HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3580, 17 June 1880, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Wednesday. The House metat 230. THE WAIMEA BAILWAY ADVANCE.

In replying to questions, it was stated the money was advanced to the Waimea Railway Company on the 18th of March last, and would be paid to the Public Works Account by the Annuities Department in a day or two. In addition to £40,000 of guaranteed debentures, at 7 per cent., a mortgage was taken over the company's line. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. In view ef the state of colonial finance, the Government thought an extension of the telegraph line to the Lake Wanaka, authorised by the House, would stand over for the present. FEMALE TEACHEBS. The Government hoped to be able next week to introduce a Representative Bill. The percentage of female over male teachers was rapidly increasing, and in naiarrl course of events it was bound to , increase sliU further. In these circumstances Government did not think it necessary to give extra encouragement for the more frequent employment of females. In that way Government had under con* siden tion a Teachers' Pension Act, there being a large preponderance of females over that of male teachers, and the uniform scpie of six per cent, deduction woivd not be fair, as females did not take to teaching like males as lifetime employment. The matter would be more fully thought over. LAND TAX DEFAULTERS. Govei ament acted most leniently in the matter of land tax defaulters. It. was only after every effort had been exhausted j to get payment that recourse was bad to legal proceedings, and then the list of defaul^rs was taken up alphabetically. He hoped, however, it would not be found necessary to go right through the I alphabetical list. THE NELSON LINE. The cost of surveying the 'me from Bel (grove towards Ronndhill on the Nelson and Grey mouth railway was not known, and the sutrey towards the Tophouse is in progress, with the view of decid'ug upon the best route for the line. SHEEP DEPABTMENT APPOINTMENT. Government was aware an auctioneer in Blenheim, named Griffiths, was receiving £50 per annum for acting as clerk to the Sheep Department. When the Sheep Act came into force, his service was continued by the late Government. He had held the appointment previously, and it was thought they would soon be in a position to dispense with his further se. vices, but in the meantime the district was a badly infected one. -.^3

PBOPEBTY ASSEBBMENT ACT EEPEAL BILL

Sir George Grey introduced a bill to repeal the Property Assessment and Pi-opzrty Tax Act, 1878. He moved that it be read a seoond time to-morrow eight days. The Hon. J. Hall said it was tantamount to a vote of no confidence in the Government, and moved that it come on for a second reading tomorrow. Sir George Grey assented, and the bill was ordered to be read a second time tomoivow.

BILLS.

The following.bills were introduced, and lead a first time :—Otago Rivers, Sydenham Borough Council Empowering, Taranaki Iron Smelting Works, Land Act 1874 Amendment. .

HOUB OF BI9ING.

A motion, in conformity with a report from the Standing Orders Committee, recommending the adjournment of the House at 12.30 every night was discussed and carried on the voices.

SETTLEMENT OF LANDS.

Mr Hutchison moved the appointment of a committee to consider the best means for encouraging the settlement of the waste lands of the colony; end further, what help and encouragement may be pjoperly extended by the Government to those who are desirous of taxing up sme'l sections of land.

Mr Dick mhyed as an amendment, that it be an instruction to the Waste I-.nds Committee to deal wite the subject of the moiiod.

Discussion interrupted by 5.30 adjournmeat.