PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2652, 20 September 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[By Telegraph.] YESTERDAY. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. RAILWAYS BILL. The Railways Bill was recommitted, and several amendments made ; one of most importance providing that a constructing company shall under certain conditions of failure to proceed forfeit their works. A good deal of opposition was made to the Bill, Mr Robinson leading. At last he gave way and left the Chamber, saying he would have no more to do with it. Bill to be read a third time next day. BILLS PASSED, The following Bills were read a third time and passed :—Port Chalmers Dock Trust Bill; Patents Act Amendment , Bill; Animals Protection Act Amendment Bill ; Public Health Act 1876 Amendment Bill ; Town Districts Bill; Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Bill. BILLS THROWN OUT. The Gisborne Harbor Board Bill was thrown out on the voices, and the Gold Duty Abolition Bill was allowed to lapse and be thrown out. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. MEN AND BRETHREN. In the House of Representatives after the midday adjournment, Sir George Grey gave notice that he would introduce a Bill providing for equal rights being given to the descendants of all races in New Zealand. MR BOLLESXON CORRECTED. Referring to the withdrawal of the Waipawa Land Dispute Bill, a matter introduced by Mr Tomoana, Sir George Grey said he greatly regretted the withdrawal of a Bill which he regarded as a most important one. Ha was indeed becoming hopeless of justice ever being done to the natives. The Native Commissioners had been unanimous in their report and in the opinion that in this case injustice had been done the natives, but he really despaired of ever seeing justice done them. Mr Rolleston said he had good hopes that in this matter common sense would prevail and the dispute be settled amicably, but it was rather rich to hear Sir George Grey talking in such a strain, as when in office he had done nothing towards settling this question. He charged Sir George Grey with delighting in stirring up and perpetuating strife. He was in fact an incorrigible mischief maker.

The Speaker ruled the words to be unparliamentary, and they were withdrawn.

Messrs Sheehan, Macandrew, and Trimble spoke on the matter, when Mr Hall said that considering the period of the season, the waste of time still going on was perfectly lamentable. Ministers were bound to arrange business according to their own plans, and it was manifest in doing so they were governed by considerations. On many occasions they kept quiet, and wore content to be under nnj ust imputations rather than go on discussing and wasting time. Mr Hutchison blamed Q-overnment for not having brought forward their important matters daring the earlier part of the session.

MEETING- OP LOCAL RULERS. Mr Barron gave notice he would ask Government if they would be prepared to grant free railway passes to Mayors and Chairmen of County Councils, with the view of promoting a Joint Conference of these bodies at some central place in anticipation of next session. CORRUPT PRACTICES BILL. The Corrupt Practices Bill was further considered in Committee, and after a great many divisions on amendments proposed, but only carried in one instance the Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. THIS DAY. The House met at 11 a.m. to-day. DISAGREED. On Mr motion a message was sent to the Legislative Council, stating that the House insisted on its disagreement to the Council’s amendments in the Pension Bill. THE COST OP SAVING. Replying to Mr Bunny, Mr Hall said that detailed information of the expense of the late Royal Commission was in course of preparation, and if not ready before the prorogation they would be printed and circulated amongst members. WANGANUI HARBOR. Replying to Mr Bryce Mr Hall said the claims of the Wanganui Harbor Board, reported on by the Petitions Committee, had not yet been fully considered by Government, but the matter would be carefully considered. NO HELP. Replying to Mr Barron Mr Hall said Government was not disposed to grant free railway passes to delegates attending a Municipal Conference on amendments required in the Municipal law, A NEW CHARTER. Sir George Grey introduced a Bill to give equal rights to descendants of all races in New Zealand, and it was read a first tine. property tax. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Property Tax Bill. Mr Saunders blamed the Government for proposing a Bill of this kind without explanation. He ought to have showed the real state of their finance and not delude them by living on borrowed money.

Mr Ballance concurred in the opinion that fuller information should have been given. He thought the relief proposed ought to have been given in a different way from that proposed. It ought to have been given in the shape of relief upon agricultural and other similar improvements. He felt, however, that it was useless to talk of any alteration, and blamed the Government for having persistently kept dark all important measures till this late period of the session. It appeared to him there was nothing for it but to pass the Bill.

Mr Moss commented upon the gross irregularity in being called upon to pass such an important measure at a morning sitting, after they had been sitting till 2 a.m. that morning. It appeared to him that Government just lay in wait to catch upon an opportunity for passing this and that measure by a kind of subterfuge. It was quite clear they could not discuss the Bill with any chance of success.

Sir George Grey also blamed Government for having brought forward the Bill at this late period. He also blamed them for compelling the House to sit so many hours in the day; the effect was to weaken the intellect and by that means measures were allowed to slip through, which would not be the case under a better system. He gave an instance of the effects of this manner of carrying on the work. Mr Hall rose to a point of order, and appealed to the Speaker to prevent this recapitulation. The Speaker decided against him. Sir George Grey went on to say that many difficulties of this kind were sure to turn up. The fact was members of Government took turn and turn about and got rest, and by that means they pushed through their measures by mere dint of subterfuge. Such conduct on the part of Government was most reprehensible and unfair to the country. He was opposed to the Bill, and agreed with the objections stated by Mr Ballance. If any difficulty arose on the West Coast it would have to he grapgled with at once, even although funds were squandered away. There must be no dallying or prolonged conference. It was necessary to the salvation of both races that this course should be followed. In that case this was not a time to reduce taxation as proposed by the Bill. In Committee he would propose such alterations as would transform the Bill into one of a Property Tax on land. Mr Macandrew was opposed to the principle of the Bill, but inasmuch as it was proposed to mitigate au evil he would support it. He also blamed Government for the irregularity with which they conducted business. Mr Gisborne would also support the Bill, but did so only because at this period of the session he saw no chance of making material alterations in it, however much they might be desired, Mr J. T. Fisber would not support the Bill, as the principle of it was crushing the life blood out of the colony. Major Atkinson said it seemed to him the House was in possession of all surrounding facts connected with tiie Bill, and he would only be taking up time unnecessarily. He defended the mode ef taxation proposed by the Bill aa the best for reaching the rich men. The latter class was paying at present £42,000, whereas under an income tax at 6d they would not contribute more than £17,000. He disputed that they were in the critical condition asserted by Mr Saunders 5 expressing his opinion that they might have gone oven farther than they had done in borrowing money. The motion for second reading was put and carried, and the House adjourned at 1.35.