GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1518, 12 June 1886, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

la the Legislative Council on Wednesday, Mr Buckley, in reply to Mr Miller, stated that Government would lay a return on the table showing the amount collected for Property Tax, with and without exemptions, and in reply to Mr Williams, he said Government was fully alive to the Inspector's report, relative to the overcrowding of the Auckland lunatic asylum, which was described as becoming positively disgraceful. He was aware .that many persons were in asylums who were sane, and who should not be detained, However, he trusted that very shortly this state of things would be amended, and would not occur again. Dr Menzies moved —“ That in the opinion of this Council every school committee should have power to cause the Bible to be read in its school daily without comment,"—Carried, The Native Owners Equitable was read a first time. Tha Charitable Trust Bill was considered in Committee, aad the Council adjourned. In the Legislative Council on Thursday. The motion of Mr Taiaroa was agreed to that the correspondence detween the Earl of Derby and Tawhaio and the Government of New Zealand be laid on the table.

The following Bills were read a first time ; Settled Land Act (Buckley), Influx of French Criminals (Whitaker), Bill (o Provide for Beading the Bible in Schools.

The Native Equitable Owners Bill was read a second time aud referred to the Native Committee. The Charitable Trusts Extension Bill was further considered in Committee and reported. The Council then adjourned, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. Replying to Mr Moss the Premier said there was power to prevent French convicts coming to the colony in trading vessels, ,An Act was already in force prohibiting the importation of foreigners, , Mr O’Connor moved that a committee be appointed to consider and report what retrenchment may be made in the expenditure connected with the legislature, the committee, to consist of the Premier, Major Atkinson, Messrs Garrick, Barron, Dargaville, Levestatn, Thompson, Brown, snd the mover,-rrTbp mptiqfl agreed \o. ' ‘ ■ Mr Wilson moved that the special settlement.regulations be so altered that a three mopthsl residence during any year, from the third to the sixth, after occupation, shall be sufijnient to comply with them. Mr Ballance hoped the motion would ho withdrawn. Mr Beetham agreed with the principle of the motion, but.moved nn amendment that giz months residence be inserted,

Mr Wilson accepted the amendment

Mr Ormond, Colonel Trimble, Captain Russell, and others supported the amendment, and the Premier said he hoped both would ba withdrawn. After farther discussion Mr Beetham's amendment was put and lost by 35 to 34.

The following were appointed on Mr Ormond’s motion a Select Committee to enquire into and report on the subject of investments made by the Government Insurance Association in land purchases, and also to report generally on the working of the institution : Messrs Montgomery, Gore, M. McKenzie, Macandrew, Holmes, G. F. Richardson, Steward, Levestam, Fraser, and the mover.

Dr Newman resumed the interrupted debate on the question of setting apart reserves for chaitable aid, education and and harbors. He moved to strike out the word harbors from the motion, but leave was refused. The motion was put and lost by 36 by 22, Sir George Grey moved that the report of the Pacific Islands Committee be considered at half-past seven next day. The motion was agreed to.

Mr Brown moved in the direction of retrenchment, to the effect that Government should appoint two practical expert accountants, to enquire and report as to possible savings, without impairing the efficiency of the Civil service. He had been informed by a high official in the Railway Department, that a saving of £SOOO could be effected in that department alone.

The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Friendly Society’s Act Amendment, and Fish Auction Bills were read a second time,

Mr Iveas moved the second reading of the Land Association Bill, which, he remarked, had been carefully drafted by a number of gentlemen interested in the subject. Mr Ivess proceeded to detail the provisions of the measure at length, explaining that it was intended to enable landowners and others to raise money with facility upon the security of their landed property. Sir Julius Vogel said that since mentioning the matter in a former speech, he had received a strong hint that, if they were to go into the Home market and ask for a loan in order to re-lend money, it would have a very bad effect on their credit. The measure was complicated, and in parts would be difficult to work. The almost prohibitory power which was proposed to be taken by the Association to issue notes was moat undesirable. He might say that rates of interest were falling, and by rearrangement of rates during the last two years, £300,000 a year had been saved to private borrowers. He advised Mr Ivess to give them more time to look into the bill.

The bill was postponed for a fortnight.

Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Land for Settlement Bill, which he said was intended to turn the present depression to the future advantage of New Zealand. It was designed to facilitate the purchase, or other acquisition of private lands, for sub-division, for the purpose of settlements, either by arrangement with owners, or, as under the Public Works Act, with compensation. Funds were to be provided by land bonds, which were not to become repayable till after 25 years. The speaker went into the provisions of the bill at length, and enlarged upon the advantages offered to people seeking small farms, which they would get at a yearly quit rent. He was sanguine that the whole of the native lands could be brought under his system, and that by it every man in the colony could obtain a farrr if be wished.

- The Premier agreed with the principle of allowing the State to purchase private lands for settlement, but regretted that Sir George Grey had not brought in a more workable measure. There were 25 million acres of land still left for settlement, in view of which the proposed scheme was too costly, Mr Hursthouse, Soobie, McKenzie, and Bruce opposed the measure. Mr Rplleston combated the Premier’s calculation of the amount of land still available for settlement, which was overestimated, The bill was in the right direction and reflected credit on the mover, but be feared that so many alterations were necessary in details, and they would lead to so much discussion, that there was little chance of its passing this session. He was glad to see Sir George Grey was altering some of his opinions on the land question. What had become of the unearned increment which it jow appeared the State was to give up ? If the bill were passed it gertaiuly ought to go hand in hand wflh the borrowing policyfof the colony. Sir Julius Vogel said undoubtedly there were some holdings of much too large a size in the colony, but he urged that it would be quite enough this session if they held out inducements to large landowners to cut up estates themselves; If all that was said about them was true, they ought to be ready enough to self their land.

■ Messrs Bruce, Steward, Dockland, Kerr, Dodson, and Turnbull supported the bill.

Major Atkinson moved the adjournment of the debate till Friday, and the House adjourned at 12.26 p.m. The House met at 2.20 p.m, on Thursday.

The Premier read to the House the telegrams he had received in reference to the eruption and earthquakes at Botorua. He stated that the latest telegram from Tauranga was to the effect that there were eruptions there for some time, that the atmosphere was clearing, and there was no distress. The Hioemoa would be despatched that afternoon to report on the matter and give any assistance that might be required. The House went into Committee on the New Plymouth Recreation Reserve Bill, which passed'without amendment, was read a third time and passed. Mr Johnson moved the second reading of the Wellington Harbor Board Leasing Bill ; the object of which was (p extend leasing power to the Wellington Harbor Board.—The qjotion was agraed to.

Mr W. F. Buckland moved the second reading of*the One Tree Hill Reserve Bill and the motion was agreed to, Mr J. 0, Brown’s motion for appointing two expert accountants to enquire into and report upon possible reductions in (lie Oivil Seryice was lost on the voices. Mr McMillan moved tb® second rending of the Dog Registration Act Amendment Bill, the object of which wai to increase the dog tax from IQs to £l,

Mr Downie Stewart moved the second reading ot the Apportionment Bill,—This was agreed to. The H’on'-r* ’>-r T it info Cnmpi>ttf>n nn tt>e LitllilllUuU oi \i. t-K .ni,vu- aJJiJId were carried providing that electors may only-vote ia one electorate, and altering the penalty to one month’s imprisonment instead of twelve.

Sir George Grey moved that the House concur in the report of the Pacific Islands Committee. The true solution of the question of what was to be done in the Pacific was. he believed, this:— Great Britain and the United States should make a convention with Germany and France, that no power should be allowed to annex an island, and should each appoint a Commissioner, who would form a Court of Administration in place of the present High Commissioner. The islands should be left to develops themselves, aided by a simple form of Government suited to the several groups, and the Court should undertake to keep down kidnapping, and regulate the labor traffic within certain reasonable fixed limits. This plan of a mixed com-, mission had broken up the old African slave trade, and would- be equally efficacious in the Pacific.

The Premier opposed the motion. He objected strongly to the proposal of a mixed commission. It would cut the colonies out of a voice in Pacific affairs altogether, whereas they should have more to say than other Powers. When any island wanted to come under British protection this Commission would stand in its way.

Myjor Atkinson, Sir Julius Vogel, Mr Scohie McKenzie, Mr .Beetham, and Mr Peacock followed, and the debate was adjourned till Wednesday next, - ' The House rose at 11.45 p.m.