THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Southland Times, Issue 1788, 2 September 1873, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) Wellington, August 29. In the House last night, after the Premier had moved the second reading of the Provincial Loans Empowering Bill, Mr Gillies said the House would accept the suggestion to aljourn the debate to give time for consideration of the new proposals. Tbe debate was accordingly adjourned till to-day. The House then went into Committee on the Licensing Bill, when clauses 17, 18, and 19 were passed. A long discussion took place on clause 20. It was eventually passed, giving applicants for licenses the right to appear by ageut on a medical certificate being produced. Clause 23 was amended so as to make the refusal of a license compulsory on a memorial signed by not less than twothirds of the adult residents of a district against the same. There was a long discussion, and the amendment was carried on a division by 21 to 11. The Government will make a stand on the Provincial Loans Empowering Bill, and if defeated they will ask the Governor to grant a dissolution. Mr Fitzherbert will, to-day, present a petition from Messrs Brogden and Sons,, praying for relief for loss BU9tained in introducing immigrants in consequence of the Government introducing them on lower terms. In the House to-day the debate on the Provincial Loans Ecn powering Bill was resumed by Mr Gillies. He said the indebtedness of the colony would be seventeen millions when the authorised line of works was completed. Even this wouid not include the trunk line, portions of whifih had not been authorised. An indebtedness of saventeen millions meant an annual charge of one million. Mr Gillies then spoke of the fiuancial condition of the various provinces. The ordinary revenue of Auckland was not sufficient to meet the expenses of gaols, hospitals, &c. He couched upon the change of policy in the matter ot capitation allowance, and said that the Colonial Treasurer having deprived the Provinces of their revenue, now sought to throw back upon them their portion of the public works scheme. Besides, when the colonial scheme of railways was completed they were to be provincially charged, and thus the colony was to be released of the burden. Yet this was what the Treasurer called a colonial policy. While talking of the grand policy, the Colonial Treasurer yet borrowed money to give to road boardF. That surely was not a colonial policy. It was the same as the policy of 1870, nothing more nor less than distributing gifts in order to purchase votes. Another change of policy had been made on the previous evening, in obedience to the wishes of Canterbury and Otago. In fact, the Government had no policy beyond yielding to pressure. The " search after equilibrium of votes" was its true name. He was an opponent to Provincial borrowing. The proposal to spend £500,000 for the purchase of land in the North Island was but small, while the restriction in the price of land would prevent sales. The provision that land was to be given as security for the works would prevent the works being done in the North, as there was no land to give. Jieferring to immigratiou, Mr Gillies said the Government had promised to relieve the Provinces of the work, but it was not doing so. Mr Reader Wood said that proposals for provincial borrowing were new and wrapped up with proposals to borrow £500,000 to obtain a land fund in order that members should not consider them. The scheme was utterly bad, and provincialism in the North had done its work, and should not now be kept alive by borrowing. August 30. In the House last night, the debate on the Provincial Loans Empowering Bill was continued. Mr J. L. Gillies spoke against the Bill, and was followed by Mr Webster, in a telling speech, which was repeatedly cheered. Mr Webster condemned the proposals that the Provinces might borrow at any sacrifice, while the Colony would have to pay in the end. He said the Government should deal comprehensively with the land question, as that would solve all the difficulties. Mr Thomson opposed the Bill. Mr Seymour suggested that it should be altered in committee. Mr Stafford expressed his sympathy with Mr Yogel in the break-down of the policy, -and condemned the proposals by which what were really most important works would be left to Provinces without revenue and so crippled that they could not borrow. He thought the Premier . foresaw a

difficulty in obtaining money to complete the scheme. Mr Bathgate replied that before Mr Yogel took office the Colony was stagnant, and his fertile brain gave the signal for action. Now enterprise was general, industries were prosperous, the value of land had increased, money was abundant, and the Provinces were well able to borrow. Mr Sheehan sarcastically criticised Mr Batbgate's remarks. He said the abundance of money was an argument in favor of the Colony borrowing for the Provinces. Native lands in the North, were not to be purchased now for small prices. Though lie was. a thorough provincialist, he would rather ccc the Provinces die than be kept alive by the p^^Mped scheme. The adjournment of the House was proposed, but Ministers having opposed it, a division was taken with the following result : — Ayes, 26 ; noes, 27. Mr Murray spoke for an hour, and then said he would gq on all night unless Ministers would consent to an adjournment of the debate. Ministers then gave in, and the debate was adjourned. September 1. The debate on the Provincial Loans j Empowering Bill was resumed by Mr Bunny, who said the provisions for security by rates were inserted because the Government saw there would be a nenessity for a property tax, and wished to throw on the Provinces the odium of ita imposition. He would not oppose the Bill, but hoped it would be altered in committee. Mr Buckland opposed the Bill as being utterly bad. The debate was adjourned till to-morrow. On the motion that the House go into Committee on the Goldmining Bill, Mr Shepherd moved that it be committed tbat day six months. The motion was negatived on a division by the Speaker's casting vote. In committee Mr Whit 6 moved " that the Speaker do leave the chair," which was carried on a division by 24 to 19. The Bill was therefore thrown out. The House is now (8 p.m.) in committee on the Education Bill. Mr O'Neill has moved an amendment " that tha Speaker do leave the chair," which, if carried, will throw out the Bill.