PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4254, 19 August 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday. The House met at 2.30. Replying to questions, it was stated that in granting licenses to keep open until 11 p.m., fcho Licensing Commissioners of St. Albans did so contrary to the Licensing Act. THE LOAN BILL PBOVISO. Major Atkinson said, before calling the first order of the day, he wished to explain that Government bad had under consideration the amendment to the Loan Bill, proposed by Mr Shrimski, and they came to the conclusion that the clause was foreign to the objects of the bill, and would tend to defeat the public interest; they would, therefore, ask the House not to consent to the introduction of the clause into the bill. The member for Motueka had tabled a motion which would raise the same issue. Believing that the House desired to discuss the question, he would ask them to postpone all the orders of the day in order that that motion might be at once considered; and in doing so he would more certain amendments to the motion expressive of the views of Government on the point, and to refer it for consideration to a select committee to report within one week. After the motion was disposed ofjf the Government would proceed with the Loan Bill, and when the report of the Committee was brought up every facility would be given to the House to consider what action should be taken in order that the whole subject might be better decided upon. He invited them to consider it apart altogether from party considerations. Mr Montgomery would oppose the loan proceedings until the point raised had been decided. The House divided on the motion for postponing the order of the day to allow Mr Hursthouse's'motion to be brought on. Ayes, 45; noes, 29. Mr Hursthouse then moved, " That those districts through which Gorernment',

railways ran should be charged with tli difference between the working expenses, including interest on cost of construction, and the receipts from such railways." Major Atkinson moved an amendment, " That the principle of special taxation ci property increased in value by the ex* penditure of public money and the construction of railways, harbors, etc., is just. That to give effect thereto was beset by many difficulties, and that the same be referred to a select committee to consider and report upon the whole subject within one week; said committee to consist of Mr J. E Brown, Sir George Grey, Messrs Hur3thouse, Macandrew, Hurst, Shepherd, Sutton, and the mover."

Sir George Grey asked that his name j should be omitted from the Committee. >. He held strong views on the point, bub as he could not hope to convert those composing the Committee to his views he did not wish to serve on it. Mr Montgomery thought they might fall back on the original proposal of 1880 and vote that land on its capital value should supply half the deficiency in cost of railway, and capital the other half. Col. Trimble thought such an attempt would be unjust, and was impracticable. Mr Levistam said that many railways did not pay because they were not completed ; how could land be taxed under such circumstances ? Mr Kelly said in some places he knew the railways had actually injured the value of land. Mr Williams spoke strongly against' borrowing at all, and quoted his recent experience in England to show that the money-lenders there, while having full faith in the colony, thought we were going too fast, and should stay our band for two or three years. Mr Connolly objected to both the resolutions and to Mr Shrimski's clause. The ten mile radius proposed would be a most unfair one. There were places in his part of the country within ten miles of a railway which was of no more benefit to them than if it had been in other island. This day. After the usual adjournment, Mr W. C. Buchanan urged the House to waste no more time, and divide at once. Messrs George and Smith said*to refer the question to a Committee would simply be to shelve it. Mr Barron thought a month might profitably be spent in discussing such an important question. Mr Munro supported the amendment, and Messrs Duncan and Norris the motion,

The House divided on Mr Hursthouse's motion, which was. lost by 38 to 22. Ayes: Barron, Bracken, J. Buchanan, Feldwick, George, Holmes, Hursthouse, Joyce, McDonald, J. McKenzie, Mont* gomery, Moss, Seddon, Shrimski, Smith, Steward, Swanson, Taiaroa, J. W. Thomson, Turnbull, Weston, W. White. Noes: Allwright, Atkinson, Beetham, Bryce, W. C. Buchanan, Cadman, Connolly, Dick, Fergus, Fitzgerald, Hamlin, Harris, Hobbs, Hurst, C. J. Johnston, W. W. Johnston, Kelly, Levestam, Mcllwraith, McMillan, Mitchelson, Munro, O'Callaghan, Pearson, Petrie, Postlethwaite, Pyke, Bolleston, Rutherford, Shepherd, Stevens, Sutter, Suttori, Tawhai, Trimble, Turnbull, Watt, Whitaker, J. Wilson.

Major Atkinson's amendment then became the substantative motion, when

Mr Seddon moved the following amend* ment :■—" That an address be presented to the Governor asking him to introduce a measure to provide that when any railways are made through private or native lands, and where such lands or land adjacent are proved to be increased in value by the construction of such railways the lands should be valued and classified before tbe railway is commenced and thereafter that on the increased value given to such lands the owner shall pay — per cent of such increased value to the Crown or as an alternative shall pay 5 per cent per annum on the whole amount of increased value given by the construction of railways to such land; that should the landowners refuse these terms, then that the Crown be empowered to purchase such lands at the price at which they were valued prior to the construction of the railway being determined on the terms and conditions to be settled by arbitration." After further considerable discussion Mr Seddon's amendment was rejected by 32 to 21. Mr Moss then moved a further amendment that the further consideration of the New Zealand Loan Bill be deferred until the Committee reports, and the report is adopted. This was rejected on a division of 30 to 21 and Major Atkinson's motion was carried, Mr Seddon's name being substituted for Sir G. Grey's and a proposal to substitute Mr Shrimski's for Mr Sutton's was lost on the voices. The House rose at 2.25.