PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4907, 1 October 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Peb Pbess Association^

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wellington, Yesterday.

Mr Seddon gave notice he would ask if Government would provide means for married womeD, with the consent of their husbands, borrowing money on their life policies?— Sir Julius Vogel gave notice of a bill to encourage the production of sugar from beet-root and sorghum.-—Mr Moss gave notice to move, at an early date: •' That the continued growth of the external debt of the colony was a danger likely to cause embarrassments, and the time had come when. steps should be taken to stay its growth."—The Speaker ruled that a specified date for discussing the motion not having been named] it could not be received.

Eoplying to. questions put, it was stated —The frozen meat trade with India and China would be fostered, but Government did not consider-extraordinary facilities, such as a remission of port dues, were requisite for that purpose.—Government had under consideration the question of limiting the time during which application to purchase Crown lands shall, where the ' purchase was not completed, avail as a bar to subsequent application to purchase either the whole or only part of the land included in such applications.—Government saw no necessity for the erecs tion of a Home for Destitute and Infirm Miners at some place on the We6t Coast.—No further reservation for secondary education would be made in | the Forty Mile Bush.—The propriety of increasing the duty on barbed wire might very well be considered in connection with any proposal for a change of tariff.—No districts bad been proclaimed under section five of the Crown and Native Lands Eating Act, 1882.—Government had no intention of proclaiming all native lands, valued at £2, or more -per acre, situated withia road districts as exempt from the operations of the Crown and Native Lands Eating Aofc. Sir Julius Vogel said the Public Works Statement had not been completed, and he could not fix a date for its delivery. The Lands Act Amendment Bill and the West Coast Settlement Eeserves Act ISBI Amendment Bill were read « first

time, and the second reading of the Otago Presbyterian Church Amendment, False Notice of.Birtbs, Marriages and deaths, Bills of Exchange Act Amendment, Public Ileserves Act 1881 Amendment took place

The .Religious, Charitable, and Educa. tional Trust Boards Incorporation Bill passed through Committee, and was reported without amendment, read a third time and passed. On the motion for going into committee on the Gold Duty Bill, Sir Julius Vogel said Government was not prepared to substitute local revenue for that proposed to be abolished.—Mr Trimble moved, as an amendment, they go into committee that day six months.—The House divided: Ayes, 29; Noes, 22.—Motion carried. £ir J. Vogel moved the second reading of the District JRailways Leasing and Purchasing Bill. The Bill, he said, would notincieise the liability of Government, but its intention was to take advantage of the uufortunate position into which these companies had fallen, and obtain the lines on most favourable terms. The total mileage of these railways was about 125, and the total purchasing price £600,000. Should there be any loss in working the railways, half of such loss was to be borne by ratepayers, providing it did not exceed 20 per cent. Tbo securities under theDis* triet Eailways Act had besn most unfortunate; they were, in fact, unsaleable, with something like 7 per cent, interest. He went on to explain that although he was Chairman of one of the companies, he had resigned on taking office, so that it could not be said he had any personal interest. He contended that under any circumstances Governmept were pledged to purchase these lines, and there was no more favorable time than the present.—Mr Montgomery opposed the Bill, and said a number of these small lines had been commenced* so as to benefit holders of large areas in the neighborhood of the railways. The shareholders in these companies now refused to pay up calls, and they came to Government for relief. He objected to the lines being taken over, and denied that the liabilities of Government would not be increased. He would vote against the Bill.

This day.

The House divided on the second reading of the District Bailway Bill:—Ayes, 45 ; noes, 17. Division list —Ayes, 45: Atkinson, Ballance, Bradshaw, Brown, Lance, J. C. Buokland, W. F. Buckland, Cadman, Cowan, Dargaville, Duncan, Fergus, Fitisherbert, Fraser, Grigg, Guinness, Harper, Hatch, Holmes, Joyce, Larnach, Levestam, McAndrew, Me Arthur, McMillan, Moat, Morris, O'Callaghan, O'Connor, Wi Pere, E. Kichardson, G. F. Eichardson, Ross, Shephard, W. J. Steward (teller), Sutler, Taiaroa, Tole, Turnbull, Vogel, Walker (teller), W. White, J. B. Whyte, and Wilson. Noes, 17: Barron (teller), Beetham, Bryce, Buchanan, Hamlin, Johnston, Lake, Montgomery, Moss, Newman, Pearson, Eeese, Eolleston, Shriniski, T. Thompson, Trimble (teller), and Wakefield. Paibs :—For :J. Mc« Kenzie, Dowinie Stewart.M. J. McKenzie, Stout, and Pjke; against: Fulton, Eussell, Menteith, Gore, and Connolly. Major Atkinson, referring to one or two statements made by the Treasurer, said the business of the House should ba allowed to proceed without coDtiuued referenca to the late Government. He had borne these in silence hitherto, but in future he would not. This was the first session be had ever known private minutes of ministers brought down, and if the Treasurer wished that style of argument adopted, the present Government would not come off best.—Sir J. Vogel did not consider minutfcs by ministers private, and the matter dropped. The Registration of Birth Extension Bill was read a second time.

The Parliamentary Honorarium and Privileges Bill came up for the second reading, and the motion to reduce honorariums by one-half was negatived; clause 7, providing that members shall not be debarred from acting on a royal commission was struck out on a division by 37 to 16.

The Bill was reported with amend' ments. " .

The House went into Committee on the Public Health Act Amendment Bill, which passed through with unimportant amend* menls, acd the House then rose at 330 a.m.