PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4561, 17 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Peb Pbess Association.]

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday

The House met at 2.30.

Mr Driver brought up the following report, and moved that it lie on the table and be referred to Government .---The Joint Committee on the direct steam service, recommend Ist, that no contract for a direct service should be entered into before the next session of the General Assembly; 2, that in the meantime Government should make such arrangements, consistent with efficiency, as will be least burdensome on the public revenue; 3, that in making such arrangements due regard should be paid to the claims which the N.Z. Shipping Company by its enterprise has on the colony; 4, that having regard to the safety and comfort of passengers, Government should give the preference to unsinkable ships; 5, that the Bluff should be included in the ports of arrival and departure which shall be optional for steamers under arrangement with Government." —Mr Hurst moved tnat the report and evidence taken be printed. He pointed out that the Austral was deemed an unsinkable ship.— Mr Turnbull thought the report a farce ; it simply left things as they were, and as the Government wanted them.—Mr Fish thought the'report worse than the original proposal of the Government.—Mr Pyke thought some explanation of the reference to that absolute impossibility—an unsink* ing ship—was required.—Mr Macandrew said unsinkable ships were quite possible and models were on view in the committee rooms,invented by a Port Chalmers shipwright.—Mr Swauson denied the possibility of such a thing, and thought the use of the term rendered the whole report ridiculous. — Mr Montgomery thought the Government should state what view they took of the Committee's recommendation, and he moved an adjournment of the debate.—Mr Rolleston said he understood the Committee were of opinion that the contract the Government had proposed should not be concluded, nor any other contract, for a year, but that they should until next session do their best from time to time as to the con-, veyance of freight and passengers, so as to get full data to lay before the House next session. The Government was prepared to loyally carry out the view, and to call the attention of the Agent-General to Jolster's designs for unsinkable ships. —The motion for adjournment was withdrawn. —Mr Hurst proposed the printing of the report and evidence. —This was agreed to, and the motion as so amended carried.

Ministers stated that a light for Kaipara Heads had been ordered.—Government would renew the bonus offered for the manufacture of Portland Cement. Except from Auckland there were no complaints about the designs of the cattle trucks on railways.—Government would not give any facilities for establishing distilleries in the colony.—Government would not increase the allowance to the widow of Warder Adams from £310 to £400.

The following bill was introduced and read a first time:—Counties Act Amendment (Atkinson). On the motion for going into Supply, Mr Smith moved as an amendment, " That in the opinion of the House a land tax should be imposed." He explained that he did this with the concurrence of Sir G. Grey, who had given notice of a similar motion. .

Interrupted by tbe 5.30 adjournment. On resuming at 7.30 Mr Smith continued his speech, in fa?our of a land tax, poiating out the evils resulting from absentee owiers monopolising rast tracts of land in flawke's Bay, and almost entirely escaping taxation.—Mr Levestam was in favour of a land tax.—Sir George Grey thought the question was the greatest one of tbe day. He complained of the want of a Domesday book, and pointed out the great evils resulting all over the world from land monopoly. The present system of taxation in this colony was infinitely unfair in its pressure on the poor, who were ground down by the possessors of large estates : a land tax was required to deliver the people from the present iniquitous system,-—Mr Steward regretted that the subject had been raised in its present shape, which precluded all chance, of a fair verdict on the merits of a land tax as against a property tax.-^Mr Fish supported a land tax, which would be the battle cry of the next election.—Mr Moss was in favour of a land tax, but the amendment was not sufficiently definite.— Mr J. W. Thompson aaid they would soon

have to face the question of nationalising the land.—Mr Ivess supported the amend* ment, after which the House divided on the question of going into supply:— Ayes, 42; Noes, 28.

Later, This day.

In supply on the public works Estimates, Class 2, vote harbour works, £42,966, Considerable discussion took place over the Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika harbour votes.—rMr Fish moved to reduce the vote by £15,000, which was lost by 36 to 17, and the vote passed.— In Class 12 the vote expenses raising loans, £28,500 passed. In Class 5, vote for roads and bridges, etc., north of Auckland, £95,800. The vote past after considerable discussion.

The following votes in class 5 were passed, unexpended balances of previous grants £115,603; roads to open up lands before sale, Auckland, £67,557 ; Taraaaki, £10,078; Hawke'sßay, £12,129; Wellington, £31,143; Ne150n,£23,382; Marlboro, £5,243; Westland, £22,302; Canterbury, £25.296; Otago, £44,304; Southland, £15,593, Sundry roads £10,383; Total vote, £267,415; of which £98^52 are required for the current year. Passed, vote for roads through lands recently purchased, £981. This )sniahed the Public Works Estimates, and the ordinary Estimates were then taken* Class 6, Commissioner of Trade and Cus« terns vote, Customs, £42,373, passed. The vote for Marine and Harbors, £36,427, passed. The vote for Miscellaneous, Hinemoa, £8000, Messrs J. McKenzie and Watt objected to, and urged that she should be sold. Major Atkinson said the steamer was only used when really necessary. He consented to reduce the vote by £2000 Mr McKenzie moved to strike it out alto* gether, but his proposal was lost on the voices, and the vote as reduced was passed. Class 7, Commissioner of Stamps, Stamp Department, £6291; Land and Deeds Registry, £18,860; and Miscellaneous, £707, were passed. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 2.50.