PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2323, 27 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

HOUSE OP EEPBESENTATIVES. Monday, August 23. The Public Accounts Committee recommended a full enquiry, regarding the A2OOO voucher for the Waimatc Plains. The Electric Telegraphs Act Amendment Bill was recommitted. Mr Bowen moved to strike out the authority to lease a special wire. The proposal was carried by 35 to 49. IJEKH DUTY BII.L. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Beer Duty Bill. The saving on the Estimates, with the 10 per cent redaction,would amount to £197,000 this year, and if persisted in £252,000 next year. Government regretted that they would have to abandon the Local Bating Bill and the Local Government Bill Instead of paying £70,000 to local bodies, they would pay half the subsidies for nine months; but Government intended to resume the 20 percent of land fund. The beer tax so far yielded at the rate of £58,000 a year ; but many brewers were holding back. The motion was carried by 51 to 20. PKOI’EKTY TAX. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Property Assessment Act Amendment Bill. Mr Wood opposed the Bill most strongly. Mr Saunders also opposed the Bill, and regretted that the property tax had been substituted for the land tax. Sir George Grey alluded to the animals said proverbially to desert sinking ships. The Government ship must be sinking. The second reading was carried by 31 to 9.

Tuesday, Aug. 24 QUESTIONS. Ministers in reply to questions, declined to state what steps were being taken to bring Hiroki to justice. It was not intended to reduce pensions. The desirability of abolishing Land Boards would be considered during the recess. BILLS. The Electric Telegraph Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and . aised. The House went into Committee on the Beer Duty and Property Assessment Bills. Sir W. Fox warmly supported the Bill. On clause 11, fixing the duty at sixpence, Mr Ballance moved that the word " sixpence” be struck out, with a view of inserting the word “ threepence.” The House divided on the question of retaining the word “sixpence”—Ayes, 34; noes, 41. The word threepence was then inserted.

In committee on the Property Assessment Bill, Major Atkinson moved that progress be reported, as after the reduction of the beer duty, Government required time to consider what to do about altering the property tax. The Stamp Fee Bill and the Stamp Act Amendment Bill were read a second time, committed, and read a third time and passed. Wednesday, August 25. PROPERTY ASSESSMENT BILL. In Committee on the Property Assessment Bill, Mr Hall stated that after the loss of revenue entailed by the reduction of the beer duty they could not afford further exemptions. He wished members, therefore, to consent simply to pass Bills providing for the simpler form of schedule. Messrs Saunders, Barron, and Brown all moved exemptions. Mr Hall moved to report progress, so as to shelve the Bill, saying that Government would endeavor by other means to simplify the schedules. Sir G. Grey objected to this course. He contended that this taxation was rendered necessary simply by maladministration by the Government of the native lands. Shcy should now have a land and income and a wool tax, instead of what was proposed. Mr Moorhouse denounced Sir G. Grey as a mischief-maker. After further discussion, the motion for reporting progress was carried by 43 to 20. INSCRIPTION OF STOCK. Mr Hall moved resolutions approving of the employment of three agents for the conversion of stock at a remuneration of one-twelfth of one percent. He spoke of the special fitness of Messrs Julyan, Sargeant, and Vogel to perform the work. The latter would in that case resign the Agent-Generalship. Mr Stevens considered the appointment of these agents entirely unnecessary. Thursday', Aug. 26. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The West Coast Settlement, Stamp Act Amendment, Stamp Fee, Telegraph Amendment, Port Chalmers Drill Shed, and Otago Harbor Board Empowering Bills were read a second time. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Printing and Debates Committee presented their report, stating that they had not been able to agree upon any recommendation as to the publication of “ Hansard.” Mr Hall stated as the result of an enquiry that there was no foundation for the statement that the late sergeant-at-arms, bribed his predecessor in ollice. Sir G. Grey introduced a Bill to make further provision for the admission of persons as law practitioners, which was read a first time. SUBSIDIES. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1878 Amendment Bill. He explained its object to be to provide for the discontinuance of the subsidies,with other arrangements as previously explained. Mr Pyke moved as an amendment that it bo ready that day six months. He characterised it as an act of repudiation which, if carried to its extremity, would result in the repudiating of all colonial liabilities. - Mr Pyke said the Bill could not possibly be made retrospective, and that if it passed he would summons the Govern ment for the subsidies due since April 1 last. Major Atkinson said if the House would pass the Bill he would be prepared to defend any such action. The clause was then passed and the Bill was reported without amendments. BILLS PASSED. The following Bills were read a third time and passed, viz :—Customs Tariff, etc., and Public Revenues Bills. SUBSIDIES. Major Atkinson moved that the Financial Arrangements Act Amendment Bill be read a third time. Mr Murray moved its re-committal, with a view to having the 20 per cent land fund clause re-considered. On the question being put that the Bill be read a third time, the votes were —Ayes, 41 ; noes 30. Mr Bain then moved that the Bill be read a third time to morrow. Mr Brown spoke in favor of the amendment, and denounced what had been done as an attempt to plunder the local bodies. The motion for the second reading of the Bill was carried by 43 to 23. CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL. The House went into Committee on the Customs Duties Bill. Mr Lundon moved a new clause to impose an export duty of os per ton on kauri gum, and Major Atkinson supported the proposal. Mr Shrimski objected to the proposal, and moved that in lieu thereof a duty of 4s 2d be imposed on every hundredweight of wool. The Speaker ruled that the proposal could not be put, and the Bill was reported with amendments. REVENUES BILL. The Public Revenues Bill was considered in Committee, and passed without amendment. The Financial Arrangements Amendment Bill was considered in Committee. Mr Macandrcw moved that clause 3, suspending the 20 per cent of land fund payable to provincial districts, be struck out. The question was put that the clause staud as printed—Ayes 34 Noes 34.

The Chairman gave his casting vote in favor of retaining the clause. Mr Turnbull spoke to similar effect. Mr Wright was of opinion that the action taken would prove detrimental to the best interests of the colony, Mr Thompson also spoke against the retention of the clause. After some further debate Mr MacanIrow said that he supposed they must yield to the inevitable, us Government would not consent even to an adjourn; ment. The Bill was then read a third time and passed, and the House rose at 2.15. THIS DAY. [By Telegraph.] The House met at 11 o’clock, and went into Committee on the Wellington Harbor Board and Corporation Land Bills which was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed.