GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2715, 22 September 1894, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. LEAVE OP ABSENCE. Dr Pollen was granted leave of abseuce for the remainder of the session. SUNNYSIDB ASYLUM. Mr Jenkinson moved for a return of the cost of the new buildings at Sunnyside Asylum, together with the wages earned by the day, or week by each man, whether on the co-operative; system or day work. The motion for the return was agreed to. MUNICIPAL CORPORATION 3 BILL. Mr McCullough moved that the Government in any Bill to amend the Municipal Corporations Act should include a clause to enable borough councils to acquire private gas or waterworks. . SECOND HEADINGS, The New Zealand Company’s Land Claimants Bill and the Westland and Nelson Coalfield’s . Administration Bill were read a second time. TRAMWAYS BILL. The Tramways Bill was further considered in Committee, and was amended in the direction: that existing lines shall not be ; interfered with. Progress was reported with leave to sit again. GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS BILL. The Government Railways Bill was read a first time. The Council adjourned till next day. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday/ IN COMMITTEE. The Tramways Bill was committed. Clause 12 was amended so as to conserve existing contracts. Mr Jenkiuson’s amendment- to place cowcatchers on trams was rejected by 23 to 8. ; SECOND READING. The Hastings Borough Loan Validation Bill was read a second time. BILLS PASSED. The Lake Forsyth Bill and Ngaire Native Claims Adjustment Bill passed their final stages. SHOP AND SHOP ASSISTANTS BILL. The Bill was committed. On the interpretation clause Mr Reynolds inoved an amendment, its effect being to exempt shops in which no-out--side labour was employed, from holiday closing, bis argument being that compulsory closing would entail great hardship upon feeble people, widows, etc. Eventnally j Mr Reynolds’s amendment was carried by 17 to 13. Sir P. Buckley said that as the amendment struck ait the vital principles of the Bill, he thought it better that progress should be. reported to allow him to consult his colleagues.—This was accordingly done. . BILL HELD OVER. The Local Bills Committee reported on Mr McKenzie’s County Bill that it would be as well if the Biil were held oyer till the parties interested had been further communicated' With. The Council then adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The following is the conclusion of the report ofTaesday’a sitting:— ADVANCES TO SETTLERS BILL. Mr Hall Jones objected to many features of the Bill, but would vote.for the'secohß reading with aview of amending it in Committee. At 2.30 a.m. Mr Ward replied. He complained of the misapprehension and the misconception and the very incorrect idea that prevailed among members in regard to the Bill- : In reply to Sir R. Stout, he said he had, made no mistake as to the cost of the scheme, and the officers were to be utilised for other departments. All the Government wanted to see was cheap money, and if private ; individuals and local institutions liked to step in and ofler money at 5 and 5J per cent., the Government would be only too happy to let them do it. This was what was being done since these proposals came down. . There ■would be a profit to the colony by'this aeheme of about £BOOO, extending over 15 years. The second reading was agreed to o» the voices, and the House rose at 3.45 a.m. ' * The House met at 2.30 p.m. ou Wednesday. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Mr Roderick McKenzie gave notice of a question asking whether the Government are aware that 220 miners on the West Coast have been dismissed from employment within the last fortnight, and that 400 people are on the verge of starvation. —The Premier informed Mr McKenzie that it was not necessary to burden’the Order Paper with his question. The position had become so serious that the Government had taken tie only alternative that was in their power. The coal companies have not acted upon the report of the Railway Committee, and the men being out of employment and starving, the Government had given instructions to immediately determine the leases of; the whole of-the mines of the two companies, the Cardiff Coal Company and the Mokihinui Coal Company.

In feply to other questions it was stated that a small quantity of seed of sugar beet had been ordered and would be distributed amongst farmers who had land suitable for growing the beet; that a leaflet would shortly be issued on the ■abject of foot-rot in sheep. GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS BILL. The Government Railways Bill was re ported from Committee, read a third time, and passed without debate. RATING BILL. The Rating Bill was further considered in committee. Clause 22 was amended so that ten days instead of seven days should be allowed in which to make objection, to valuations.

The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m, in committee on the Rating Bill. Clause 63 Rate* overdue for two years cannot be recovered—caused considerable discussion, several members defending the clause; whilst others opposed it on the ground that local bodies should not be put ou a different footing from private persons who could recover debts due for six years.

The clause passed by 41 to 17. The remaining clauses passed unaltered, the Bill wat reported without material amendment, read a third time, and passed without debate. THE CONSOLS BILL. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the New Zealand Consols Bill, to afford facilities for investment of savings by the creation of Saw Zealand inscribed stock. He said that tiio Bill was necessary in order to enable people to deposit larger Bums of money than could be placed in the postal savings bank, which did not pay interest ou! larger sums than £SOO. Building societies and other societies who could not now deposit more than £SOO in the postal savings bank would bo able to do to under this Bill and receive 4 per cent i utmost. In the British dominions the system of consol i had existed for many years with groat success. One jmrposy iuf w&eb CPusola money would

be Übed would be for paying off from time, to time, Treasury bills. The maximum amount; of consols was £1,000,000, and the rate, of interest was not to exceed 4 per cent. A safeguard had been introduced into the Bill to prevent a syndicate outside the colony from investing in these consols, and if the Bill were not properly safeguarded in this respect he should be willing to amend it in committee to meet such objections. When he told them that the amount of consols in England reached £535,000,000 he thought it was sufficient to show that that form of investment was considered in that great country as sound.

Dr Newman thought that before long the people of this colony would- be wringing their hands over the large amount of debt that this Government was heaping on them. This Bill was only auother one of the borrowing measures introduced by the Government because the finances of the colony were going to the bad so quickly that this money was required to keep it up. He would like to know what the Government really intended to do with this money, for if it was only wanted for Treasury bills he hoped the House would not pas* the Bill.

Sir R. Stout said that nothing pained him more than to see the easy way in which the proposals to borrow millions of money had been received by the House. If all the financial Bills of the Government were carried the colony would be pledged to £5,250,000 for this year and £2,250,000 for next year, and so the amount would go on increasing. They were simply going by this Bill to borrow £1,000,000 of money to convert the floating debt of the colony into a permanent debt for forty years by encouraging people to take up money by these consols. It would limit the business of the banka and financial institutions; cripple the business of every manufacturer and trader in the country, and cause great injury to all mercantile business. Grave responsibility rested on the House at present, and they were on the eve of a great financial crisis, such as he had nsver known for years past. From every point of view the Bill would injure the colony, and it would not improve the condition of one hundred of the people. The Premier expressed his surprise at the speech just delivered, for he did not expect to find in the seuiar member for Wellington an apologist for financial institutions and syndicates. This was the first opportunity that had, been given to the people to invest in the consols of their country, and it was forced on them by the fact that thousands of money had been leaving the colony for. years past. Money had been locked away in safes, people being disinclined after, the Australian crisis to trust even the Postal Ravings Bank, bat he was glad to see that the people had every confidence in the Government, and would willingly place their money with them in consols. Instead of injuring commerce, the Bill would assist it by keeping the money in the colony, where large sums of mouey were lying: ready for investment. The Colonial .Treasurer had been altogether misrepresented by Sir Robert Stout when he said that the permanent debt would be locked up for forty years. The Government had no desire to weaken the banks, and this Bill wonld in reality strengthen their position. Be denied that this scheme was borrowing, and said that whatever mouey the Government were asking the House to grant they intended using for developing the country and promoting settlement. Captain Russell said it was amusing to hear the Premier talk about Sir R. Stout being an apologist for syndicates and financial institutions when Mr Seddon was leader, of a Government which had done more to bolster up banking institutions than any Government that had ever sat on the Treasury benches. Captain Russell regarded this Bill as a perfect designed to give the Colonial Treasurer al million of money to squander in any way! he chose, as soon as he could get it. If! the borrowing policy of the present Government were persisted in, the credit of the colony would be absolutely damned, and repudiation would be the word that would be usee}. He moved as an amendment —“That it; is not degiyable by the New Zealand Consols Bill to still farther extend the policy of borrowing in direct contravention of the will of the people as declared at the last general election.” Mr George Hutchison seconded the amendment, and strongly condemned the Bill. It was a moat wanton and profligate scheme introduced by politicians of easy virtue.

Mr Reeves said that Captain Russell’s amendment was a direct attack on the Government policy, and this time had come from the proper quarter. If the Consols JBiU were not passed the Government would raise the same amount of money, but by other means, Simply put, the question was whether they would have a certain number of consols or a certain number of Treasury Bills or debentures. So far from this scheme taking money from the Bank of New Zealand it would put money into it, because every sovereign received as consols would be deposited in that bank. Mr Buchanan strongly condemned the Bill, and said that the speech Just delivered by Mr Beeves consisted of tragic humbug of a most transparent character. Mr G. W. Russell supported the Bill, and Mr Bell and Mr Orowtfaep opposed it. On a division the amendment was negatived by 38 to 16. The following is the division list For (16) Bell, Buchanan, Crowther, Earnahaw, Fraser, Harris, Heke, G. Hutchison, Lang, Massey, Mitchelson, O’Regau, W. B. Russell, J. G. Saunders, G. J. Smith, Wilson, Against (38) Buddo, Buick, Carncross, Carroll, Carnell, Collins, Fiatman, Graham, Hall Jones, Hall, Hogg, Houston, W. Kelly, Larnach, Lawry, Maslin, McGowan, J, McKenzie, R. McKenzie, McLachlan, McNab, Meredith, Millar, Mills, Montgomery, Mor-ri-.ou, P#r.ata, Pinkerton, Reeves, G. W. Ruasell, Saddoo, R M. Smith, Stevens, Steward, Tanner, Thompson, Ward, Willis. Pairs —Ayes; Green, Allen, Button, Duthie, Newman, J. W. Kelly, Stout, Teao. Noes: Mackintosh, Gadman, Piraui, Joyce, Guinness, Wi Pere, W. Hutchison, Duncan. The debate on the second reading was then adjourned on the motion of Mr Montgomery.

The House rose at 1.20 a.m. The House mot at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. REPLIES TO QUEST I "-KS. In reply to Mr it McKenzie, the Premier said that the Mines Department reported that 220 men were under notice to leave the Dennistou coil mines, but that 130 of these would be taken on, leaving 90 out of employment; the reason was want of trade at Mokihiuni; the people were very necessitous ; that as to those in want, 300. to 400 was nearer the estimate than 500. The output conditions of the leases of the mines in the Westport district had not been complied with, and the Government had given notice to each of the three companies— the Westport

Cardiff, and Mokihinui—that unless these conditions were adhered to the leases would be determined.

In reply to Mr Mills, the Premier said that it was the intention of the Government to. introduce a Representative Act Amendment Bill, : which would provide for the setting up of a special commission to adjust the whole of the electoral boundaries of the colony. This adjustment would stand until there was an increase in the population of the various electoral districts. The Government recognised that frequent changes of boundaries by persons who had no knowledge of the districts was undesirable. The Bill would be introduced this session.' The Government, however, did not expect to get it through this year, but hoped to pass it before the next census was taken. THE CONSOLS BILL. Mr Montgomery resumed the debate on the second reading of the New Zealand Consols Bill. He said that the Bill as at present framed was simply a loan Bill, and as he was returned to support a nonborrowing policy, he would vote against the third reading of the Bill unless it were altered in Committee. Mx Hall Jones could not see any necessity; for the Bill in the abseuce of anyidefiuite information as to what the money was to be used for. He should vote against the Bill. The debate was continued by Messrs Hogg, Smith (Christchurch), Thompson, Wilson, Collins, Earushaw, E. M. Smith, Morrison, and Massey who spoke before the 5.30 adjournment. After 7.30, Messrs Millar, McLachlan, Dnthie, Saunders, Fraser, McGuire, Buick, Tanner, Steward and Lang spoke, most of them being against the Bill. In replying, Mr Ward reminded the House that there was almost a unanimous opinion during the election that something of this kind should be done to put a stop to capital leaving the colony as it had been doing for some time past. He denied that the Government could benefit by this money, and the House evidently forgot that appropriation would have to be taken before votes were spent on public works, as had been alleged. He disagreed altogether with Sir Robert Stout that this proposal would convert the floating debt into a permanent debt. It had been said over and over again that the present Government were departing from the policy of the Ballance Government, but he would refer them to the late Mr Ballance’s Budget of 1891, in which it was clearly hinted that a loan would be necessary. Every member of the Government knew that in all probability he would have to borrow, and were it uot for the successful manner in which the , conversion operations ' were carried on the late Treasurer knew he would have to come to the House with borrowing proposals. He was prepared to. have .the Bill amended to the effect that any money that may be deposited under the Bill shall be entered in a separate account and laid on the table of House every year in the same way as the Post Office Savings Bank accounts. That should remove any impression which the House might have as to the Government using this money as they pleased. Hb was also prepared to strike out clause 7 providing that the money should be paid into the consolidated fund, and clause 35 with reference to converting the money into stocks. This should remove many of the objections raised against the Bill. The motion for the second reading was carried by 39 to 23.

The following is the division list:— Ayes (39).—Buddo, Oarncroaa, Carroll, Carnell, Collins, Duncan, Flatman, Gain-' ness. Hall, Hbgg, Houston, W. Hutchison; Joyce, W. Kelly, Larnach, Lawry; Maslin, McGowan, J. McKenzie, R. McKenzie, McLachlan, McNab, Meredith, Millar, Mills, Montgomery, Morrison, Parata, Pinkerton, Pirani, Reeves, W. G. Russell, Seddon, E. M. Smith, Steveus, Steward, Thompson, Ward, Willis. Noes (23).—8e11, Buchanan, Buick, Crowfher, Duthie, Earushaw, Fraser, Green, Hall Jones, Heke, G. Hutchison, J. W. Kelly, Lang, Massey, McGuire, Mitchelson, Newman, W. R. Russell, Saunders, G. J. Smith, Stout, Tanner, Wilson.

—Ayes: Cadman, Wi Pere, Mackintosh. Noes : Allen, Button, T. Mackenzie. INSURANCE COMPANIES DEPOSIT BILL.

Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Foreign Insurance Companies deposits Bill, which He'stated was to secure safety for insurers. The Bill had been inadvertently made to apply to some of the Urge life offices doing business in the colony, which by their articles of association would be excluded from the colony as limited liability companies. This would be altered in committee. There had been offices in the colony which had not treated their insurers well, aqd Olje ftre office had got into serious difficulties. This BiU goqld not be twisted into »W attempt pu the part of the Government to obtain money.

Sir Robert Stout pointed out that if the foreign fire companies were kept out of the colony the four fire offices in tne colony could not undertake a chance of fjjC risk involved, and they would have to charge sqoh a premium as would prevent the people insuring their property at all.

After a brief debate, Mr Ward replied, Rnd the second reading was carried on the voices.

fN committee,

A motion to commit the Licensing Bill (along with several others), was carried by 34 to 22, The Inspection of Machinery Bill passed through Committee without amendment. The School Attendance Bill was committed. Clause 5, referring to compulsory attendance, was altered so that a school committee should eomppl {be attendance of a child at school instead of the Education Board, The BiU was under discussion when the Telegraph Office closed at 2 a.m.