Reserve without making a promise for some other reserve. He would not oppose the motion, but in Committee he would be careful tu see that the proceeds of this alienation be voted to the securing of a more suitable reserve. New Business. Mr. Levistam moved, “ That a copy of the agreement existing between the Government and (the Union Steamship . Company for carrying the Interprovincial mails be laid before the House ; also a return of amounts (if any) paid to the said Company for running extra mileage in connection with such service. He complained of irregularity in the delivery of the ’Frisco mail at Nelson. Mr. Stout read a lengthened statement going into details of the arrangements with the Co. respecting the conveyance of these mails. The delays referred to were exceptional, and of rare occurrence.

Mr. Joyce denounced the statement just read as a most unbusiness-like affair, and called on the Government to take an early opportunity for getting it embodied in a formal contract.

Captain Russell complained that Hawke’s Bay had been equally neglected in the matter of the delivery of these mails. As a rule these mails did not reach Napier until after they had been distributed over the Colony, this came from the fact that no provision existed for conveyance of the mails down the East Coast.

Major Atkinson defended the arrangement as it stood. He invited the Government to look into the matter, and see if they could make any improvement on existing arrangements. Speaking for the late Government he said that the arrangement as it stood was the only business-like one which could be entered into. To make a hard and fast agreement, such as had been suggested, would entail an expense the House would not agree to.

Mr. Smith contended that a number of better arrangements, without entailing serious expense, could be made for the East Coast. The motion was put and carried. The House adjourned at 5.30 till to-morrow, at 2.30.