FRIDAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 115, 15 August 1885, Page 3

FRIDAY.

In the House .this afternoon, Mr Obmond asked .Government if they would inform the H6use what reply had been received from the delegates in England to the cablegram which the House was informed had been sent asking further information re the terms for the construction of the East and West Coast Railway 1 Sir J. Vogel replied as follows:— The reply of the delegates was to the effect that the guarantee applies to any deficiency in working expenses in addition to the £97,000 ; ~ payments on account of guarantee to be recouped from excess of receipts of line over working expenses, but not from receipts from land. There was an addition about constructing the line in three portions, which we could not comprehend, and which seemed inadmissible. We considered, however, that there was no use replying to it, but that it should be laid before the Select Committee in common with the other proposition which I alluded to in my remarks in moving for the Committee. The words of the telegrams were : — " Net amount receivable by syndicate must be £97,000, Government also paying any deficit in working expenses. All profits f romland must belong to the syndicate, these profits being the chief inducement to investors. Payment under guarantee during every year recoup from profit. Line probably built three or more portions by separate issues. Land being allocated here rateable, therefore necessary provide guarantee dividend rateability, and failure one portion not entails forfeiture others. Saving clause present contract also necessary. Nothing less than these terms any use whatever." I take the opportunity of saying that the Government considered the division on the subject of the committee an indication that the House is unwilling to urge on the agreement made by the delegates, and have telegraphed as follows: — "Parliament refuse to sanction the delegates' agreement." The Government understand that to be the feeling of the House. It is inadvisable, in answer to a question, to further state the views of the Government on the subject,

Questions. Mr FiSHtR gave notice to ask the Government whether any communication was received from the Home authorities on the subject of rendering Imperial aid in the construction in colonial ports of docks capable of accommodating Her Majesty's ships. Mr Richardson, in reply to the question, said the Public Works Statement would come down in a few days

The Napier Gas Company. An hour was spent in discussing the report of the Local Bills Committee on the Napier Gaa Company's Act Amendment Bill, a measure for the purpose of establishing gas - works at the town of Hasting. The site selected for the worlCs was near the property of a person who had petitioned the House for a" right of action against the Company in case of injury arising through the gaa - works The Committee has inserted a clause in the bill dealing with the objector's petition, and it was not without some trouble that Mr Russell, who had the bill in charge, succeeded in obtaining its recommittal.

Native Lands Court Bill. Mr Ballanoe moved the second reading of the Native Lands Court Consolidation Bill, and in doing so suggested its reference to the Native Affairs Committee. • Mr Bbyce was understood to say that he did not object to the proposal of Mr Ballance. Colonel Trimble questioned the desirability of permitting the measure to go to a committee, the whole business of which was done by two European members and the Maori members. The whole working of this Committee was tedious and unsatisfactory, and he thought it should be reconstructed. Wi Pjere and Te Ao supported the reference of the bill to the Native Affairs Committee. Mr Hamlin commended the bill, which, he thought, did not require to go through committee, as there was but little new in it. It was merely a consolidatory measure, and was generally approved of, and the course proposed by the Government was only a means of retarding it. After brief remarks from the other members, Mr Ballance replied, and tbe second reading was carried without dissent.

. . Various Bills. The Westland and Grey Education Boards Bill, River Boards Bill, Coroners Bill, Rabbit Nuisance Act Continuance Bill were read a second time.

Customs Duties Bill. Sir Julius Voqel moved the Customs and Excise Duties Bill, which he mentioned was merely a formal measure to confirm the resolution of the Ways and Means Com- , mittee re Tariff, and the matter of the , Tobacco Excise Extension. New Zealand tobacco, he said, was not strong enough for manufacture by itself. Mr Moss spoke forcibly on the general • bad state of the finances of the colony, and '; called on members to think for themselves independently of the recognised leader* of , the House. He moved that some day next ', week, the date to bo left blank, the House go into committee for the purpose of con- ; sidering finance. Mr Wablesteu) attacked the extension of | the protective tariff ,on locally-made' l tobacco, which, he said, was manufactured? chiefly from imported leaf. He also con- j sidered it a retrograde step to raised the ' duty on <- Australian wines made-; in New South Wales and South Australia,! which were free traders, and took a: largejj quantity of our products. The statesmen of^

Australia felt strongly on these intercolonial protective duties. He said^ that Imperial federation and military federation were mere bagatelles^ compared with* the great' commercial federation that would eventually come and liniteTtbe Atistralias. - " Mr Peacock: indignantly asserted that the remarks from<the 'last speaker;, jtiad a damaging effect on> a new industry ,in>she colony* which bade fair -to .became a very thriving one.. He was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment., At the evening sitting, the discussion on the Customs Bxcis6 Duties Bill was continued. Mr Peacock urged that the production of tobacco in Auckland ought to be encouraged for another two years. The industry had been a successful one, and ought to be further developed.- * - - - Mr Bbyce eaid he accepted generally the increases of the Committee Jin Customs duties. He had observed that the Committee had accepted with alacrity the duties on spirits. He did not altogether agree with those increases, and he was not sure that there was no such, thing inthe colony as illicit distillation or smuggling. He accused Mr Moss of frequently speaking for no other object than to air, his own eloquence. Captain Sutter explained that he had seconded the amendment as a joke. Mr Turnbull denied that Mr Moss was addicted to airing his eloquence, and he was ' perfectly sure , that no member in the House had a more pure career than the member for Parnell, who always had the courage of his opinions. At the same time, he thought the amendment should be withdrawn. Mr Hurst said that the extra 6d imposed on colonial wines was a mistake, and unless it was repealed New South Wales would be sure to tax the natural products of New Zealand. He spoke of the earnestness and zeal with which the member for Parnell had followed up his line, but thought it was a mistake for any hon. member, without communion with his fellows, to endeavour to lead the House n a matter like his amendment opened up. The Government had, in his opinion, sown seed which was calculated to depress this, colony, and they ought to be kept on the Treasury Benches to reap the benefits of the ised which they had sown. The Public Works Statement had been purposely kept back because support hinged on the works the Government would give to certain, districts. He hoped the member for Parnell would withdraw his resolution. The Treasurer stated that when the Financial Statement was brought down he estimated a surplus of £30,000 for the current year. Against that there would be the charges for supplementary estimates, but as a rule the increased sum that wasTequired for them was covered by the savings in expenditure on the amount voted for the estimates. The amount voted was rarely expended, so that it might be estimated that, as ho had stated, there would be a surplus of £30,000 on the estimates brought down under the Financial Statement. The House, in its wisdom, however, had seen fit to strike out a sura of £70,000 to £75,000, which it was proposed to raise by increased Customs duties, and had also struck out the clause in the Deceased Estates Duties Bill. That was done under a high sense of conscientious honour by members, who thought that the legislation was retrospective. As regards making up the cum of £75,000 lost by the non-increase of the tariff, it had been stated to the House that the Government proposed nob to pay off £50,000 from the deficit of their predecessors, and if the hopes of his hon. friends were realised, they might have the pleasure of dealing with that deficit themselves. (Laughter.) At all events, the Government ~ proposed postponing that for two years. Then there was £25,000 for permanent defence purposes, which would be charged on the Public Works Fund instead of on revenue, as had been proposed, That disposed of the Customs revenue. As regarded the deficit on the Deceased Persons Estates Act, he could not speak positively, or about any final proposal that might have to be made, because he had not had time to examine the revenue receipts uptotheend of July, which would givea a fair indication of the result of the financial year. On the whole, he did estimate that the Government would not have to increase the proposals which they made with regard to the Property Tax, or at any rate, if they did increase ifc, it would be very little. He hoped it would not be necessary to do so, though another one-eighth of a penny mignt be necessary. He would like to point out that, in regard to revenue, the House must consider that the late Governmenthad made railways a taxing machinery, but this Government had not done so, hence the falling of the railway revenue. Mr Hubsthouse pould not at present support the revolutionary motion of the member for Parnell. He disapproved of the course adopted by Government in providing ways and means for measures before they had decided what the measures should be. He characterised the establishment of the tobacco industry in Auckland as an absolute and entire failure. Dr. Newman expressed the opinion that the Financial Statement delivered that night had given little information, ani that the deficit next year would be very large indeed. He accused the last speaker of inconsistency in urging that the expenditure should be curtailed, and supporting the construction of the East and West Coast Railway. Mr Hursthouse desired to make a pereonal explanation. He had not voted for the construction of the East and West Coast Railway, but for the appointment of a committee to consider the question. If the hon member had accused him of supporting the proposals made by the Colonial Treasurer, he had accused him wrongly. ' The second reading of the bill wasicarried on the voices. Mr Moss's amendment accordingly lapsed.

Second feeadiags.' The second readings of the following measures were moved and agreed -. to without debate:—Public Reserves Act Amendment (Ballance), Gold - mining Districts Act Amendment (Larnach), Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment (Larnach), Middle Island Half-caste Grants (Ballance), and Rating Act Amendment, No. 2 (Tole).

Justices of the Peace Act, In moving the second reading of the Justices of theTPeace Act Amendment Bill, the Minister of Justice explained that it was a consolidation bill. An important feature; dealt with was the rota of Justices. The honour conferred on come gentlemen had been abused by their not doing a fair share of the work. To explain his meaning he had prepared a list showing the number ,of Justuses of the Peace who had sat on the bench in the large centreß during the past year, and as it might prove interesting, he would read it. It was, as follows :—Auckland : Number of Justices, 98; number who sat; 36. New Plymouth;;, Justices, 13; who sat, 8. Napier; Justices, 29; sat, 21. Gisborne: Justices, 13: sat, 13. Wellington : Justices, 94; sat, 58. Wanganui: Justices, 27; sat, 17. Nelson: Justices, 25; sat, 9. Christohurch: Justices, 88; sat, 23. Ashburftm:

Justices, 19; sat/16. Tlmwu.: Just^cea, 16; satH6. s 'Oamanu Justieeew lDjueat, ..iM' Invercargilh Justices, 18; sat, 14.,I)unedin: Jbeticeß, 94) sat, 24.* The return BhouldUhow the necessity -of some i measure of reform. 'He proposed; under the present: bill, that if 'a~ justice twice failed to .answer Ws.rota, his ' name* should • bet struck, 6 fP"« Perhaps the measure >wae too drastic in some respeots, and was imperfectly. sdrawn., „ Mr Hubsthousb said- the Mkjistjer had hardly done the Justices ,q;f ctbe>P,eace fair justice. In all great centres, of immorality and wretchedness, it might J>e that Justices did,,not do „their duty, bufi'Uhe measure would be i. l, totally IfiopSr&ive r> in many of the country districts; !In clause "Rota of Justices'*' ne pHouia iJmt>v©*"an amend ment, "That the* bill Bhouidnnot apply save-to- boroughs." «There Mras .a time when it was supposed to be-an honour, to be a Justice of the Peace,. but^he could,not sfty that was the case nowv He .repudiated the observation that Justices of, the Peace owed the country anything." ,The, country owed a great deal to the justices, who did their duty. u ■ Mr Peacock denied that the non-attend-ance of justices was due to unwillingness to eit in 1 the Court-house, but on account of no proper rota being prepared, Mr Samttel said that the present Minister of Justice was always wanting some ofhis powers taken away from him. If Justices of the Peace failed, in the. performance of their duty, or if improper appointments had been made,,it,was the duty of "the Minister himself to strike them off the roll. Mr Downie Stewart scored a point when he said there were two classes of justices —those who sat.on the bench, and those who were always available for purposed of taking statutory declarations. Mr Levestam thought the list of justices required purging. -„JEEe had known cases where unqualified persons had adjudicated on matters requiring most careful consideration. The second reading of the bill was carried on the voices. I ; { j

Fisheries Encouragement Bill. The Houee went into committee on the Fisheiies Encouragement Bill. Mr Beetham moved an amendment to make the bill apply to fresh-water fish. Mr Stout suggested to strike put the worde "salt water" instead, which was carried. Mr Stout moved that clause 8 be postponed, providing that a bonus may be paid on canned fish. Mr Barron suggested that progress be reported, as the whole of the remaining clauses hinged on clause S. He objected to the system of bonus proposed by the bill. Sir Julius Vogel said substantial bonuses were paid in the Scotch and Irish fisheries. He thought the advantage to be gained by the bill would fully compensate for the bonuses asked for. Colcnel Trimble asked whether a bonus would also be given to the farming industry for the production of wheat and the growth of sheep. He thought it was the duty of the House to oppose class legislation. Mr Macandrew looked on bonuses as a means towards an end. It was well known that bonuses to Irish and Scotch fisheries had ceased for years past. He was amazed at Colonel Trimble's narrow-mindedness on the question. He thought fisheries would contribute far more to the revenue than the bonus amounted to. He hoped the House would pass the bonus. As far as he was concerned, he wished it were three times the amount. After some further discussion, clause 9, providing that the tonnage in which bonuses may be granted should not exceed 6,000, was eventually put and carried by 35 to 20. At a later hour in the evening, clause 8, bonus to be paid for canned fish, was considered. Mr Stout moved a resolution, granting an appropriation for the purpose, which was reported to the House. An amendment to inaerfc the words " and cured " fish, as being entitled to a bonus, was carried by 26 to 14. A further discussion ensued on the motion for the third reading of the bill. It was eventually read a third time, and passed.

Life Assurance Policies. The House went into Committee on the Life Assurance Policies Act, 1884, Amend* ment Bill, which was reported without amendments, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at twenty minutes past one a.m.