PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 238, 18 September 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Press Association.) Legislative Council. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17. Nothing of importance was transacted in the Council. House of Representatives. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17. The House met at 2.30. Notices. Mr. Hursthouse gave notice affirming the desirability of none but New Zealand coal being consumed in institutions under the control of the Government. Mr. Richardson gave notice that he would ask if the Government was prepared to take steps for preventing Native lands in the vicinity of the projected main North line of railway being alienated. NepL.es to Que."lions.

Replying to questions it was stated That men working at the railway goods sheds were engaged subject to the rules of the department, and were paid overtime for extra work, and for Sunday work. Railway guards were supplied with uniforms once a year and postmen with outfits periodically. Sandhurst would be connected with Duntroon by telephone. During the continuance of the small-pox panic arrangements would be ma ? e for the attendance, when circumstances demanded, of a duly qualified medical officer at Bluff Harbor.

The signal station at the Bluff would be connected with the telegraph station by telephone.

The cablepram sent by the late Premier to the Agent-General announcing the return of the Premier to office, had been charged to the public service, as it was quite customary for announcements of this kind to be made.

In the absence of the Agent-General’s accounts, the Government could not state whether the cablegram congratulating Major Atkinson on his return to office from the Agent-General had been similarly charged. The office of Agent-General was a nonpolitical one.

The confinement of suspected along with Confirmed lunatics had been complained of, and in future its recurrence would be avoided.

Telegraphic message lads worked eight hours per day without iuteimission. In future more favorable arrangements for the lads would be made. A bill to grant the franchise to w. men would not bo introduced this ses ’ion. The road from Collingwood to Karamea would be dealt with in the Public Works

estimates. Keogh'.n’s terracotta, and other Native paints worn exehisively use-1 for painting rolling stock on thn colonial railway lines. M-itnpiku and Thcriy would be connected by telegraph. New Bill*. The following bills were introduced and read a first time :— Law Practitioners’ Act, 1882, Amendment, (Grey). Tauranga School Sites (Morris). Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment (Hobbs). Motions. On the motion of Mr. O’Callaghan, seconded by Mr. Garrick, it was agreed that the Rating Act, 1882, should be amended in the direction of relieving tenants who have no beneficial interests in the capital value of property rented by them for agricultural and pastoral purposes, and to give them the same right as the owner of the soil to appeal against the valuation. Returns. Mr. Holmes moved for a return shewing the names and grades of the officers and clerks employed by the late Atkinson-Rolles-ton Government to obtain information to enable that Government to frame the Civil Service Bill, of which copies have been destroyed, and the type distributed. (2). The respective numbers of hours such officers and clerks were engaged in obtaining and supplying such information. (3). The respective yearly salaries of such officers and clerks. (4). The cost of collecting and supplying such information. (5). The cost of printing such Bill. (6). The number of copies of such Bill printed. (7). The names and addresses of the persoi s who received copies of such Bill. (8). The names of the persons who directed that the type from which such Bill was printed should be distributed. Major Atkinson said the reports were made at his instruction for the purpose of enabling him to prepare a Civil Service Bill. It was only supplied to him in the form of notes, and these notes were left in the hands of the officers who made them. As such they were available to the Government if they wanted them. As regards the Bill it had not been considered in Cabinet when he left office, and as such still remained his private property.

Mr. Stout retorted that other Bills in a similar position had been left by the late Government, and that in fact this was the only Bill which had been taken away. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. Third Readings. Pensions Bill, with amendment on Bill was read a third time and passed. An amendment that it be read six months hence was negatived. Second Readings. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Affirmation in lieu of Oath’s Bill. Carried. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Property Assessment Act Amendment Bill, which forbids that the value of improvebe deducted from the assessment. Sir George Grey thought they should impose a tax on English creditors.

The Premier suggested the mover should not press the Bill, as it would interfere with the financial proposals of the Government. Major Atkinson said the Bill was the first step towards a Land Tax in lieu of the Property Tax. It would also be a breach of faith with English bondholders was the tax imposed as desired. He asked the House to reject the measure. Messrs. Ballance, Smith, Gillies, Turnbull and Joyce supported the Bill, and Messrs. Buckland, Walker, Grigg, Bryce and Peacock opposed the Bill. Mr. Monteith moved that it be read this day six months. Sir George Grey replied, and on division the Bill was thrown out. The following is the division list :— Ayes, 32. Ballance O’Connor Barron Ormond Bradshaw Pere Brown Reese Cadman Ross Cowan Seddon Dargaville Shrimski Duncan Smith Fraser Seward Grey Stewart -Hatch Sutter Joyce Te Ao Locke Thompson, T. Montgomery To e Moss Tu nbull O’Callaghan WliLe, W. Noes, 34. Allwright Hurstho’use Atkinson Hurst, W. J. Beetham Lake Bruce Macarthur Bryce Mac enzie, J. Buchanan, W. C. McMillan Buckland, J. C. Mentieih Connolly Mitchelson Dodson Moat Fergus Newman Fulton Peacock Garrick Pearson Gillies Richardson, G. F. Grigg Russell Hamlin 1 Jmble Hirst, H. Whyte, J. B. Hobbs Wilson PAIRS. Ayes. Noes.

Stout Walker Holmes Buckland, W. F. The Workmen’s ‘Wages Bill was read a second time.

Mr. Locke moved the second reading of the Native Land Laws Amendment Dill. He urged that legislation was necessary, as several land speculators were at present in the King country endeavoring to negotiate the purchase of large blocks.

Haukene proposed an adjournment for fourteen days, which was agieed to. The Sharebrokers Act Repeal Bill, and the Chatham Island Criminal Bill, were read a second time. The House adjourned at midnight.