TUESDAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 113, 1 August 1885, Page 4

TUESDAY.

eTo acco c . Mr Peacock gave notice thia afternoon to ask whether the Government will accede to the request of the tobacco manufacturers in the colony, (1) by extending the time during which the modified duty will have effect, (2) by granting rebate upon imported tobacco, which in the present state of the industry may be required for mixing with native products.

Export of Px'oduce. Mr Hurst intends moving for a return showing tho quantity, description, and value of New Zealand produce exported to New South Wales for the year ending June 30th last.

Land Tax Petitions. The Petitions Committee report with respect to various petitions presented praying for the abolition of the Property Tax, and substituting a Land Tax, that this being a question of policy, they have no recommendation to make.

Religious Instruction in Schools. As to the request of the Bishop of Christchurch and others jn favour of religiou.s instruction in school*!, the Committee report that a bill dealing with this matter being now before the House, they have no recommendation to make.

Papers Laid on the Table, Papers were laid on the table relating to the Importation of Salmon Ova (Hon, Mr Tole) and on the Method of Preserving Meat by Professor Fillipo Artimaro (Sir George Grey.)

£50 Versus £800 for a Foot. There was considerable discussion over the Petitions Committee's report re A. McCausland, of Hamilton, Southland. The petitioner was employed on the railway, and had one of his legs injured, necessitating amputation. He received compensation, and now prayed for further relief. The Committee reported that as the petitioner received £50 in full of demands, they had no recommendation to mako. Mr Joyce said that the petitioner was a railway employee four years ago, and lost his foot owing to neglect of a fellow employee. The matter was reported to their superior, and acting under the latter's representation he was induced not to make a fuss, but trust to the liberality of the Government. When the matter came before the Petitions Committee in ISBI, they recommended that £50 should be offered him as compensation, and being at that time under pressure of distress, he accepted the money, but did not regard it as payment in full, or that it debarred him from making a further application. When the matter was before the Committee recently, the member for Auckland City East (Sir George Grey) had expressed the opinion that to offer the sum of £50 for injuries sustained was simply contemptible. He moved that the petition be referred back to the Committee for the purpose of taking further evidence to reconsider the case. The Minister fob Works and Mr Turnbxjll, Chairman of the Petitions Committee, opposed this course. The motion for recommittal of the report was lost by 27 to 50.

Land Taken for Fortifications. The Minister for Works moved the second reading of the Public Works Act Amendmentßill which dealß with land taken for fortification purposes. He explained that the matter was one of urgency, and that for land taken compensation was granted. Mr Hurst said that the measure was important, as it affected the interests of parties whose lands had already been taken. He agreed that it wa3 a prudent thing for the State to take the land required for defence purposes, but objected to such land being taken without reasonable compensation. In Auckland, the land required for fortification purposes at Fort Resolution had been taken in a high handed way. He suggested that the matter should stand over for a fortnight, till the people whose lands were affected should make such representations as were just and reasonable. The Minister for Defence said that with regard to Auckland, the Fortifications Engineer had given notice to the owner, who gave his consent to the taking of the land. Mr Moss said that the bill did not ask members to make personal sacrifices, but to make sacrifices for others. He mentioned that in Auckland a battery had been constructed under the window of a resident in Parnell, and yet he could not get compensation. The speaker objected to the retrospective legislation intended by clause 10. Mr ConnolliY recognised that the bill was necessary, and that under the circumstances existing a few months ago, the Government were entitled to act urgently. _ Therefore, the remarks as to retrospective legislation did not apply. There was no compensation given those whose properties might be injuriously affected by the erection of batteries,

The Premier said with regard to the last remark by the member for Pioton, it would be a piece of gross absurdity to compensate every person whose land was injuriously affected. He mentioned that compensation would be given for lands taken. The second reading was passed. The Minister for "Works said the measure was one of the utmost urgency, and therefore he asked that it be committed at 7.30 p.m. This was objected to by one or two members, but was carried on the voices. On the motion for going into committee, Mr Gore hastily criticised the Hospital and Charitable Institution Bill. He said that the amendments made Bince the measure was last before the House had tended to intensify the evil so far as the large towns were concerned. The bill meant the raising of £4,000 or £5,000 for charitable" aid, and to meet this a threepenny poor rate would have to be imposed . Aa the measure offered an inducement to smaller districts, he had no doubt that it would be carried through the House. He did not intend to move any amendments on it, but would not allow it to go into committee without offering his pro t6st against the injustice proposed to be done to large districts. Mr Sutter warmly supported the bill.J Mr Downib Stewart said the bill was received with considerable disfavour by the City Council of Dunedin as being likely to impose a very enormous burden on the city. If the bill was not slightly amended in committee, he should find it necessary to vote against the three readings. The motion for going into Committoo was carried by 59 to 10.

Whltmore Enabling Bill in Commlttoo. In Committee on tho Whitinoro Enabling Bill. The Minister for Defence stated, in answer to Sir Geo. Grey, Major Atkinson, Mr Bryce, and others, that the Commander of the Colonial Forces, had not been appointed for any definite time. The Government had the power to determino the services of Colonel Whitmore at any time, without compensation, and he would not be required to undertake the duties of Undersecretary. His functions would consistof the command of the Volunteer and permanent forces ot the colony, for the purpose of organisation. All correspondence would go through the Undersecretary. Major Atkinson said it would be absolutely impossible for Col. Whitmore to be responsible for the organisation and discipline of the forces if the whole correspo 1 dence did not pass through him. It would be necessary to appoint a military clerk. Mr Balalnce said the principle of the measure having been approved of on its second reading, the only question now was whether Government were justified in making the appointment, and whether Col. Whitmore should be exempted from the provisions of the Disqualification Act. The debate was interrupted by the dinner adjournment. On resuming at 7-30. Sir George Grey urged that the Whitmore Enabling Bill be postponed till the estimates were brought down. Mr MacandrEw, although not enamoured of the bill, thought that in Committee of Supply the last speaker's objections could be disposed of. Mr W. F. Buckland objected to the second reading, and considered the ap pointment unnecessary. What was required was merely an inspection officer. Mr Huß.vr raised a laugh by saying that the Bill should be entitled "An Aot to Form a Standing Army and establish a New Department. " He opposed the second reading, and objected to a man holding the dual position of Legislative Councillor and Commander of the Forces. Mr Locke supported the bill, paying a high tribute to Colonel Whitmore's merit. Mr Barron supported the bill. Mr Fisiier moved the addition of a clause to the effect that there should be no compensation on retirement. Mr Rolleston said the bill was a perfect anomaly, and should have been postponed till the Estimates cam 6 down. Mr Ballance said the appointmont had been made to go over the colony and organise the Volunteer and other forces, Sir G. Grey said none of the expressions used had placed matters in a proper position. The question was being made a personal one, and members were placed in a most painful position. He denied that it was a boon to ask the House to do an unconstitutional thing, and gave notice of his intention to move a new clause. The Premier hoped the bill would pass. He defended Colonel Whitmore'a appointment. Dr. Newman thought the Government were justified in the troublesome times which recently threatened war in appointing Colonel Whitmore, and that he should be paid for his services up to the present. But to make the appointment now would be creating a new department which the colony could not afford. Let the title of the bill be altered to deal with the "chief gonger of workmen," and the necessary money could be got out of the loan. The Premier said the last speaker was entirely insincere in raising the cry of economy, as would be seen when the Estimates came down. Mr Wakefield defended the member for Thorndon, whom he spoke of as the most sincere man in the House, and objected to the expenditure incurred in defence organisation. Mr Peacock complimented the Ministry on tho promptitude with which they took up the question of defence at the time of the Russian scare. The proper time for members to discuss the need of the office was on the consideration of the defence vote. He thought that Colonel Whitmore should have resigned his seat in the Legislative Council when the appointment Mas made. Mr Hobbs failed to see the necessity for the appointment while Sir Wm. Jervois continued to act as Commander-in-Chief of the colonial forces. It looked to him as a way of getting rid of a dangerous opponent from another Chamber. He expressed the opinion that Colonel Whitmore was entirely unacquainted with recent military warfare. Colonel Fraser thought the appointment was a proper one at the time of the crisis, and that Colonel Whitmore should be indemnified and paid for his services. Colonel Whitmore was not, however, adapted for a Volunteer leader. They did not want a man to drive Volunteers, but one with a great deal of the suaviter in modo. _ Messrs Fulton, T. Thompson, Fitzherbert, and Holmes defended the bill. Sir George Grey moved the following clause :— " That the Disqualification Act of 1878 is hereby amended by inserting after the words * officers in Her Majesty's Army ' and Navy ' these words, 'or any member of either House of the General Assembly who at the time of the actual or threatened warfare may be, or may have been, called by the Government to perform any military or naval duty in the service of the colony."' This clause was lost on division by 28 to 41. Mr Barron moved another clause, "This , Aot shall continue in force for one year after

the passing thereof, and no longer, unleßS Parliament shall otherwise determine." ' This was lost on the voices. The bill thus went through Committee Without amendment. On the House resuming, it was read a third time and passed.

Public Works Act Amendment. On the motion for going into Committee on the Public Works Act Amendment (Mr Riohardson), Mr Moss said that .some remarks which had fallen from the Premier in the afternoon had led members to think that the gentleman whose lands had been taken in Auckland for fortification purposes had endeavoured to extort money from the Government. This he denied, and said the Government were trying to interfere with an action which was now pending. Mr Montgomery would support the bill, but said that nothing but the supposed peril of war should justify private rights of persons being interfered with, Mr Hurst said that the owner of the land was impelled to take action against the Government because his letters were unanswered. In committee several amendments were proposed, but nearly all were lost. The most important amondment effected was extending the time for which proceedings for compensation should be taken from three to six months. The bill was reported as amended,

Charitable Aid Bill in Committee. The House then went into Committee on the Charitable Aid Bill. Sir Julius Vogel moved the following amendments to clause 6, regarding the establishment of district boards :— " That the Board consist of one member for each borough and one for each county, each to be electel bv these bodies." After discussion Sir Julius Vogel withdrew the clause till recommittal. Mr W. F. Buokland : VVhat would occur in the case of the counties of Eden and Manukau, which have no Councils ' Sir Julius Vogel suggested that the lioad Boards might elect a joint representative. The bill passed to clause 21. The House rose at 2 p.m.