PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2316, 19 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, Aug. 18. The Legislative Council adjourned for the day, out of respect for the late Colonel Xenny. HOUSE OF HEPEESENTATIVES. OX FOll D-TEMUKA HAILIN'AY, Mr Pykc gave notice that he would ask if Government were aware that !ho line of railway recommended by (lie liailway Commission from Sheffield to Oxford was a mere pretext to get the line continued to Temuka, so that it might pass through estates owned by the Premier and Mr Wright, a member of the Eoyal Commission. Mr Hall said he might just as well at once state there was no foundation in fact for the insinuation put forward by the question. Mr Pyke said he would read a telegram addressed to him on the subject by a resident in the district who was well-known and highly respected by the House, Cries of “ Name.”

Mr Pykc—l will not give the name, as only the other day a similar case took place, and yon, sir, ruled that it was not necessary to give the name before the telegram could be read. I will lay the telegram on the tabic after I have read it. The Speaker ruled that until the name was given the telegram could not be read. Mr Pykc—Then, I will not read it, as I can sec the Premier does not want it. Mr Hall said the member did not give the name because he was simply ashamed of himself and the part he had taken in it. .XOTICHS OF MOTION’. Mr Pykc gave notice that on going into Committee of Supply he would move that a respectful address be presented to His Excellency the (lovernor, informing him that Ministers do not conduct the business of this House in a satisfactory manner.

Mr Murray gave notice that he would move that no member of the House, excepting the Bench of the Opposition and Government, be allowed to speak longer than twenty minutes after being called to order by "any other member. Major Harris gave notice that he would ask Government if they wore prepared to call for tenders for gags for use on members of the House. The Speaker said he was surprised at such a notice, and ruled it out of order. local government. Mr Moss gave notice that he would move to-morrow that it is expedient to relieve the general Legislature of all duties that can be efficiently and economically performed by local governing bodies directly responsible to the electors by whom they are chosen. That for that purpose and for the better redress of local grievances school districts shall be grouped to form road districts, road districts shall be grouped to form counties, and counties shall be grouped for the formation of provinces, sufficiently large to warrant the creation of local legislature to maintain peace, order and good government within their respective bounds. That it shall be the duty of each of the local governing bodies to form its own electoral rolls, to conduct its own elections, and to manage all local matters in accordance with such laws as may from time to lime he passed by the Legislature, provided that the provincial legislatures shall bo chosen every second year b} r the registered electors of the province, who shall also every fourth year elect a superintendent, as chief executive officer of the province ; that the laws made by the said legislatures on all subject, except the thirteen enumerated in section 189 of the constitution Act shall be valid so soon as they are assented to by the Superintendent, and failing such assent as soon as they are confirmed by an absolute majority of three-fourths of the provincial legislature. That no loans shall be aut horised by said legislature, except with the sanction of an absolute majority of three-fourths of the members. That no appointments exceeding £IOO a year made by the superintendents shall be valid until confirmed by the provincial legislature. That representation among town population shall rest with the legislation of the said province. That if a vacancy occur in any Legislative Council they shall be filled up by members elected by the Council of the province in which such vacancy occurs. That Government be requested to prepare during the recess, an amendment of the Constitution Act in .accordance with these resolutions, and also to prepare such financial measures as may be necessary to give them proper and equitable effect. QUESTIONS. Ministers, in reply to questions, said Government had received no comrnunition from the crew of the barque Annabel la asking them to advance money due for wages, and to receive same through the Board of Trade in England ; and if such an application had been made it would not have boon responded to. The law as it stood was not satisfactory, and Government would make a proposal next session for legislation to amend the Merchant Shipping and Seamens Act 1878. Government had corresponded with the neighboring colonies on the subject of bringing to justice men who deserted their families and left them a burden on the public. New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania had replied favorably, and two had merely acknowledged receipt of the communications. Further action would be taken in the matter. Government would not cause a sum of money to be placed on the Supplementary Estimates to provide for a survey of Whitewash Head at Sumner, with a view to forming a breakwater at the head and a harbor at Sumner, which may eventually be used as a relieving port to Lyttelton. WASTE LANDS. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr lie Lautour called attention to the importance of some provision being made for the administration of lands in Otago held under pastoral lease. The public estate was variously estimated at two, seven and ten millions of acres and it was desirable that some better information should be obtained. 800,000 acres would fall out of lease in 1883, and this would have to be dealt with before the House was again in session. They had aright to know what the Government intended to do. He concluded by moving that in the opinion of this House it is desirable that the Minister of Lands, before the of the session, should give a distinct enunciation of his policy in regard to the future administration of Crown lands in Otago now occupied by pastoral tenants on lease.

Mr Rolleston said that considering the constitution of the Waste Lands Board of Otago, he was pained to hear the imputation cast upon it. Every possible facility would bo given for settlement, and it was intended to get hold of the best pieces of these lands for small settlers. The regulations of 1877 would be followed, and the Government was prepared to give every information regarding its intentions. Mr Macandrew defended Mr Uc Lautourfrom the charge of having employed an improper tone in opening the debate. The question was one second in importance to no question which had come before the House this session. The renewal of these leases had kept back settlement to a very great extent.

Mr Thompson said that in consequence of the action of the Colonial Secretary in renewing these leases many ycaits ago, the night betore he left olhee as Superintendent of Otago, the colony had been involved in a large amount in the name of compensation. He supported the motion. Mr Shrimsld supported the motion. Mr Dick spoke at some length on the land laws of Otago and his action as superintendent. Messrs Jones and Brown spoke m favor of the motion.

Sir Ceorgc Grey spoke of the importance of' the subject under discussion. He blamed the Minister of Lands for having used unbecoming language to Mr He Hauteur, who had only done bis duty to the colony. The question was that before the House met again 458,000 acres of pastoral land would have to be dealt with. He naturally distrusted the Government, because (heir plan was to deal with questions of this kind in a most unfair manner, and to tho prejudice of the public interest. In no place could they find more men who had dealt with land in this way than was to be found on those benches. He alluded to the Canterbury grid ironing. The whole carreer of the of the Government showed that the house was justified in extracting a promise as to what

tliey intended doing" with these lands. It was a great and serious subject. Was it fair to rob the industrious poor of the soil and tax them besides while the wealthy friends of a corrupt Cabinet escaped almost free ? (Mr McLean — “ Hear, hear.”) The member for Waikouaiti said “ Hear, hear,” but he was a man with a cold heart ; a man who had set his heart upon wealth ; one who had pursued a course destructive to his follow men ; a man who would keep his follows in a state of debased slavery. The ownership of the waste tracts of land was the ownership of men, women, and children. The motion for going into Committee of Supply was put and carried by 40 to .‘35. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. The following votes were proposed:— Hoads, North Island, £59,500. Hoads Bridges, and Wharves, north of Auckland, £66,650. Hoads and Bridges in unsettled districts of Patca and Taranaki, £18,816 18s 9d. Opening up Hoads and Constructing Bridges through lauds recently purchased, £lO,lOl. Nelson—North-west Goldlields Hoads and Bridges, £1650. Hoads to Grcymouth and Westport, £15,000.

Westland—Hoads and Bridges,£sooo,

Hokitika to Christchurch—Constructing, supervision, and damage by Hoods, £15,427 19s sd. Hoads to open up land before sale, £61,544 8s Id.

Class 6—Land purchase, North Island. Vote, chief office, Wellington, £120,622 2s 6d. Mr Montgomery asked Government to say if they intended to go on with these purchases, or whether they woidd try to withdraw from them as soon as possible.

Mr Bryce replied that it would be desirable to get out of a good many of these bargains, but a number would have to be carried out. He did not wish it to bo understood that Government intended to complete all these negotiations.

Considerable discussion ensued, Mr Macandrew contending that the Government was not bound by the arrangement entered into, and Mr Whitaker insisting upon keeping faith with the natives as to the price to ho paid for their lands.

At 2 a.m. the Chairman was so exhausted that Colonel Trimble had to take his place. The vote afterwards passed as printed. Class 12 Contingent Defences, £IIO,OOO, was passed without dissent. Class 8. —Telegraph Extension, £43,577 10s was passed. Class I—lmmigration,l—lmmigration, £26,984 13s, was reduced by £IOOO. Class 7.—Waterworks on Goldfields, £20,710, was passed. Class 9. —Miscellaneous Public Works £129,178 9s 9d. On the motion that it be reduced £2OOO, the house divided—Ayes, 9, uoes, 21. The vote was passed as printed. Class 10. —Lighthouses, £4,550, was passed. Class 13. —Charges and Expenses on liaising Loans, £189,430 19s 9d, was passed without dissent. Class 9—Public Building’s Vote Judicial, £01439, was passed as printed. Postal and. Telegraphic, £11,025. Mr Hall agreed to reduce the amount by £550. Agreed to. Customs, £9OO, was passed. Lunatic Asylums, £55,000, was passed. Hospitals, £4OOO, was passed. School Buildings, £100,031 17s lOd, was passed. At 4.30 progress was reported, and the House adjourned till 7.30 to-night.