GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2705, 30 August 1894, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. LAND FOB SETTLEMENTS BILL. . Mr Montgomery moved the second reading of the Land for Settlements Bill. Dr Pollen said that he was rather surprised that the Bill, after the braying of trumpets and beating of drums at the late election,had proved not more objectionable than it was. The Government thought that they made a discovery, and that State aid to settlement was a new thing. This was wrong, for during the last half century succeeding Governments and Governors had endeavoured to carry out the same system, but had been forestalled by private which had in nearly every province settled land without the aid of the State. His experience had been that settlement had been in an inverse ratio to interference by the Government. Earth hunger could easily be appeased, as advertisements in every paper in the colony proved that anyone who wanted land could acquire it on easier terms than those offered by the State through the Bill now before the Council. He feared that the measure would not solve the cry of the unemployed. His opinion was that the colony did not possess a sufficient number of persons lit to settle on the land who would make good settlers either for themselves or for the colony. Mr Oliver contended that the question of settling the people on the land had not been before the country at the last election—the issue being that of Prohibition. The question now was one of the breaking of contracts. People had purchased laud from the Government, who now desired to break the contracts by resuming possession of the land they had sold. The consequences would be alarm, disquietude, and dismay, on hearing that the Government might at any moment resume possesion of the land people had purchased. The success of the experiment of the Government purchasing the Cheviot Estate had yet to be proved. He predicted that it would prove a failure, because after cropping the virgin soil, the experimenters might some fine day be found non est.

Sir George Whitmore admitted that this Bill was vastly superior to last year’s Bill, but was still insufficient. The area was too limited. If the Government desired to benefit the working classes he would have preferred that the Government had asked for power to borrow at least three times the amount they had asked for under the Bill. He believed, however, with the late Shaftesbury, that State-aided farming must prove a failure.

Mr Pharazyn opposed the Bill, as it struck at the rights and the root of landed property, any attack on which must not only retard settlement and civilisation, but must raise a feeling of insecurity, which must inevitably injure every class of the community. Settleiment was not desired by the Government so much as the partition of certain favoured localities. The Bill had the tendency of dragging down, all classes, rather than of levelling up the masses. The debate was interrupted by the dinner adjournment. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Pharazyn resumed the debate, his contention being that not only the propertied but the poorer classes must suffer if the Bill passed. Mr Bigg supported the Bill. Mr Stevens hesitated to say whether the country had or had not at the hustings decided in favour of the Bill. At any rate the country had decided before the election that the State should compulsorily resume land required for settlement, and therefore it was the duty of the Council to bow to that decision. From experience he could say that after 30 years many settlers, owing to being far away from the markets, were now worse off than when they commenced. The seeoud reading was agreed toon the voices, and the Bill was referred to the Waste Lauds Committee. SECOND READINGS. The Factories Bill and Wellington City Drainage Bill were read a second time without much discussion. TIMABU HARBOUR RAXING BILL. The Timaru Harbour District Bating Bill passed through Committee without amendment, but Mr McGregor gave notice of two new clauses, and progress on the measure was consequently reported till next day. At 10 pm. the Council adjourned till next day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House rose at 7.30 p.m. on Monday. HAEBOE BOAED BILLS. The Riverton Harbor Board Empowering Bill was read a third time and passed, a hostile amendment being rejected by 24 to 15. _ , „ The .Greymouth Harbor Board Empowering Bill passed through Committee without amendment. The Premier said that the Bill was absolutely necessary in order to open up new coal leases, and he thought that sufficient safeguards had been inserted by the Local Bills Committee. LOCAL BILLS, The Waimakariri Water Supply Board Loan Bill, the Newmarket (Auckland) Hall Bill, and the luaugahua County Council Empowering Bill passed through Committee without amendments. BILL THKOWH OUTThe Onehunga Cemetery Bill was thrown out. DUNEDIN ABBATTOIES BILL. Mr Pinkerton agreed to report progress on the Dunedin Public Abbatoirs Bill, on the understanding that the subject-matter of the Bill would be dealt with in a measure to be brought down by the Government, BILLS PASSED. The Bills which passed through Committee earlier in the evening were then reported, read a third time, and passed. SECOND EBADINGS. The Gisborne Harbor Act. Amendment Bill, Kaitaugata Relief Fund Transfer Act Amendment Bill, Hamilton Domain Empowering Bill, Borough of Qamaru Leasing Bill, Auckland Harbor Board Empowering Bill, Mount St. John ( Auckland) Reserve Bill, Eketahuna Cemetery Reserves Bill, Wellington Reclaimer Act Amendment Bill, and Dunedin Loan Y9mou BIU were all road a second time. -f. DUNEDIN DOAN CONVEIISrON 8J1..' Speaking on the Dunelin Loan Conversion Bill, the Piemier said that this was the first measure of its kind iu the colony, and it would no doubt, bo followed by others, so that it was as well that the House should know what the Government wore doing iu respect to it. The amount involved was £250,000, and there was no doubt that Dunedin had made out a good case. Personally ho should not oppose the Bill, because it gave relief, and was going iu the proper direction. He pointed out, however, that the Bill would increase the gross debt of the city, which would be paid out of the sinking fund as provided by the Bill. The question was whether there should bo a general measure giving power to the local authorities or whether

each district should come before the House as occasion arose. Mr Reeves said that the Bill in its present shape was far from a perfect one. Although he intended to vote for it it' must not be concluded that other Bills of a similar character would therefore have his support. The Bill had been greatly improved by the Local Bills Committee, and he realised that it would relieve the burgesses of Dunedin of a very severe and almost intolerable burden.

The Bill passed through Committee with verbal amendments. '

All the above Bills passed through: Committee without opposition, and practically without amendment, and were then put through their final stages without discussion..

This cleared the Order Paper of all the’ local Bills it contained, numbering sixteen. In moving the adjournment of the: House the Premier said that he must’ again compliment the House on the business transacted during the evening. The House rose at 11.15 p.m. [ The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. i BEFLIES TO QUESTION’S. Replying to questions, it was stated, that the Public Works Statement would be brought down when the General Estimates and Policy Bills of the Government had been disposed of ; that the debates on the Government Railways Bill, Licensing Bill, and Libel Bill would be taken after the financial proposals of the Government were disposed of; that the Government could not agree to provide uniforms for the police force of the colony, as the men were well paid for their services ; that the men in the Addington railway workshops would be put on full time on and after the 15th October next.

The Premier said that the Railway Commissioners were to be commended for putting the men on short time instead of discharging some and keeping others on at full time He presumed that the men in other workshops in the colony would also be put on full time as soon as work warranted it.

In reply to Mr Mitchelson, the Premier said that there was no doubt that Ministers’ salaries in this colony were too low when compared with-the salaries paid in other colonies. The House could express its opinion on 1 the question of increasing Ministers’ salaries, and the Government preferred that course to bringing down a Bill proposing an increase. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. It was decided that after Wednesday next Government business takeprecedence on Wednesdays. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN’S Bill. The Shipping and Seaman’s Act Amendment' Bill was put through its final stages. . SHOPS AND SHOP ASSISTANTS’ Bill.

Mr Beeves moved that the amendments made in the Shops and Shop Assistants’ Bill in Committee be agreed to. He said that there was one amendment which he did not concur in, namely, the one which brought hotels under the working of the Act. He thought that an amendment like that shonld.be made in the Licensing Act, and he took no responsibility for it. He should not, however, ask for the recommittal of the Bill.—After considerable discussion the Bill was read a third, time and passed. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Estimates. Consideration of the votes in the Colonial Secretary’s Department was resumed.

In the Agent-General’s Department, Dr Newman asked who was to; bo the next Agent-General for the colony.—Mr Ward said that the Government were perfectly well aware who the now A gentGeneral would be. He was an excellent man, and the colony would be informed who he was before December next.

The House rose at 5.30 p.m., and resumed at 7.30 pm. On the vote for Miscellaneous Services, Mr Allen took objection to such a large contingency vote, and in order to teat the feeling of the committee, he moved that the item of £7OOO for general contingencies be reduced by £soo.—Lost by 30 to 17. In reply to a question, Mr Ward said that Mr Lee Smith, representative of the colony at the Canadian Conference, had proved himself a very able delegate, and had done the colony much good by his speeches. The sum of £llOO on the Estimates would cover all the expenses in connection with bis mission to Canada.

On the motion of Mr George Hutchison the item of £SOO for New; Zealand Institute was reduced by £1 as an indication to the Government that the expenditure under this head should be curtailed.

Mr Meredith moved that the item of £IOO house allowance for the Hon. Mr Carroll be struck out,—This was debated at some length, and negatived, roost of the speakers holding that Mr Carroll fully earned the amount paid to him. i The total vote for the Colonial Secretary’s Department, £67,982,' was then passed, with the reduction -of £1 in the item £SOO to the New Zealand Institute. The estimates of the Colonial Treasurer’s Department were next considered. In reply to a question, Mr Ward said that the income tax would be levied this year as aoou as the requirements of the Treasury warranted it. There was no desire to unduly push the ta* this yesr.

Under the headin g District Magistrates’ and Wardens’ Courts some discussion took place place as to the insufficiency of the salary paid to Pistrict Judge Kettle. Of Wanganui.—The Premier said that this matter had not been lost sight of by the Cabinet. Two offers to better his position had been made to Judge Kettle, but he had refused them. The total votes for the Colonial Treasurer's Department £26,722, Justice Department £122,514, and Postal and Telegraph Department £312,503, passed without alteration.

In reply to a question Mr Ward said that the San Francisco mail service would be continued as at present.

In the Legislative Department vote, the item sergeant-at-arms (4 mouths) was reduced by £l6 on the Premier’s motion. The whole vote fop this department, amounting to £16,028, agreed to with this alteration.

Customs and Marine Department, £64,845, passed without any alteration.

On the Lands and Survey Department

•'tes, in reply to Mr Pirani, Mr eatim. that the Government had McKenzie a.. - > '»«nt to provide for no intention at pu ' *vhole vote elective land boards. Tlio * Jamounting to £183,091 was agreeu without amendment.

The Defence Department estimates, which wore next considered, provoked considerable discussion. On the item, £7OO, salary of the Commandant, the Premier said in reply to a question that there was no Commandant at present, but negotiations were pending which he hoped would bo satisfactorily arranged. The item of £950 for Commandant, travelling expenses, etc., was retained on a division by 33 to 18.

On the item, permanent militia and volunteers, £50,629, Mr Hogg moved to reduce the vote by £3000; Thd : Promier objected to the redaction, as the defence estimates were ; actually reducedthis year by £3OOO in spite of the' fact that the number of volunteers was' increasing. After considerable discussion the motion was lost by 37 to 11, and the whole vote passed without alteration. On the Police Department vote Dr Newman said that it Would be very advantageous if the police were moved round more than they were at present. The whole vote of £98,198 passed without alteration. ■ Progress was then reported and the House rose at 1.20 aim.