HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4562, 18 August 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday: Ministers, in reply, stated that a minute investigation and analysis of Messrs Brogden's claims against the colony was being made by the officers of the Public Works Department. It would be completed before next session, but was not likely to establish any valid claim.— English and foreign yarn was admitted for carpet weaving free of duty, but the matter would be re-considered if these yarns could be made in the colony.— There was no reason to believe that a light on Black Point would be preferable to" one on Waipapa Point. —They would circulate copies of the Tasmanian Codlin Moth Act.—Provision should be made without altering the law to provide for payment of the liabilities of the local bodies which ceased to discharge their functions.-«' They saw no reason to interfere with the action of the Waste Lands Board of Southland in enforcing payment of arrears of rent by deferred payment settlers.—The Sinking Fund Commissioners had agreed to lend the Borough Council of Hawcra £1500 on good, ample security.—'The accounts of Waipawa and fourteen other County Councils had not yet been audited as required by law.—A siding would be made at Quinn's Flat, Ngapara District.

Mr Turn bull asked whether Governmentnvould allow a Government steamer to call at Timaru for those unemployed persons and their families who are desirous of leaving there for the North Island, but who are unable to provide the means to transit. He said he held in his hand a paper signed by 34 heads of families, representing 112 souls, expressing inability to find employment in Timaru ; 18 were labourers, and the remainder tradesmen of various kinds. It was very desirable they should be taken where they could find employment.—Mr Rolleston said this was the first he had heard of such a state of things, and he would make immediate inquiry to ascertain if action in the direction indicated was necessary. On the motion to go into supply Mr Bathgate moved the following amendment : " That as it is desirable the place for the meeting of Parliament be in a situation more generally convenient for members, and more easily protected than the present, and that any change be effected at the least possible cost, the Government be authorised during the recess to enter into provisional negotiations for the purchase of 2000 acres or thereabouts, situated on the main trunk railway of the Middle Island, say within 20 miles from some centre of population, for the purpose of founding a legislative capital with suitable public parks and other appropriate accessories." The formation of such a legislative capital would of itself, be thought, not only pay all the expenses of removal, but actually yield a surplus to the Treasury. Probably the land could be bought for from £10 to £20 an acre ; £100,000 would be enough to erect buildings.—Mr Rolleston thought the proposal quite outside the range of practical politics, and be hoped the House would go on with busi-. ness.—Mr J. W. Thompson would prefer to see the actual separation of the two islands, but in any case the seat of Government should be removed to the South. —Mr Moss opposed the motion, although he would like to see a local Legislature on each island.—Mr Montgomery supported the amendment as a protest against the present state of things. The, South would insist on having the management of their own affairs, and give the North the same—The House divided on the question of going into Supply: —Ayes, 33; noes, 29. Division list —Ayes 33 : Atkinson,Beetham Brown J. E., Bryce, Connolly, Dick, Dodson, Fitzgerald, Green M. W,, Hamlin, Hobbs, Hurst, Hursthouse, Hutchison, Johnson W. W., Levestam, McKenzie F. W., Mason, Mcllwraith, Morris, Moss, Munro, Pearson, Postlethwaite.Kolleston, Shaw, Shepherd, Stevens, Sutter, Sutton, Tawhai, Thomson, Trimble. Noes, 29: Allwright, Barron, Batbgate, Bracken, Brown J. 8., Buchanan J., Daniel. De» Lautour, Duncan, Green J., Grey, Joyce, i Macandrew, McDonald, McMillan, Montgomery, Pearson, Petrie, Pilliet, Shi-ehan, Shrimski, Stewart, Swanson, Taiaroa, Thomson J. W., Tole, Turnbull, White, Wright.

On Committee of Supply Class 3, Treasury £7903 ; Property Tax Department, £14,750; miscellaneous, £25.813 ; Public Trust Office, £8695; rates on Crown land, £40,000, passed.—The following votes passed ;—General Post Office, £7455; Chief Offices and SubOffices, £111,614; maintenance, repair?, &C, £36,358 ; telegraph pable subsidies, £5350; conveyance of mails by sea, £59,910 ; conveyance of Island mails, £25,100. Class 8. Minister of Education, Head Office, £2425. Mr Turnbull moved to reduced the vote by £175, as he objected to the Inspector-General being absent on half pay. Motion negatived on voices.—Public Schools, £274,135. Mr Turnbull moved a reduction of £40,000. He did not think capitation should be granted for children over 14- —Mr Shaw objected to £1?,573, being retained to pay the cost of education buildings.—Mr Dick said that the health of the chief officers had been in turn broken down from overwork. —Messrs Joyce and Seddon supported the vote as it stood.

Lateb.-—This day. The Public Stshools vpte passed as printed, also native schools £15,100, industrial school £11,270, and deaf and dumb institution, £2315. On the vote £1.800.f0r Higher Education, Mr Hurstbouse moved to strike it out, as these schools were maintained at the expense of the poor for the' benefit of the rich. After som? dispussjon the amendment was lost by 32 to 22 and the vote passed. In class 9, Native Affairs, the following votes passed :—■native department £6085, native

lands court £16,117, Native lands fraud prevention £546, and miscellaneous £370. In class 12 Defence Militia and Volunteers £22 235 passed, Armed Constabulary £172,307. Mr Hutchison thought they could do with half the police and constabulary. He moved a reduction of £25,000. Mr Bryce said that constant applications were being made for an increase of police protection; as to the A.C., all reductions which weresafe, were, and would be made, but although no general outbreak was again likely, it would be unsafe yet to reduce the force very largely. After Bryce's statement, Mr Hutchison withdrew his amendment, and the motion passed. Stores and Magazines, £3785; Miscellaneous, £7148, passed. Class 2, Working Railways, £634,000. On the item General Manager £1000, Mr Turnbull moved that it b& reduced by £200.—Mr Johnston said Mr Maxwell was a most valuable officer- In three years he had effected great reforms in the working of the railways, so that they now earned £20,000 a year more, while con* cessions representing another £1000 a year had been made to the public.— Messrs J. McKenzie, Petrie, Duncan, Sutton and others complained greatly of railway mismanagement.—Mr White support the vote as printed, and the amendment was negatived on the voices, and the total vote passed. Architect's Office, £1660, passed; Government Domains, £1221; Public Buildings, £30,650 ; Miscellaneous, £4925, passed. Progress was then reported, and the House rose at 3 35.