PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4884, 4 September 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Pfiiiss -Association.)

HOUSE OF -E.EPREBENTATIVE3

Wellington, Yesterday

Mr S'.out,. after announcing that six Ministers liad beei sworn in, as we yes terday chronicled, stated that in regard to the position taken by Sir J. Vogel of Treasurer, he had to explain that but for fear of his bad health hei (Stout) would have insisted up in him tpking the position of Premier ; as it was, Sir J. Vogel had point blank refused to take that position. If his health improved, however, there might be a .change in that respect. He foreshadowed the policy of the Government to the extent publishtd in the telegrams appearing in our last issue, and said, from the position of the oolosiy at present, the policy of (lie.Government could not be fully disclosed all at orce. Several measures of importance, however, would be brought forward. Goverrment saw that the present system of local government was most^ unsatisfactory. They had considered that it should not be, however, '-thoughtlessly cut down or destroyed, and with that said they would take .till nest, session to consider vihat changes should be made. In replyto a question, Mr Stout said that tha Financial and public Works Statements would be brought down within fortnight, and in reply to Mr Guinness, Hsked if it was true that the Governor had promised a dissolution-iu the.event of this Government not standing, Mr Stout said that it would be most irregular for *Tiim to state what transpired between him and the Governor —Mr-Ballance said the

Kawakawa Coal Co. had not made auy payment to the Crown, as tho funds of the company were known to be in the reverse of a flourishing state; Mr BaU lance said the Government had not yet had time to consider what it would do in the matter of providing for Elective-Waste Lands Boards. The cost of arming the volunteers with Martini-Henri rifles instead of Sniders would be £15,000. and Government could not see its way to expend this amount at the present time. Sir J. Vogel ?s\A Government would bring in a bill for payment of members, providing for the amount beiDg paid annually, and nof, as at present; Sir J Vogel said that in two instances moneys belonging to the Insurance Department of the Government hsd been invested iv the purchase of district railways debentures.

The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—: Abolition of Gold Duty (Brown) ; to amend the property Assessment Act (Grey); Drainage of Mines (Brown) ; Workmen's Wages' (Cadmaa). After the Sessional Committees were appointed, Mr O'Connor moved :-»" That to relieve the consolidated revenue from charges derived from deficient railway returns, ifc is desirable, unless where a special provision has been made hy the legislature, tbatdeh'ciences so arising shall in each case be made good by a tax to be levied upon adjoining lands, in proportion to the benefit received from the railway ; and to ensure satisfactory and efficient management that the local governing bodies, be invited to suggest to (lie Minister auy alteration necessary in their locality ; such suggestion so made with a nole as to the action taken upon '.hem,, to be laid before the House early in the session." He contended that this proposal would hare the effect of securing a more direct local interest in railways than was at present the case. He instanced a number of anomalies in the traffic which arose from the railway authorities not being sufficiently conversant with the actual requirements of the particular districts.. Mr Joyce' opposed the motion. These lines had been made with the sanction of the House, and as such they became public property. It was in all respects similar to the Postal Department. Some duly paid and others did not, but as a grand whole the one had been made to sustain the other.

Mr Seddon moved as an amendment the adjournment of the debate,, which was one which required more data to deal with than they had bpfore them. Mr Garrick seconded and supported the amend ment, and in speaking to it, Mr Pyke called upon the Government to tell them what they proposed doing in the circumstances, as he could very well understand the whole matter involved a vital point of policy. Sir J. Vogel said the question of railway administration was one which required to be considered from different points of view. They might make their railways pay at the expense of their usefulness, aud that by no means desirable. He asked them to consent to a few weeks' delay, in order tbat they might be pre~ pared to approach the subject in the light of the importance the whole question demanded.

Mr O'Connor was prepared to accept the adjournment, which was put and carried.

Mr Barron moved the second reading of the Plurality of Votes Bill.

Replying to a remark made by Mr Guinness, Mr btout. said Government could not recognise any necessity for making this a party question, and cited instances to show that in the Imperial Parliament a course of that kind would not be adopted.

Sir J. Vogel spoke against this Bill, and repudiated the practice of vested rights being interfered with without mature con sideration.

Eiv Geo. Grey supported the Bill, stating that the resolution arrived at was a most important one, and the whole was well worthy of the achievement of any now Parliament.

Mr Pyke pointed out anomalies in ths registration system, and, while' he supported the principal, he denounced the

bill as a fraud, and as being altogether crude and unworkable.

The second reading was carried, and the House adjourned at 530 till 230 tomorrow.