PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 20, 15 October 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Saturday, October The Council met at II a.»„ On the second reading of Native Lands Administration Bill, the Hon, Mr. Shrimski objected to important measures being brought down at the eleventh hour, and th(, Council h.ing asked to deal with thei\ without having time to see tkem, * The Hon, W. 0. Walker said it was not the fault of the I'tinistry, who had bad the matter unde % its consideration for three months; jTut it had been delayed by the natives themselves. The Hon%6race, Bouar.and Taiarea,

also to hurrying through important business. The second readagreed to and the Bill referred to the Native Affairs Committee. Thi~Hssn Oeuneils Bill was read the first and seVond times, and also referred to the Native Afiairs Committee, The amendments proposed by the Government hf the Government Railways Bill were agreed to. The Hen. W. O. Walker moved the

second reading of the Representation I The Hon. Bonar said there had been no demand throughout the country for an increase of representation. It was a matter bf notoriety that the BUI was introduced to increase the number of representatives in consequence of the increased number of Ministers. As a matter of course a dissolution would follow the ptesing of the Bill, The Hon. Reeves said he fonnd a general opinion to exist in favour of an increased representation. Colonel Pitt thought the team of Parliament should be extended to five years. The Hon. Bonar thought the trouble was that Parliament was asked to do too muoh local work; work which should be delegated to the local bodies by an amendment of the Act. Dr. Grace referred to the faot that there was in Parliament absolutely no public corruption, The Hon. W, 0, Walker said a measure would be brought down next year for a larger measure of local selfgovernment, The cecond reading was agreed to, and the standing orders having been suspended, the Bill was committed, and, without amendment, was read the third time and passed, The Counoil adjourned at 12,25 p.m, to 3 pm.

The Council met at 3 p.m. The Hon. W, C. Walker moved the second reading of the Public Works Act Amendment Bill, which, after debate, was agreed to, and the Council adjourned at 4 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

EVENING SITTING. The Council met at 7.30 p.m. The Council' agreed npt to insist on the Councils amendments in the Electoral Amendment Bill, or in the Animals Protection Bill. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Saturday, October 10. >The House met at 2,30 p.m. The Hon, J. G. Ward moved to introduce the Manawatu Railway Purchasing Bill, which, he explained, consisted of only one clause, and was designed to empower the Government to enter into negotiations for the purchase of the Manawatu Railway, the terms of such negotiations to be provisional and subject to the assent of Parliament. The Bill was introduced and wad a first time, and Mr. Ward asked that it be put through all its stages forthwith. On the motion for the second reading, Captain Russell laid stress on the point that nothing should obtain in connection with the negotiations which would commit Parliament to any bargain. He agreed that the acquisition of the railway would be a good piece of national policy, and he would be prepared to favourably consider any negotiations for its purchase, if arranged on & fair and reasonable basis. Mr. E. M. Smith heartily supported the Bill. Mr. Herries opposed the purchase of this railway while other parte of the colony had no railway at all. Mr. Stevens considered that if the line could be made to pay by a private company, it should pay better under Government eontrol. In the interests I of the colony and of the settlers along! the West Coast, this line should be acquired by the State. Mr. Hogg believed that as a matter of public policy all railway lines should be in the hands of the State; but the proposal now before the House required | grave consideration, and negotiations ishould not be conducted with undue haste.

Mr. Field congratulated the Minister upon the step he had taken, but he hoped the Government would take into consideration the question of probable loss in taxation to local bodies along the line if the railway was purchased.

Mr. Wilford added his congratulations to the Minister, and said there vras no question but that the purchase of this line was advisable, and he hoped members would not view the matter from a provincial standpoint, but would treat it as a national question. Mr. Hornsby did cot object to the Government acquiring the Manawatu liae, but ha thought it should be contingent upon the deviition of the dangerous portion of the Wairarapa line. He wished to impress upon the Government the dire necessity there was for making provision for the deviation, as at present daily risks were run by trains and the travelling public alike. Mr, R. McKeozie objected to questions of this important character being desilt with in the dying hours of the ■eseion, and moved that the second reading of the Bill be postponed for us mont hs. Mr. Thos. McTCenzie thought it would be time enough to talk about the leviation of the liimutaka line when lew districts hid been provided with railway communications. . Mr. R. Thompson hoped that nothng would be done that would prejudice ■he prospects of other districts, which were sadly in noed of railway facilities, Mr. O'Meara acquiesced in the purchase of the Manawatu line, but urged the deviation of the Rimutaka line. Hr. Bjrani had strongly gup, l.

ported the purchase of the Manawatu line, but it should only be done with the sanotion of Parliament, Mr. Ward, in replying, said there was no intention on the part of the Government to make any arrangement which would be binding on the House. He could assure members that the purchase of this line would in no way afl'ect railway communication in other parts of the colony. Unless the Government entered into negotiations now it would be necessary to give the Manawatu | Company an extended tenure. The House could rest satisfied that the Government would not do anything foolish or extravagant in connection with the Manawatu line. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. Mr. Witheford moved to introduce the Fire Brigades Bill. jSe intimated he did lot intend to proceed further with the Bill this uision. His only desire was to have the Bill printed and circulated so that the House and the country would have an opportunity of considering its provisions before nest session. The Bill was'introduced and read a first time. The report of, the Public Petitions Committee on 36 petitions against the sale of alcoholic liquors in the King Country was read. The Committee reported that as a Bill affecting the matter was now before the House it had no recommendation tomako. Mr. Duncan moved the second reading of the Crown Tenants Rebate of Rent Bill which provides for a rebate of ten per cent, on all rent paid within one month of the due date. Captain Russell contended that a political ajjpeal was made to Crown tenants in subsection 4 of Clause 3, which provides" That this Act shall remain in force until the expiration of the first session of next Parliament and no longer." He thought Crown tenants were well entitled to the rebate proposed in this Bill, and he hoped that in addition to this, tenants who had made the full value of improvements provided by law should not have to pay their rents in advance, Mr. G. W. Russell opposed the Bill, and said that it would not be so bad if it proposed to discriminate in favour of back block settlers, or even if it gave Land Boards power to remit the rents of those people altogether in cases ot necessity. This measure, he declared, had been brought down to create a division of feeling between the town and country representativfs, in order that the Premier, having divided the Liberal Party into two sections, would be able to place himself at the head of that section which was the stronger of the two, and to enable him to join moderate Conservatives in the House and country and le.td a united Conservative and moderate Liberal Party. Mr. C. H. Mills said the Bill showed practical sympathy with hard-working bush settlers, and carried out what had always been promised, viz., that the State would prove itself a liberal and generous landlord. Mr. O'Meara recognised that the Bill would grant a little relief to maDy settlers who were now suffering because of their holdings being considerably over-valued. He urged the Minister to have a revaluation made by a competent man in cases where selectors complained of their rents being too high. Mr, Ell opposed the Bill. He considered county settlers had received sufficient concessions, and contended people in towns had been taxing themselves for the benefit of country residents. The debite was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment, EVENING SITTING. The debate on the second reading of the Crown Tenantß Rebate of Rent Bill, was continued by Mr. Tanner, who characterised the Bill as the most uncalled for aud most unnecessary measure ever introduced into the House. If the re-adjustment or rebate applied only to the pioneers of civilisation in the North Island, the Bill would have the hearty support of all sections of the House, but he strongly opposed the violation of principl9 which was contained ih the Bill. Mr. Arnold objected to a measure of this character being set before the House in the dying hours of the session. It was one of the most debateable measures they could have, and he thought the Ministry should agree to hold it over till next session. Mr. J. Hutcheson moved the adjournment of the debate. The motion was negatived by 26 to 18. Mr. Collins joined with those members who bad protested against legislation of such an important and farreaching character being introduced to the House at this stage of the session. He questioned very much whether the colony could permanently afiord the rebate proposed in the Bill. The Minister, in bringing down this Bill, was virtually going back on the policy of his predecessor in office. Mr. Bennett complained that the Bill offered concessions to those who should not require them, and passed over those who were really in need of some relief. The question could best be met by the introduction of a Revaluation Bill. _ Mr. Fowlds repudiated the suggestion that this was a question of town v. country. It was preposterous that a rebate should be made to successful

settlers on the Cheviot estite. He admitted there were enqualities existing among Crown tenants which required adjustment, but this measure would not adequately meet suoh cases. On the contrary, it would sttike a fundamental blow at our whole land policy. Mr. T. McKenzie supported the Bill. He considered it was justifind on the ground that rates of interest bad decreased since the original rents had been fixed. Mr. Pirani characterised the Bill as an unfair one, and said there had been no demand for it from Grown tenants. In the face of concessions that had already been made, it was not right or proper to throw away revenue in the way proposed by this Bill. The Bill, howevor, had not a hope of passing this ■ session, < Mr. W. Frnser said he had no intention of stonewalling the Bill and he would vote for the seconding reading, 1 but would like to see material amendments made in Committee. ■ Mr. Barclay contend e l that every nwpbw Yflw fw tbis BiU

for a restoration of freehold tenure in ( this colony. If it was intended to assist ' deserving back block settlers why not J have a revaluation, and bring down a i Bill for that specific purpose. i Mr. Sedden pointed out that this Bill waa foreshadowed in the Financial j Statement. It was not a step in the direction of a freehold, but would tend to popularise the leasing system. He was surprised to find so much objection to the Bill, though he knew what was behind it. The opposition was an attempt to block the Land for Settlement Bill in view of the promise he had made, but if this sort of thing went on he would consider himself absolved from that promise, and put the Bill through. He hoped, however, that better counsels would prevail, and that the Bill would be allowed to proceed and be dealt with on its merits in com mittee. Until this Bill was dealt with he would not go on with any ether! business, He had no intention of allowing the Bill to drop, Mr. Laurenson said it was asking the State too much to ask it te make a wholesale reduction in the rents of Crown tenants, but he was prepared to make most liberal concessions to settlers who had taken up land in inaccessible localities. He would fight the Bill inoh by inch, clause by clause, if he had to stay in Wellington for three 1 months, Mr. McLachlan eltroagly opposed the Bill as being totally unnecessary. More good would be effected by giving Land 1 Boards power to reduce or even remit rents in cases of hardship, Mr. Meredith expressed himself in support of the Bill. He thought all Grown tenants should be treated alike, i and it would be unjust to dilTerentate' | against the Cheviot settlers, Mr. Napier said the Bill violated the contract made by the State without any ' reason of expediency and made a present of a sum of money to people who had not asked for it, did not want 1 it, and were in a far more prosperous condition than the large olass of workers in the city, At midnight the Speaker left the I chair until 2.30 on Monday,