GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1247, 2 October 1884, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. In reply to Sir George \Vhitmore (for Mr Robinson) the Hon. the Colonial Secretary stated that the persons who were responsible for the inspection of railway material purchased in England for New Zealand were Messrs Faulkner, Tancred and John Carruthers, The Impoundingßill was read a third time and passed. Tiie Council went into Committee on the River Boards Bill, which was reported with amendments. The Mamed Women's Property Bill was re-committed and amended, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In the House on Tuesday, On the motion of Mr Macandrew, the amended report on the New Zealand Shipping Company Bill was agreed to. Mr Moss moved the adjournment of the House in order to afford an opportunity for enabling him to table a motion to the effect that on an early date he would move —“ That the continued growth of the external debt is a danger to the colony, and is likely ,to cause grave embarrassment with ever increasing drain to meet the annual outflow for interest; that the time has come when an earnest and resolute effort should bo made to stay the growth ot this debt by confining the expenditure under external ioans to railways already authorised, or to railways absolutely necessary to connect constructed portions that would be useless without such connection ; that all other expenditure should be met by loans raised in the colony or direct taxation.” The Speaker ruled the motion out of order, inasmuch that the Standing Orders required that a specific date for the discussion of the motion should be stated. The motion for the adjournment was then withdrawn.

Replying to Mr Steward, the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel said the Question of extending the frozen meat trade to India and China was under consideration, but they did not consider that extraordinary facilities in the way of remitting port dues, etc., were requisite for fostering such trade.

Replying to Mr Steward, the Hon. Mr Tola said no further notification of the Queen’s assent of the Confederation and Annextion Rill had been received beyond that already published. Replying to Mr Turnbull, the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel said the propriety of increasing the duty on barbed wire was a fair subject, for consideration in connection with any alteration that might be proposed in the tariff. Replying to Mr Taiaroa, the Hon. Mr Ballance said the Government recognised the importance of having sub-divided and individualised native reserves in the Middle Island which had been Crown granted, but they were afraid time would not admit of its being done this session. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel said that next week the Government would ask them to give up one of the private days for Government business, and in reply to a question, stated that the Public Works Statement was not yet ready, and although he could not specify the exact day, it would not be brought down for some days. Mr Rolleston moved the second reading of the Public Reserves Act 1881 Amendment Bill, which was carried, JVlr Rolleston intimating that in Committee he would be prepared to accept any reasonable amendment.

The Religious Charitable and Educational Trust Boards Incorporation Bill passed through Committee, was reported without amendment, read a third time and passed. The Hon. Sir Julius Yogel moved the second reading of the District Railways Leasing and Purchasing Act. The securities provided for under the District Railways Bill had been most unfortunate, and in fact they were found to be unsaleable. With something like 7 per cent, interest they could not find a market. The persons who had embarked in these lines found themselves placed in a most unfortunate position. It was not these persons 1 but the ratepayers with whom the Government sympathised most, and it was to them the Government sought to extend relief. The Bill would not increase the liability of the Government. Under any circumstances, the Government was pledged to purchase these lines, and at the present time they would be purchased on much more favorable terms than could be done later on. The total amount required for the purchase of these lines would be about £600,000. If at the end of the year it was found that the lines did not pay, then the ratepayers would be liable to pay oue-half the loss not exceeding 2 per cent. In that case the Government would not he called on to pay more than the other 2 per cent. He based that

computation on the ground that the Government would be charged a much less rate of interest on its moneys than the companies were paying.

Mr Montgomery said that when on the oilier side of the House, ho had opposed a Bill similar to this a tew years ago, and he had not changed his mind. Mr Steward supported the Bill, which he described as the solution of a very grave difficulty occasioned by the action of Parliament in sanctioning these lines. Seeing that the Government could raise money at 4 per cent., he argued that while the ratepayers would be relieved from the burdens, the Government would not ba called upon to make any sacrifice.

Mr Rolleston said the Bill had not beenin circulation long enough to enable them to judge as to its real bearing. They had Bills on the Order Paper before them involving millions of money. Now, he thought they should consider the whole question of the financial proposals, and not go to work in this piecemeal way.. He had supported this proposal in 1879, but he had no hesitation in letting them know that he had changed his mind now that the circumstances were different. He could see a disposition to go into large borrowing schemes. Under the circumstances he contended that they should adjourn the debate until they had the whole Public Works proposals before them. Mr Macandrew said it had been alleged by the previous - speaker that these men made these lines for the benefit of the country. He ventured, however, to think that they had made the lines to benefit themselves. It was not the duty of the State to relieve those who entered into bad speculations. If they had turned out good paying specs, they would have heard nothing about them. There was no stability about their legislation. If they gave in in this case he did not see how they could stand out in any other case. If-he was forced to swallow the Bill it would be a bitter pill to him. He denied as had been alleged, that in re* fusing the Bill they would be breaking faith with anyone. Mr Bryce spoke in favor of the adjournment of the debate until the Public Works Statement was before them. Mr Wakefield spoke strongly against the Bill. After several other Members had spoke for and against the Bill, the House divided, resulting as follows : Ayes 45.—Messrs Atkinson, Ballanco* Bradshaw, Brown, Bruce, J. 0. Buckland, W. F. Buckland, Cadman, Cowan, Dargaville, Duncan, Fergus, Fitzherbert, Fraser, Grigg, Guinness, Harper, Hatch, Holmes, Joyce, Larnach, Levestam, Macandrew, McArthur McMillan, Moat, Morris, O’Callaghan, O’Connor, E. Richardson, G. F. Richardson, Ross, Seddon, Shephard, W. J. Steward ( teller), Sutter, Taiaroa, Tole. Turnbull, Vogel, Walker (teller), W. White, J. B. Whyte, Wilson, and Wi Pera.

Noes, 17. Messrs Barron (teller), Beetham, Bryce, Buchanan, Hamlin. Johnston, Lake, Montgomery, Moss, Newman, Pearson, Reese, Rolleston, Shrimski, Thompson (Auckland North), Trimble (teller), and Wakefield. The Bill was then read a second time. In Committee on the Parliamentary Honorarium and Privilege Bill, Mr Russell moved that the amount be £lO5 instead of £2lO. The question was put that the words as printed stand. Ayes, 42 ; Noes, 46. On a division clause 7, which provided that no member be disqualified for serving on a Royal Commission or receiving fees or allowances was struck out by 37 to 16. The Honorarium Bill was reported with amendments. The House went into Committee on the Public Health Act Amendment Bill, wLi&h passed through with unimportant amendments. The House rose at 3.10 a.m.