GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1391, 12 September 1885, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2,30 p.m. on Wednecd^y. The Napier Gas Bill was read a second time without discussion, Mr Miller moved a motion affirming the opinion of the Council that it was desirable io abolish the £SOO exemption in the Property Tax Amendment Bill, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary opposed the motion, holding that the proper place to discuss it was at the husl’ngs, and after further discussion the debate wms at 4 p.m.[interrupted by 'he 0' <le>s of the Day. The Public Revenues E’H was read a first time as was also (he Public Works Bill.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary briefly moved the second reading of the Properly Assessment Bill,

Mr Miller moved the adjournment of the debate pending the fate of his motion. The adjournment was negatived by 19 votes to 16.

The Bill was (hen read a second time without discussion.

The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill was re-committed, and the Council adjourned till 7.30 p.m. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Hospitals ar?d Charitable Institutions Bill was slightly amended in Committee, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council went into Committee on the Mortgage Debentures Bill, on which progress was reported. The Rating Act Bill, Property Law Consolidation Bill, and Gisborne High School Bill were passed.

The Justice of the Peace Bill was reported with amendments. The Council rose at 8.45 p.m. The legislative Council rad at 2.30 p.rn. on Thursday. The interrupted debate on the motion of Mr Miller—“ That it is desirable to abolish the £SOO exemption in the Property Assessment Bill,” was resumed. Mr Shepherd moved an amedment, providing that the £SOO exemption should be reduced instead of abolished.

After a short debate Mr Miller expressed his willingness to accept Mr Shepherd’s amendment, and the motion as amended was agreed to without a dissentient voice. The Public Revenues and Public Works Bills were read a second time. The Property Assessment Bill was committed, and was still in Committee when the Council wao adjourned till the evening. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m, in Committee on (he Property Assessment Bill, which was reported without amendment, and progress was reported. The Mortgage Debentures Bill was reported with amendments, and the Council rose at 9.30 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2,30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Mr Hamlin, Chairman of Committees, took the chair in the absence of the Speaker. Replying to questions Ministers stated ; That Government were in communication with the Oarnaru Harbor Board re compensation for land taken for railway purposes ; that the report of (he Petitions Committee re Richard Davis would be seriously considered ; that steps were being taken regarding the high storage rat j s charged iti the Lyttelton railway shed.

The Hon. Mr Stout introduced a Bill to amend the Municipal Corporations Act. The Hon. Mr Stout moved—“ That this House will to-morrow resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider the granting of a subsidy to the Australian cable.”—Agreed to. Mr Buchanan resumed the debate on Captain Russell’s motion—“ That in the opinion of this House Government should reduce the Estimates of Public Works expenditure by a sum of not less than £500,000,” and Mr Moss’ amendment—- “ That the Estimates having been passed without a diminution in the burdens imposed upon the people, this House does not think it advisable to suddenly stop public works already in progress, but requests the Government to take such measures as may be necessary during the recess, and bring them down at an early period next session.” He pointed out the critical condition of the colony, and contended that the Treasurer had failed to relieve it from such position. Mr Dargaville contended that even if the resolutions were carried it would not effect, the vote on the Estimates in the slightest degree. Colonel Trimble thought there were many items on the Estimates that might well be struck off, such as the vote for the Highland Crofters of £IO,OOO, £3OOO for a gaol at Wanganui, and many other votes.

Mr Lance denied that the Canterbury members had gone into Opposition, The explanation of their position was that they had been suddenly converted to economy. The Canterbury and West Coast members felt they had been treated with scant courtsey by the House over the East and West Coast Railway. They also felt they had been denied the justice to which they were entitled, and would do their utmost to prevent the expenditure of public money in other districts. Mr Montgomery considered the remarks of fithe last speaker as to the the determination of the Canterbury members to prevent other votes passing was not a very creditable position to take up, and compared it with that of members for others for districts. Lie instanced the case of the North Island members when the Trunk Railway was under construction, and pointed out that those members had carefully submitted to the delay which was asked for, in order to see whether the construction of that line was feasible or not. The same thing had happened with respect to the Otago Central. At the same time he would be prepared to advocate the con-

struction of the East and West Coast Railway, He pointed out that Canterbury had contributed largely to taxation, and that her railways had yielded good returns. Canterbury had a large population. If they were not to have the radway, let them go back to their posit'on in 1873 and get the land they then possessed, when thev would be able to cons* met their railway themselves, Mr Cowan supported the motion of the member for Hawkes Bay. He thought the time was inopportune for Government to undertake any new works, which it was possible to postpone. Mr Hobbs heartily supported the motion of the Member for Hawkes Bay. Messrs W. F, Buckland, Levestam, Dodson, Fergus, Rees, and Dr Newman having spoken, Mr Moss’ amendment was put and negatived on the voices. Mr O’Callaghan moved an addition to the motion, providing that such reduction shall not effect any public work in ihe nature of roads and bridges, Messrs Hursthouse and Garrick having •poken, Sir Julius Vogel asked whether the Hon. Member for Hawke’s Bay proposed to accept the addition of the Member for Lincoln.

Caplan Russell replied that he could not accept the proviso. Sir Julius Vogel said the position then was more difficult then than it appeared to be, as they had to deal with two questions instead of one. He said the Government were asked not to discuss lids question as a party one, and they would agree to that proposal. If the resolution was carried it would inflict a largo amount of misery upon persons who were employed in the public works of the colony. The knocking off of £500,000 from the Railway Estimates would mean knocking off £11,500 from this Huntley line ; £20,000 from the Helensville line; £15,000 from the Hpmilton-Grahams-town line ; £65,000 from the Main Trunk line ; £149,000 from the East and West Coast Railway; £75,000 from NapierWoodville ; £BOOO from Picton southward ; £IO,OOO from Otago Central ; and £IO,OOO from Waimea-Switzers. In the first speech he bad delivered at Ashburton he had expressed his opinion that the East and West Coast line should be constructed, and the Government had lasi year introduced a Bill with that object in view. He then detailed the progress of tire scheme proposed for that railway. In this opinion it was a most disastrous tiring that the Committee to enquire into the construction of the railway was nof formed. If that railway were constructed it would open up a vast amount of land suitable for settlement, and would, open up a large trade in timber, coal, and other industries. The Government had determined, in the interests of the railway, that it was not desirable that the railway should be made a party question. He would ask the Canterbury and Nelson members whether they were wise in trying to weaken the Government, which had shown more disposition to contruct that railway than any other Government would be likely to do. He referred at some length to the general railway policy of the Government. He said that if the vote of £150,000 were passed it would lead to the expeditious construction of the East and West Coast Railway. Ho trusted even now that ic would be no foregone conclusion as to that railway. The Government would ask the House to vote on the question not as a party. Captain Russell justified his action in moving the amendment, which he bad done without making any arrangement whatever. He said he took his stand as a man who believed that the reckless expenditure of the Colonial Treasurer was absolutely ruinous to the interests of the colony.

Mr Holmes contended that the Estimates might well be reduced without any trouble whatever, and without throwing any people out of employment. The reason why the Canterbury members had taken the stand they had done was because a majority of the members of the House had determined on reject! ag the vote for the East and West Const Rail way. They, therefore, desired to lest the feeling of the House as to whether their desire for economy extended to other districts as well as Canterbury.

Major Atkinson said the reason for (he present motion was that the Opposition were following out the line of policy they had laid down. They would apparently be assisted by the Government in carrying it out. He altogether differed from (he Treasurer's statement that great misery would come on the working classes if the motion were carried. He stated distinctly that with the votes which it it was proposed to give the Treasurer he would be able to keep the whole of the men who were at present employed until long after the House met next year. The Treasurer that night had posed as a friend of the working man, but he contended that he had come out here in the interests of the worst class of money lenders—the mortgagees, Referring to the East and West Coast Railway, Major Atkinson said he had already held that this railway was part of the Trunk Line of the colony. In 1879 an Act was passed, entitled the Railway Construction and Land Act, to enable that line to be constructed. The line somehow did not posper, and the Act was extended for another year to enable the Canterbury people to get up a Company to contract it, Government kept the Bill alive for the purpose of allowing a syndicate to be formed, and the whole thing was in negotiation when the Atkinson Government went out of office. Tire present Government then took it up, but they were unable to get the vote through the House, which was a real test of the strength ©f the Government. He would ask are they justified in handing over £380,000 fur underwriting in connection with this line ? H.» considered that if they were to enter ini" Meiggs’s scheme it would result i.i the. bankruptcy of the colony. IB- would ask were they in a position to undertake a liability of three millions at the present

time 1 Most decidedly not. He hoped Government mould take the Estimates into their serious consideration, and reduce them within a reasonable lump sum.

The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Scobie Mackenzie, and the House rose at 2.30 a.m.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday.

Replying to Mr Stewart whether the Government will give a bonus of say £SOO for the manufacture of 300 tons of cement, or what other encouragement they will offer manufacturers of cement in the colony, the Hon. Mr Richardson said the Government would have no hesitation in offering encouragement for the manufacture ot cement if there was any probability of the industry being entered into. The House went into Committee for the purpose of further considering the Auckland Harbor Board Bill. Several amendments were inserted in the Bill, which was reported, read a third time and passed. The Wellington Harbor Board Act Amendment Bill was thrown out on its second reading.

The House went into Committee on (he Miner’s Rights Fee Reduction Bill. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m.

The debate on Mr Russell’s motion was resumed by Mr Scobie Mackenzie, who regarded the present motion as one of noconfidence in the Government, and one which, if carried, should lead to the resignation of the Government. Ho hoped (lie resolution would not be accepted. Mr Wakefield considered the present debate had been carried on free from party animus. He had always been an advocate of the East and West Coast Railway, and he had formerly made the statement that if that railway were completed it would lead to an increase of population in the district of over 100,000 people. Ho could not understand, however, why they should pay a dearer price for that railway than any other line. He did not agree at all with the dictum that they must have the railway or burst, and he would be no party to inflicting undue' but dens on the people of the country, in order to get that line constructed earlier than was desirable. He denied the statement made that he was an opponent of the railway. What he objected to was the proposed method of constructing it, lie held that if the railway could not be> made under the Act of last session that it should then be a colonial railway. He also held that the railway was quite as much entitled to be regarded as a colonial railway as the Otago Central line. Captain Sutter denied the statement of the Member for Selwyn that the construction of the East, and West Railway would result in a population being brought io i lie district of 100,000 people. The debate was carried on by Messrs Peacock, Gore, Steward, Bruce, Beetham, While, G’Conno l- , Ivess, and Barron till

1.15 a.m. when Mr Barron moved the adjournment of the debate and the House rose.