HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 3198, 20 October 1876, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Oct. 19. The House resumed at 7.30 o'clock last night, and immediately proceeded with the Estimates. Mr Burns' motion, that the item for Colonial Architect, £750, be struck out, was put. The House divided, and the motion was negatived by 26 to 14. The whole vote was then carried by 29 to 20. The Railway Estimates were then taken. Under tlie heading Head Office, and Audit (Wellington), £4,617, Mr Murray moved that the item of £800, for Superintending Engineer (showing an iucrease of £100) be struck out. The Hon Mr Richardson passed a high eulogium upon this officer (Mr Pasamore), and explained at length the large and important duties performed by him. Mr Murray withdrew his amendment, Mr Lusk said.. he would press, the amendment, and- complained strongly of the .mismanagement by that officer, at least so far as the Auckland railways were concerned. '-;.'-' The Hon Mr Whitaker pointed out that a Commissioner had been appointed to inquire^ into those charges, and they would soon ascertain whose fault it was. The salary was no more than was paid in Canterbury and Otago. Mr Lusk then withdrew his amendment, and the item was agreed to. The Northern railways vote of £86,131, and the Southern railways vote of £170,000, were agreed to' after some discussion. Mr Montgomery objected on: principle to the Municipalities, Road Boards, and out-districts vote of £75,000, and moved that the whole item: be struck out. , Sir Robert Douglas, and Messrs Rowe, Wa3on,. and Moorhouse, supported the motion. 7 The Premier defended the principle as perfectly sound, the main object being to compel the whole population to contribute by taxation towards the construction of roads, instead of letting it all fall on real properly. Mr Read said, look at it how they would, it must act unfairly, as it played directly into tbe hands of owners of property. If a poor district that could not afford to levy rates, joined a rich district, they would see the revenues of the colony poured into the rich district that could, perhaps, well afford to do without assistance at all. Sir* George Grey said the Premier was trying to play into the hands of one party and wheedle the other. He was taking money from the hands of the masses and giving it to the few to expend. Mr Sheehan said there was neither wisdom, principle, nor science in subsidising Municipalities already well endowed, while outlying districts were languishing for want of a seasonable expenditure of a little public money. The Corporations of Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch had no claim upon the vote whatever. After a long discussion, the item was carried by 37 to 12. The Estimates chargeable on the Land Fund were passed without alteration. On the motion for going into Committee on the Provincial Abolition Financial Arrangements Bill, Mr Sheehan spoke at great length agaiust the Bill, availing himself of the opportunity of condemning the details of the Bill, and the general administration of the Government. The House went into Committee on the Bill and reported progress. The Ilouse adjourned at 11.48. p.m. * The House met at 2.30 o'clock this afternoon. In reply to Sir Robert Douglas the Hon Mr Richardson said the Government did not intend to issue free railway passes to members until after the session, when the Southern lines would-be taken over.,' Tha time during which hare 3 can be killed is to be extended. Mr Thomson's motion, that in the opinion of this House next session the Assembly should be held at Dunedin, did not provoke much discussion. The Hon the Premier, in opposing it, said it meant nothing. He ridiculed the idea on the score of expense, inconvenience, and injury to public interest. The motion was rejected by 29 to 23. Some debate ensued on the motion by Mr Stafford, that the credit of the colony required that the awards made by the Government Commissioner under "The Taranaki-" New Zealand Companies Land Claims Act, 1872," be settled with no unnecessary delay. The Premier got the motion amended by adding the following words :—•* And that the Government be authorized to negotiate with the claimants with a view to such settlement." Mr Larnach moved for a Committee to inquire into the terms of the petition of Messrs Brogden, relative to payments made to the Agent-General on account of immigrants brought to the colony. The Premier opposed it, saying the matter had been exhaustively inquired into, and found that there were no grounds for the claim. The motion was negatived on the voices. Mr Larnach then moved, that this House is of opinion that it is improper for any salaried officer of the Government or Civil Service to receive fee, salary, or reward outside of the office he holds, and that from this time forward any officer found receiving such fees or rewards, be no longer retained in the Government service. The debate was interrupted by 5-30. i