PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 276, 3 November 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Own Correspondent.] Wellington, November 3. Legislative Council. First Readings. The Council met on Saturday at 2.30. The Beetroot Sugar Bill and the Westland Education District Subdivision Bill were read a first time.

In Committee. The Municipal Corporations Bill and the Wanganui Harbor Board Bill were passed through Committee with amendments. Third Readings. The Drainage of Mines Bill and the Electric Lights Bill were read a third time and passed. The Council then adjourned till Tuesday.

House of Representatives. Second Readings. In the House on Saturday the debate on the motion for the second reading of the Native Lands Settlement Bill was interrupted by the luncheon adjournment. On the House resuming, Te Ao expressed a hope that Mr. Ballance’s speech would be printed in Maori. Mr. Bryce regretted that no arrangements ha l been made with the Natives regarding land adjacent to the railway as the lands thereby benefited should bear a part of the loss of constructing the line. Sir George Grey suggested that the Bill in its new form, showing what clauses were to be substituted for those struck out, should be printed and circulated, and be committed on Tuesday. Mr. Locke spoke generally in favor of the measure.

After some further discussion the second reading was agreed to. The Loan Bill was read a second time. Sir Julius Vogel moved the second reading of the Property Tax Bill. Major Atkinson opposed the Bill as relieving one class at the expense of others. Messrs. Montgomery, Grey, Rolleston, Newman, Barron, Moss, Trimble, Monteith, and Hamlin spoke against the Bill. The Premier alluded to the inconsistency of Sir George Grey and Mr. Montgomery in opposing the measure after having opposed the imposition of a Property Tax. Mr. Macandrew thought they could not begin good work too soon, and his only objection to the Bill was that it did not go far enough. Mr. Smith spoke strongly in favor of the measure, arguing that the tax pressed heavily on the working man. The second reading was carried by 40 to 21. The House then adjourned till Tuesday afternoon.