GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1746, 5 June 1888, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, ' On Friday Mr, Waterhouse gave notice to move that in the present financial condition of the colony it iajnexpedient to proceed further with the North Island Railway except from Woodbury to Palmerston. The Public Reserves Sale Bill was read a third time and passed. The debate on the second reading ofjthe Codlin Moth Bill was adjourned fi>r a fortnight. The Chinese Immigration Act Amendment Bill was re-committhd and ordered to he read » third lime on Tuesday. I The Interpretation Bill was further considered in Committee, read a third time and passed. j

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES’ On Friday ! Replying to questions, ■it was stated that steps would be taken to avoid changes of text books in primary schools as miich as-possible ; that Government had received no information as to the number of single men in and around Christchurch being so destitute that, they were compelled , to sleep in the park and other places, ibut enquiries had been made ; that instructions had been given to the Collector of Customs not to enforce n bond for any additional Customs duties that might l be imposed by the House ; that Government would be glad to levy a special tax on absentee landlords if satisfactory means were found of doing so ; that it was not

proposed to discontinue either of the mail services to Great Britain ; that the question of calling for tenders from all banks in the colony when weeding .money would receive consideration ; that a Bill was being prepared dealing with runs, the leases of which fell in on Ist May, 1890 ; that Government had no intention of asking the Bouse to "vote a grant in aid towards enabling'any Harbor board in the colony to pay interest on money borrowed by it ; that the question of restoring'the *! working average” in lieu of the strict average iu computing capitation allowance to each school would shortly he befote the House for final settlement; that, an; Auctioneers’ Bill would be introduced This session ; that no general order had been given to reduce the wages of men lb the railway workshops by Is per dryland that a uniform rate of 9s per day was now paid the carpenters, coachbuiUlers, land painters.

Air Ormond said that, r liav’ng looked through the tariff, he, was of opinion'that befote proceeding to discuss the tariff itself, the House should get an opinion ns to the principal features of. the financial policy of the Governmentas .laid dohm in the Financial Statement. , He should therefore move on going into Committee of Supply—“ That with a view of reducing the taxation shown in (lie Financial Statement to be necessary if certain service* are continued, this House is of opinion : (1) That the school age be fixed at six years, so that the saving named by the Colonial Treasurer, aamely, £25,000, may be thereby secured ; (2) Tbit the payment of subsidies to local bodies be abandoned in order thatna .saving of the du<y proposed to be raised on tea may be secured, ; (3) That in the present circumstances of the colony the .raising of;additioa revenue to the extent of £58,000 for two years by tbe imposition of a primage duty is inexpedient, and the defit of last year ahoqld be added to the funded debt.”’ He concluded by asking when it would be convenient for the Premier to take the discussion.

The Premier said the resolution of the member for Napier was a very good one, and it would undoubtedly clear the way for the consideration of the tariff question. He should be glad, if the House desired it, to take the discussion at halfpast' seven that night, A lengthy discussion took place, ; Mr Seddcn, Mr Downie Stewart, and Mr Ballance contended that the motion of the member for Napier was one of “ no confidence.”

After further debate, Mr Ormond said that, after carefully considering the tariff,, ho had intimated to {he Premier; that morning that be would move (hose resolution*, and the Premier! did not object to that course. He (Mr Ormond) had no desire to embarrass the ! Government in any way.

The debate was adjourned till Tuesday. The Reporting Debates Committee, recommended that the debate on the Contagious Diseases-Act Repeal Bill should not be reported in Hansard, and Mr Baraon moved that directions be given accordingly.—This was carried after a ■debate. < ? , ; • The Administration Bill .was read a third time and passed, 1 ' The Premier moved a resolution confirming the desirability of i a delegate attending the Chinese Conference at Sydney, and of uniform notion by the cploniee,nnd said that the best solution of tiia difficulty would be a treaty between China' and Great Britain, similar to that With America.. He had, proposed :to give the House au opportunity of discussing the question broadly, but he thought members were pretty unanimous. ;

Mr Seddon suggested an addition 'which the Premier accepted—“Ttial in the. event of the conference deciding on taking tentative action pending the decision, of the Imperial Government, the Now Zealand representative should bring mnder the.notice of the conference the desirability of the colonies taking action as to regulating the number of Chinese ion the gddfieh's.” The resolution as amended was then agreed to, and the House adjourned.