GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1260, 1 November 1884, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

In the Legislative Council on Wednesday, The School Committees Bill failed to pass its second reading, 7 voting for and 22 against it. The new Harbor Empowering Bill was read a third time and passed.

Several bills passed their second readings. In Committee some Amendments wore made in the Government Insurance Association Bill. A clause was added to the Grevmouth Harbor Bill providing that as soon as the expenditure on the Greymouth Harbor Works has reached the sum of £IOO,OOO there shall be imposed a special tax of threepence per ton on all coal exported from that harbor, to be devoted towards the repayment of the moneys authorised to be borrowed under the Act. A similar clause was added to the Westport Harbor Bill, the tax of threepence per ton to be imposed after the expenditure on the works has reached £250,000. In the Council on Thursday, The Government Insurance Bill was re-committed for the purpose of adding a clause meeting the case of those assured in the Government office, but residing outside the colony.

The Greymouth Harbour Board Bill, Supreme Court Registrar (Taranaki) Empowering Bill, Westport Harbor Board Bill, Destitute Persons Bill, and Workmen’s Wages Bill, were read a third time and passed. The Printers and Newspapers Registration Bill was thrown out on its second reading.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. In the House on Wednesday, After a number of questions had been asked and replied to, on the motion of the District Railways being called on, Sir Julius Vogel made a short statement to the effect that he was glad to be able to inform the House that the Government had agreed to alter the resolution in such a manner as he thought would not provoke any opposition. A short debate ensued. Sir G. Grey held that as the resolution bed been altered, time should be given to the members to consider it. Mr 13>yce held that ns the resolution had already been discussed in the House it was not proper to biing ti e subject up again. - Mr Kollestou thought ti e principle was wbetlur die House was trying to counteract the action of Uie other branch of the Legislature. It seemed lo him that the course they were entering into was an evasion of the general rule that when a

question had once been umh r cnnridcia tion it should not be re open' ". He als" held that the Governm wood not be justified iu en’erinf into a contract at variance with the opinion of the Legislah've Council.

Sir Julius Vogel said he would merely ask at present that the Rouse go into Committee to consider the amended resolution as follows : “That the difficulties surrounding the railways constructed under the District Railways Act, and the hardships to which the ratepayers are subject in connection therewith, are such that this House considers the Government should seize a favorable opportunity to take over the said lines by lease and purchase, such agreements to be subject to the ratification of Parliament, and to contain a pro vision that until Parliament has had an opportunity of giving such ratification all proceedings against ratepayers should be stopped.” The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill, the Road Board Act Amendment Bill, the Land Act 1877 Amendment Bill, the Life Assurance, and the Codlin Moth Bill were read a third time and passed. The Beetroot Sugar Bill passed its second reading. In the House on Thursday,

Replying to Mr Rolleston as to whether in any fresh adjustment of the railway tariff he will consider the present comparative inequality of the charges upon the carriage of lime on southern railways, the Hon. Mr Richardson said the matter would receive consideration, but the lime had been carried at the ordinary charges. The Hon. Sir Julius Voge! gave notice of the introduction of the Property Tax Act 1884, and the New Zealand Loans Act 1884 Bills.

The Hon. Mr Richardson moved that (he roads (on Supplementary Order Paper, Ho. 4, on the 18th September) which were gazetted as main roads on the 29th and 31st March, 1883, and on the 27th and 31st March, 1884, be declared to be main roads, in terms Section 7 of The Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882. He said the resolution was merely a formal matter.

The motion was agreed to. Sir Julius Vogel’s motion re the District Railways was then debated, and after some discussion, and several amendments, the Hon. Mr Stout moved the following ; —“That the Government be requested to come to the best arrangement they can with the District Railway Companies, with the view of the acquisition of the lines by the colonies, such arrangement being subject to the ratification of Parliament.”

This was carried by 49 to 24. On the resolution being reported to the House, Messrs Wakefield, Rolleston, Moss and Sir George Grey spoke strongly against it. Sir Julius Vogel replied. He said there were three or four members in the House who were always trying to carry hostile votes against the Government. Supposing these three gentlemen had in the other Chamber a triumvirate also who were opposed to the Government, and bad planned an attack upon the Government on the District Railways Bill, such a plan of attack could be easily understood. The policy Bills of the Government, however, had passed through the Upper House in a most unusually successful manner. He merely wished to add that the Government were fully aware of the responsibilities attached to the position they had taken up. Mr Wakefield said if the Treasurer persisted in making personal attacks on him ns to his private affairs, he would place himself in an exceedingly distasteful position. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel replied that every line of Mr Wakefield’s speech showed that he was not speaking on behalf of himself but of other members. The Beetroot Sugar Bill had a few amendments made in it, and passed its third reading.