GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1739, 19 May 1888, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

On Wednesday the Speaker look tlie chair at 2,30 p.m. Several new Bills were introduced by Sir B’rederick Whitaker.

Mr Gaillie was appointed Chairman of Committees. The usual sessional committees were appointed. The debate on the Address in Reply was concluded, and the motion was put and carried. The Council rose at 3.30 p.m. On Thursday the Speaker took the chair at 2.29 p.m. The second reading of the Naval and Military Forces Discipline Bill was agreed to, : The Council rose at 2.65 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On Wednesday the House met at 2.30 p.m. Leave of absence for a week was granted to Mr J. B. Whyte, and for one month to Sir Julius Vogel on urgent private business.

Replying to questions, it was stated that an amendment of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, with a view of abolishing or restricting the use of the totalisator was still under the consideration of the Government; that in no case had officers bsen dismissed from the Police Department and others taken on in their places ; that n Bill would be introduced dealing with the whole question of relief of Government settlers re valuation of their holdings; that it was not intended to interfere with the terms on which village homestead settlers held their lands ; that, there was very little possibility of an amended Bankruptcy Act this session, owing to the large number of amendments suggested; that it was not intended to introduce any measure this session dea ing with loca’ government reform, and the reduction in the number of local bodies ; that the question of waste land boards was under the consideration of Government.

Mr Beetham moved that, in the opinion of this House, it is desirable that Government should introduce a measure during the present session providing that a proportion of ihe earnings of totalisations and theatrical companies should be by Act appropriated for the purposes of hospital and charitable aid, He said that about £IO,OOO could he received from lotalisators if 2 per cent, were deducted from its earrings, which were computed to be about £500,000 or £600,000 a ye-r. He thought also that a small tax on theatrical tickets would not press very hardly on anybody, us the system worked well in Paris and other places. Mr Fulton moved to amend the motion by inserting the words “ that the lotalisator be abolished.’’ He was opposed to gambling in every shape or form, and was certainly opposed to it being legalised by the Parliament of the colony. The motion was supported by Mr Goldie, Mr Samuel, Mr lish, Colonel Fraser, Dr Newman, Mr O’Connor, and other*, and the amendment by the Premier, Mr Hobbs, and others. The amendment was lost by 45 to 27. Mr Feld wick moved to omit the words » theatrical companies ” from the motion. Mr Beetham accepted this amendment, which was carried on the voices. The motion as amended was then put. Mr Taylor rose to apeak, and was interrupted by the 6.30 p.ra. adjournment. On resuming at 7.30, bills to repeal the Loan Act, and authorising the borrowing of one mi’lion for immigration, public works, and other purposes, were received by message Irom the Governor, and read a first time.

Mr Steward’* Educational Franchise Bill was read a second time without a division. Mr March ant and Sir Jobe Hall objected to tha abolition of cumulative voting. Mr Hulchison moved the second reading of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Institutions Bill, the object of which was to separate Patea from the Wanganui dis. trict. Mr Taylor moved that the second reading be that day six months. After a short debate, Mr Seymour moved an adjournment for a fortnight, to give Government an opportunity of considering the principle involved in the measure. Mr Hutchison accepted the adjournment, which whs carried by 46 to 30. Mr Pyke moved the second rending of tho Otago Central Bailwav Bill, Alterations made by the House in discussing the Bill last session had been inserted, and it was now provided that the company should purchase the existing line, and so set free nearlj half a million of money for profitable use elsewhere by Government. Every possible safeguard bud been provided to secure the faithful execution of the work. The land which the company asked for was worth about £275,000, and the aim of tho bill was to open up country for settlement. It would be one of the company’s first objects to introduce population into a district which was now locked up. By the express advice of the Sur-veyor-General they did not ask as much as either the Manawata or Midland Kailway companies, and he. ventured to say that the country would be a great deal richer for*the construction of the line. Mr Mackenzie (Waihemo) took exception to the nature of the proposed land concessions. The Bid was read a second time by 53 to 12. Mr Hobbs moved tho second reading of the Kamo and Kawakawa Kailway Construction Bill. The line would only coat £20,000, and the House had already approved of the method of construction by land grants. The Bill was thrown out after & discussion by 23 to 21, and the House adjourned at 12.30, On Thursday the House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions, it was stated that it was not intended to introduce any measure jfor encouraging distillation in the colony ; that Government was doing all that was possible to give effect to the West Coast Settlements Amendment Act 1887, but further legislation might bo necessary this session ; that Government were not aware that the English footballers were brought to the colony on a commercial speculation when free railway pa-ses were granted to them ; that Mr Brown, of the Dunedin Survey Department, ’ who was lately retrenched; was taken on temporarily in the Property Tax Department at 16a per day, as his services we 'c required ; that the Loan Bill cou.d

not be postponed, but was identical with that of last session except the 19th clause relating to the prohibition of borrowing for three years.

Mr Wilson moved that, in the opinion of this House, the thirds due to the various local bodies and special settlements should be paid oyer at once to them. - -The motion was agreed to, Mr Taylor re-umed the interrupted debate on the question that, in the opinion of this House, it is desirable that Government shou'd introduce a measure during the present session providing that a portion of the earnings of the totaliaators should be by Act appropriated for the purposes of hospital and charitable aid.

The motion was agreed to by 50 to 13. The Premier movad the second reading of the Loan Act ISB7 Repeal Bill. A clause had been inserted last session forbidding borrowing for three years. Whatever blunder had been committed had been committed by himself, and he wn pxopi nd to take the rc-ponsibility. It was, however, also ithe duty of the Opposition to see that a clause of this kind WPS properly inserted. Government had not thought it sufficiently urgent to call the House together to rectify the matter, but had decided to summon the House at the earliest possible moment. They were advised to get the bill passed before the Financial Statement wr* delivered in order that it might get Home at a favorable time for floating the loan. In the Bill no provision had been Inserted limiting borrowing, but Government was prepared to give a guarantee to that effect. In no other respect was the bill different from thvt pissed last session.

Mr Downio Stewart said that after a largo number of members had left last session Government had re-insertcd in the Loan Bill votes which had been previously struck out by the House. This was not a very honorable transaction. Through the Treasurer having had to raise money in other quarters at a higher rate of interest, the colony had suffered a considerable loss, £60,000 or £70,000 would not caver it.

Th<s Premier denied it absolutely. Mr Hutcheson bore testimony as to the r ecu racy of Mr Stewart’s state nonls. In the matte; of the Immigration vote alone, the Premier had been guilty of a breach of faith.

Vlr Turnbull said that the House should insist on knowing how much had been loot by the blundering in the L’.t Act, He w; s not prepared to oppose the Bill, as money was urgently required. It was not the public, but the private, debt which was killing the colony. Mr Fish commended the Premier’s present behavior bat thought he had been guil y of a groat breach of frith laat session.

In answer to questions, the Premier said Govermont proposed to pass the Bill exactly us it stood, and would not make nny alterations in the schedule. Major Steward wanted to see the£7o,ooo unallotted devoted to the establishment of email agriculturists on suitable land.

The Premier, in replying, distinctly denied that he had been guilty ot a breach of faith over the Loan Bill of last session. was interrupted by the 5.50 p.m. adjournment. the House resuming at 7.30, the Premier continued h's justification, quoting Hansard to show that he hsd announced his intention of replacing the votes on the schedule last session. He laughed at the idea of lire colony having lost £60,000 or £70,000. It was quite possible they had made a considerable gain through the loan being postponed till after the recent conversion of conso's. As to the manner in which ho had obtained the necessary money in the interval, he explained that he bad negotiated the £400,000 worth of debentures authorised by the House through the Colonial Bank on very favornble terms, and the AgentGeneral had obtained an extension of the currency of half a million of Northern Trank debentures' till July. These would be pJd off after the loan was raised. These were all the financial transactions that had taken place. The Bill was read a second time on the voices.

The Premier moved the second reading of the Loan Bill.

Mr Scobie McKenzie proposed an amendment to the effect that a further loan is inexpedient till the House is satiified by the Government that the railways can be so far .completed by the money thus provided that the public works policy may bo Lid aside until the country has recovered its position sufficiently to warrant its resumption. He criticised the lines in course of construction, and urged that they wou'd take about £4,000,000 to complete them. The debate which followed lasted till 11.45, when a division was taken ; Ayes 65, noea 6, and the amendment was lost. At the request of the Prbmier the House agreed to suspend the Standing Orders to enable the two bills to be passed through their remaining stages. The bills wore then passed through their remaining stages without amendment.

The House adjourned at 1.5 a.m.