GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1758, 3 July 1888, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Friday Mr Wahawslm continued the debate on his motion to the effect that Government should select as judges, assessors, interpreters, regialera-?, etc., for the Native Land Court only persons of good chancier and special ability. He asked Govern* ment to wipe out of ••xiatence all connection with the present Native Land Courts and r« construct them under xdaori supervision,—The motion w»s agreed to. Mr Stevens laid on tho table th« following returns asked for by Mr Miller ; Estimate of ihe increased property tax revenue, which would have been receir* able during the past financial year if the excep'ion had excluded from the tax only persons owning £IOO worth of property—£Booo ; estimate of private income for the same per’od not arising from property already taken under the property tax, excluding all incomes under £IS0 — £280,000. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, On Fti lay, Some discussion arose on the report brought up from Ihe Goldfields Committee, which had passed a resolution regretting that the Minister of Mines bad not obtained more information on mining matters from other countries.—The report was laid on the table. Replying to ques'ions, it wss stated that no salaried officers of Government had valued estites for stamp duty in cases of deceased natives to the exclusion of professional valuers, but that enquiries would be made ; that pnpusa's wudd be made in a few days respecting the Bill as recommended by the Chinese Conference ; that it was not intended to offer any encourage for the cultivation of (he wattle ; that Government had offered Sir Francis Dillon Bell the appointment ef AgentGeneral for another term, but had not | yet heard whetber he had accepted it or I not; that Government were as anxious as any members in Ihe House to have the Midland Radway contract signed, but that they could no force (he company in tfat milter, especially as the amended proposals had only been submitted to the company a week ago ; (hat as there were no locomotives in the North Island for burning firewood, Government could not recommend t iat it should be ueed ; that Government were in communication with the Gisborn j Harbor Board with a view to having a corset survey of Gisborne Harbor made.

The thin! reading of the Customs Duties Bill was postponed till Tuesday. The Premier morel to go into Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates. Government were anxious not to leave them to be rushed through in the last hours of the session. They had gone very carefully through the various divisions of the Civil Service, arid reduced all salaries they considered over paid. la some cases, especially in the Post Office, they had made small increases. The question of classification had been dis* cussed, and he hoped to bring in a Bill dealing with it, but the subject was beset with difficulties. Adverting to the views held by certain members as to the possibility of further reductions, he said he was prepared to consider any proposition made on (hat head, but he believed Government had already gone. as far as the House would desire. As a specimen of the sort of criticism to which Government had been subjected he quoted a report forwrrded to the Governor and the' Ministry by the Auuklaud Political Reform Association, which bfis ljd with misstatements. They had n.imeJ a number of departments, the cost of which they estimated should be reduced to £729,000 per annum, while as a matter of fact they did actually cost £74,001, —Mr Monk moved, as an amendment, that legislation should be introduced dealing with the legislative officers and AnditorGeneral's sa'aries, which heconaidered could bo reduced with benefit to the country. —Messrs Fish, Moss, and Walker protested against the Estimates being gone on with.—Sir John Hall supported the Government.—Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of the debate.—The adjournment was agreed to by 43 to 34, and the debate was postponed till Tuesday. The Pr<*ra : er then moved the adjournment of the House. —After a short debate, in which Messrs Turnbull and Seddon, Dr Fitohett, and others took part, the Premier said the division thowcd that there was a large number of members who had supported (he Tariff Bill, who now doubted his word. The turn affairs had taken had certainly altered his position, and Government had a right to say what business should be done 6n Govern* ment days, and no member should dictate to them. He wonld now place the Estimates on the Order Paper for Tuesday, and insist oc their being gone on with. Then be would see whether the economists were to have their way, and of course if it was so Government would consider their position. The House adjourned at 10 p.m.