GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1400, 10 September 1885, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary introduced a Bill entitled The Costley Bequest Act 1885. The Property Assessment Bill and the Counties Act Amendment Bill were received from the House of Representatives and read a first time.

The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill was re-committed and reported with amendments.

The Rating Act 1882 Amendment (No. 2) Bill was committed, progress reported, and leave granted to sit again. The Auckland Railway Land Compensation Bill was read a third time and passed. The Property Law Consolidation Bill was committed and progress reported and the Council adjourned at 5 p.m. The Legislative Council m#t at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. On the motion of Mr Reeves the Employment of Females and Others Bill was amended so that boys could be employed on Saturdays from the hour of 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the printing and publishing of newspapers. The Mortgage Debentures Bill was read a third time without debate.

Messrs Miller, Reynolds and Menzies were appointed a Committee to draw up reasons for still insisting on the amendments of the Council in the Mines Bill which had been disagreed toby the House of Representatives. The Rating Act, 1882 Amendment Bill and the Property Law Consolidation Bill were further considered in Committee and reported with amendments. The Justice of the Peace Act was road a second time.

The Gißborne High School Bill was further considered in Committee and reported with amendments.

The Patea Harbor Board Bill was read a third time and passed, and the Council adjourned at 4.5 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. The Hon. Mr Stout moved- " That in the opinion of this House it in inadvisable for the colony to joiu the Federal Council of Australasia under the existing federal Council Act." He aaid he was desirous that there should be some kind of Federation more powerful than was provided by the last Bill passed by the Convention. He referred at length to the Federal Council Bill, and said it did not contain the provisions which were suggested by the New Zealand Government. He felt convinced that Federation would have to be effected, but that it would have to ba English, Australian, nnd New Zealand Federation. He would suggest to save the time of the House, that Messrs Macandrew and Beetham should move their resolutions as additions to his (Mr Stout's) motion.

Mr Macandrew moved—" That in the opinion of this House the time has com 9 when an effort should be made to unite tlie whole English - speaking people throughout the world in one political Confederation, having for its object mutual defence against foreign aggression the maintenance of peace, and the promotion of the brotherhood of nations; that a respectful address be presented to His Excellency the Governor requesting that he may be pleased to transmit the resolution to the Queen in the hope that Her Majesty may still further distinguish her illustrious rtign by endeavoring to bring about a conference that should represent the whole of the British dominions and the United States of America, to meet at either Londo.i or Washington, to consider the questiou of political confederation as hereinbefore mentioned." He spoke at snme length on the question of the adv-uitagfa of confederation with tho Imperial Government and the United States.

Mr Beetham then moved lna resolution —" That in order to secure the permanent unity of the Empire some form of Federation is essential ; that no scheme of Federation should interfere with the existing right of local Parliaments as regards local affairs ; that any scheme of Imperinl Federation Bhould combine on an equitable basis, the resources of the Empire for the maintenance of common interests, and inadequately provide for an orejanisud defence of common rights."

Mnjor Atkinson said he was glad to hear the Premier was of opinion that Federation of some Hort was necessary. He only wished that the hon. gentleman had brought dowu' a different resolution more in accordance with his views on the question. He spoke at some length on the subject, and then moved as an amendment—" That it is undesirable daring the present session, and pending further consideration by the people of the colony of the important issues involved, to adopt legislation having for its objejt to join New Zealand in tha Federal Council of Australasia." The Hon. Mr Stout said he would accept Major Atkinson's amendment. Mr Rolleston supported the Federation proposal, and largely sympathised with all the member for Port Chalmers had said on the subject of Imperial Federation. He thought it was eminently a practical question. The result of peace or war was of enormous importance to the whole of the civilised world. He was somewhat disappointed they should not have taken some steps this Bession towards securing federation with the Australian Colonies.

Mr Montgomery objected to the proposal altogether. He saw no necessity for it at present. As for defence he contended that tho colony should be protected by cruisers which could cope with an enemy's fleet. Mr Ballance agreed with the amendment of the member far Mount Egmont. He thought the time would come when the Federation of the world would be effected, but it would not be for some time yet. He thought the whole question of Federation should be postponed for a few years. Mr Connolly stroogly supported the Federation scheme, and said he should not support the Premier's resolution. Major Atkinson's amendment was then carried on the voices. Mr Macandrew's amendment and the resolution as a whole were also carried. The House rose at 5.30 and resumed at 7.30. The House went into Committee on the Public Works Act Amendment (No. 2) Bill which passed without alteration, with the exception of clause 15 being struck out. The House went iDto Committee on the Public Revenues Bill. Several amendments were proposed in the Bill, which elicited a lengthy discussion. The Public Works Act Amendment Bill (No. 2), and Public Revenues Bill were reported from Committee, read a third time, and passed. Sir Julius Vogel said that in consequence of no tender having been received he had arranged that instead of an 18 or 19 days service, 20 days should be the limit, and had extended the time when tenders should close till Wednesday. He would inform the House of the result of the first service called for.

The motion for the second reading of the Gold Duty Abolition Bill was lott by 34 to 23, »nd an amendment by Mr Sutter that the Bill be rend that day six months was carried by 35 to 33. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Lance moved—- " That in the opinion of this House it is advisable that some steps should be taken to stamp out the scab in sheep wherever it exists in the colony, and that a sufficient sum should be voted for that purpose." The sum he proposed to ask for was £3OOO which he considered was not a large s«m for eradicating such a great pest.

Tie Hon. Sir Julius Vogel said the I4o>ornment intended bringing down upon the Supplementary Estimates, a sum of money for effecting the purpose desired, as he thought it would be better to have the disease stamped out than to continue it.

Mr Lance then withdrew his ame"d rnenfc,

Mr Moss moved a further amendment: —(1) That retrenchment in the public expenditure is imperative ; (2) that in order to effect this retrenchment it is desirable (a) a reduce materially the number of members in both Houses of Legislature, with a corresponding reduction m the number of Ministers and in the departmental expenditure of the colony, (b) to devise a system of local government simple and economical and selfdependent, capable of relieving the General Assembly of all local works, and rendering the present large number of members unnecessary." The Premier replied stating that he agreed with the mover regarding reducing the number of members and expenditure, still he hoped the motion would not be pushed at this late hour of the session.

The motion was negatived, and the House went into Committee of Supply. Vote : Legislative Department. Item: Clerk of the Council, £6OO. Reduced by £IOO. Item : Assistant Clerk, £4OO. Eeduced by £SO.

Item : Chairman Waste Lands Committee, £IOO. Reduced by £SO. The vote as amended was then passed. Vote 2 : Colonial Secretary's Department, £221,568.— Agreed to. Vote 14: Colonial Treasurer's Department, £62,258. Agreed to. Public Trust Account, £B29s.—Agreed to. Progress was then reported, and the House rose at 3.40 a.m.

The House met at 2.30 on Tuesday. Replying to questions, Ministers stated: That a sum would be placed on the Supplementary Estimates to encourage prospecting and give rewards for the discovery of new goldfields ; that the Property Tax Commissioner would compile a return this year similar to that of 1881, but with various additions; that Dr Grabham had not prepared any special reply to Mr Blair's report on the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum. The Hon. Mr Richardson introduced a Bill to make provision for the rectification of rates on the Waimea Plains Railway.

Mr Turnbull moved for returns showing the cost of printing papers in connection with confederation and annexation during the present year, and showing the coat of printing papers connected with

education during the present year.— Agreed, to. The House went into Committee on the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill.

Major Atkinson asked the Premier if he would not move that the Chairman leave the chair and have done with the _j[

Bill. He thought the Government could very well put six months subsidies en the Estimates which would settle the whole matter. There was no possible excuse for going on with the Bill, and he moved that the Chairman leave the Chair. A debate ensued which lasted till the

5.30 adjournment. On the House resuming Major Atkinson withdrew his amendment, and the Bill was proceeded with. A number of clauses were struck out on'the voices and progress was reported. C'n the motion to go into Supply Mr Mi»candrew desired to move the motion of which he had given notice, which was that a Boyal Commission be appointed during the recess to consider and report how far it may be practicable to place the affairs of the North and Middle Island of New Zealand on two or more distinct provincial Legislatures without impairing the unity of the Colony, and that it be an instruction to said Commission in the event of its recommending any change of the existing system, to embody Buch recommendation in a Bill to be submitted to Parliament at its next annual session or at a special session to be convened at an earlier date for the consideration of such Bill should His Excellency's advisera see fit. He alluded to the manifest bad results of the present form of government. The practice had been to get out of the colonial cheßt all they could, and the result had been to destroy that self-reliance which should exist in a constitutionally governed country. Under this system no public work, however important, could be undertaken with a view to its locality, and men were gauged as states* men to take back spoils to their constituents. If the system was continued, they would end in what the Americans call an " eternal smash." The Hon. the Premier said he had never been an advocate of separation. He did not think a Royal Commission would do any good. The question was then put and the House divided on the question that the words " the House do now go into Committee of Supply" stand a part of the question—ayes 25 noes 58. Captain Russell moved a further amendment to the effect—" That in the opinion of the House it is desirable that the public works expenditure be reduced by a sum of not less than £soo,ooo.'_' He disclaimed, he said, any party spirit in moving the motion. He did not blame the present Government any more than the late Government for the present position of the colony. The House ought to endeavor at once to reduce or do away with borrowing. The Hon. Minister for Public Works said the liabilities on the Ist of August were £1,912,000, that it should be remembered that many of these liabilities extended over a period of two or three years, and that the expenditure for the year, it was anticipated, would be within a million ana a quarter. If the vote was reduced as suggested it would mean a decrease in roads and in public buildings. Considerable reductions, might be made in the railway estimates on various lines to the extent of about £400,000.

Mr Wakefield said if this resolution were carried it would be one of the best steps that had been taken for some years, and would have a tendency to greatly reduce the depression now existing. Mr Maaandrew's motion was put and lost on the voices.

On the question that Captain Russell's amendment be carried, Major Atkinson said he was glad to hear Ministers say that Government was prepared to accept the motion. The Minister for Public Works had indicated the direction in which reductions could be made, and if the motion wascprried he would move to that end. Unless the House was prepared to borrow a large sum they could not let any more new contracts, because the Hon. Minister had told them that the liabilities on the Ist of August last were £1,912,000. It appears from the statement of the Minister that the liabilities incurred during last moath were abous £400,000. He would ask the House whethor it was justified in voting £2,600,000 when it had only £2,000*000 in liaml.

The Hon. the Piemier said if that meant that Government was to take back its Estimates, then he would say at once that they would not do it. That was plain. If the House wished to instruct the Committee of Supply to reduce the Estimates, of course the Committee of Supply would be at liberty to do so. Mr Rolleston did not a?ree that the best way to deal with the Estimates was in detail. The Government only could deal with them in this way. He thought they did net get the light from the Government which they should hare on mich an important amendment. He contended the present "amendment was a' much less stringent one than that recently proposed by tlie Member for Egmont, which would have been carried but for a peculiar set of ci r cum3tances. He intended voting for any motion having forits object the reduction of expenditure, . and the consequent reduction of taxation, and if the House was true to itself it would support the amendment now before it.

Thtt debate was carried on till 12.30 a.m., when Mr PncV.anan moved its ad* jonrnment, and the House rose.