GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1667, 1 December 1887, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council mot at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The revised contract of the Midland Railway Company, as sent up from the House, was considered.—Sir Frederick Whitaker moved that the Council concur in the alterations.—Mr Waterhouse moved that the matter be referred to a Select Committee, with a view to obtain a legal opinion as to whether clause three would absolve the colony from any future claims for compensation—After some discussion the debate was adjourned to next day, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. The Premier moved that the Government business take precedence for the remainder of the session. He said he should also like to ask for Thursday for Government business, as it was evident that (he private Bills on the Order Paper would not be allowed a chance of being considered this session. He should, however, if possible, give a further opportunity at a later period to those members who had Bills on the Order Paper.—The motion was carried after a long discussion.

The Premier moved the resolution regarding the tariff, of which he had given notice last week. Personally he desired that the Customs duties should be revised without delay, but he had come to the deliberate conclusion that it could not be done this s‘ssi6n, as time would not allow both thal and the retrenchment scheme to he properly thought out. Ho reminded the House that every day the session was prolonged added to the expense of the country. Sir George Grey asked whether any ether membe r would be allowed to make a motion on the subject. The Premier said if it was connected with a revision of the tariff the Government would regard it as a“ No Confidence ’* motion.

Sir Julius Vogel repudiated Mr Fisher’s accusation in the previous debate that he had been wasting the time of the House, which was a piece of the grossest presumption on that gentleman’s part. He had only spoken throe times on a question of policy. During the seventeen sessions he had sat in Parliament he had n«ver seen the business so terribly mismanaged by Government. It had taken them a whole week to bring down the present resolution. As to the taiiff, ha pointed out that, even if the whole tariff could not be revised, there were several items which could be dealt with without any trouble or delay. Such were the ad valorem duties which might be advanced four or five per cent on rice, corrugated iron, and iron and brass work, spirits, and cement. From such as these extra revenue might properly be raised, and in others local industries could be helped. Ho characterised the resolution as being an imitation of the French practice of Government moving a vote of confidence in themselves. He read the resolution to which the Opposition had come, which was to the effect that they would neither debate nor vote upon the Premier’s motion. The fact was that the Premier had no idea of the real state of the colony, and thought that ad that was wanted was retrenchment, instead of development of local industries. Ho (Sir Julius Vogel) had thought carefully over the position, and was prepared to bring down proposals which would reduce taxation, enable him to do without s loan tor years, and go on with the railways, but he was actually afraid to do so because of the personal hostility which had been excited against him. They were of a different character to those last brought forward, and more suited to the different circumstances of the colony. He appealed to the Souse not to swallow the Government promises without first having the details of the proposed retrenchment laid before them, if he and those with him thought there was any possible means of forcing the Government ' to revise the tariff this session the Opposition would not act as they were now doing, but they recognised that thay were not strong enough to do so. Sir Julius Vogel and other members then left the Chamber. Mr Feldwick said he intendel to call for a division, because he did not believe the statement was correct that the tariff could not be revised this session. Seven or eight hour's* would effect all that was required. After several other members had spoken urging the necessity for an immediate revision of the tariff, the Premier said that Sir Julius Vogel’s action was just what they might have expected from his previous behaviour this session, but he would receive no consideration from them. The proposals Sir Julius Vogel aonounced were a mere sham, and his followers knew it. The resolution of the Opposi tion was the opinion of half-a-dozen men, for many of the party would not go to the meeting. If the Opposition had such a scheme as Sir Julius Vogel alleged, they should certainly bring it down, hut the fact was they had no such plan. The Premier was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment, but at 7.30 he continued t They could not interfere with one or two articles, galvanised iron, etc. What was wanted was a general revision of the whole. The proposed retrenchments were contained in the Financial Statement and the Bills brought down by ihe Government. He then made a violent attack on Sir Julius, and in conclusion he hoped that after the division which bad been called for the House would address itself to the business of the Older Paper. It had already done good work by displacing the late Government. The House divided—Ayes 44, noes 4. The latter consisted of Mr Feldwick, Mr Fitzherbert, Mr Stewart, and Mr Duncan. The Premier moved the second readi ig of the Governor’s Salary and Allowances Act Amendment Bill. Anticipating the objection that the reduction would be derogatory to the dignity of the Governor, he pointed out that the salary would actually remain at the same amount, £SOOO, but they proposed to strike off the £2500 of allowances.

Mr Seddon wanted to know why the Financial debate was not finished before 9 oing on with these Bills. To test the question, he moved the adj mrnment of the debate till the Financial Statement was finished with.

Sir Julius Vogel thought the Bill a mistake. Efe suggested that they had belter make the salary £4OOO and allowances £IOOO, if it must be out down, and with the view of getting this done iu

Committee ho would vote for the second reading. Sir George Grey, iu criticising the Bill, amongst other things, contended the property tax ought to be collected on pensions, and the bondholders ought to ho taxed, whieh alone would produce £143,000 a year. Further reductions could easily be made in tbs Legislative Department, and four Ministers would be enough.

Mr Turnbull also spoke at some length in favor of taxing absentees. Ho would support borrowing proposals, as money was urgently required to complete railways.

The Premier moved the second reading of the Ministers Salaries and allowances Bill,—After some debate the Bill was read a second time, and the House rose at 1.5 a.m.

The House met at 2.30 p.m, on Tuesday.

Replying to questions, it was stated that the Naval and Military Settlers Land Bill would be brought in this session ; that no complaints bad been received by the Survey Department respecting the passing of the work done by village settlers, and making payment for the same before the arrival of the village steward; that the reduction of future judges’ salaries would receive consideration with other retrenchment proposals; that the intention of Government with regard to the North Island trank line would be explained in the Public Works Statement ; that the proposals relating to the permanent artillery and the volunteer force would be explained in the Defence estimates-; that it was customary to allow draughtsmen in the Survey Department to undertake private work after office hours, and to discontinue the practice would lead to much inconvenience ; that it was impossible to tax foreign bondholders, if it wore not Government would be glad to do so ; that the question of supervision of egress from churches, theatres, etc., was one for the municipal authorities, but Government would give instructions in the matter; that precedence of Parliamentary business would be considered during the recess, with a view to make it mors business-like, quicker, and more useful. The Hon. Mr Richardson moved the second reading of the Land Act Amendment Bill, which he explained was brought in by Government in order to meet the necessities of the colony with regard to land settlement. He referred to the various systems which had been brought into force with results not altogether satisfactory. At present there were 14,000,000 acres of open and 6,000,000 acres of bush land open for settlement. Latterly the lands had been so! administered as to discourage cash purchasers, and the mistake was often made of placing deoplo on the land without capital of any kind. To these causes he thought many of the unemployed were due. The four principal features of the Bill were that the choice of (enure was left to selectors ; the land was to be classified; the abolition of waste land boards; and relief to existing settlers. From a monetary point of view the perpetual lease system was the best, but it was completely overshadowed by the desire to secure freeholds. Not more than 640 acres of and 2GOO acres of second-olass land could be purchased, and this would avert the possibility of largo holdings. The cost of land boards last year was £2210, which Government thought too much. The duties were to be performed by the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Bill also dealt with land belonging to endowed bodies.

The debate was interrupted by the 5,30 p.tn. adjournment. The Blouse resumed at 7.3 q p.na. The Public Proclamation Validation Bill, to enable the date of the Mayoral election at Dunedin to be altered was passed through its remaining stages. A long debate ensued on the Land Hill, Messrs McKenzie (Waibemo), Valentine, Buchanan, Duncan, Cowan, Seymour, B«elham, Dr Hodgkinson, and others speaking. Sir Ju'ius Vogel thought it meant neithsr more nor Jess than a forced sale of Crown lands, and would tend to increase rather than diminish the size of holdings. The result would be a war between the landed and landless classes, and in the end a very severe graduated property lax. Durarnyism would be concealed only by the thinnest veil, as a man could make a purchase in each survey district. He would be able to secure ns much us 109,000 acres in all. They had for some years been going in the direction of conserving the land for the purposes of settlement and population, and it seemed to him that they were now about to undo all the good that had been done by the last two Governments. Under clause 3 a large quantity of pastoral land in Canterbury, the leases of which would shortly fall in, could be bought for 10s an acre, though this land eight years ago hid been withdrawn from sale on the ground that it was worth more than the statutory price of £2 p-r acre. Tha abolition of Waste Lands Boards was a piece of centralisation wh'cb would not be acceptable to the colony. In other respects the Bill was an objectionable one, as favoring speculation, and he hoped to see it very mate rial y altered by the Waste Land Committee. Mr Fisher denied that there was any attempt to force Bales. Government only desired to see the land pay for tha administration of the law relating to it. Mr Seddon, in the coarse of a lengthy speech, opposed the Bill, and moved it to be read that day six months. Mr Guinness moved the adjournment of the debate. Government opposed the motion, and on a division the ayes were 6 and noes 38. Left sitting at 2 a.m.

Richard Boden, miner, was killed o>? Monday when working in the Saxon mine, Thames. A mass of stuff fell on him, causing instantaneous death, He leaves a wife and a large family. A proclamation is issued denoting reserves of land in South Canterbury, which, if the Land Bill now before the House becomes law, will be open for sale at prices, from £2 to 10s per acre, according to quality. The police at Auckland will continue proceedings against Clegg for the manslaughter of Arthur Uowsou, who was filled on Saturday morning. The evidenes adduced at the inquest—at which a verdict of manslaughter against some person unknown was returned— leaves no doubt that he bud something to do yifi^h Dawson's condition before death. _ ’* * A • *