HOUSE" OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 10236, 28 June 1883, Page 2

HOUSE" OF REPRESENTATIVES.

' " June 26. FISHERIES BILL. After 11 o'clook considerable debate took place on the second reading of the Fisheries Bill, Messrs Moss, Seddon, Hutchison, and others strongly opposing it as tyrannical and unjust. — Mr Seddon moved, That it be referred to a Select Committee, for the purpose pf being altered, so aa to place the control of tbe fisheries in the hands of looal bodies, and be made simply to provide for a olose or breeding season. — The amendment was lost, and the Bill read, a second time on the voices. UNIVERSITY AOT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Dick moved the second reading of the New Zealand University Act Amendment Bill, the object of which was to enable degrees to be conferred in science. — Mr Hutchison strongly condemned the University as neither a teaching nor an examining body. — > Messrs Shaw and Trimble pointed out some technical objections in the Bill, which was then read a second time. The House rose at 12.35 a.m. ' June 27. - The House met at 2.80 p.m. Leave,, of absence for a fortnight was .granted, to- Mr LeVin on account of iUhealth.. - MINISTERIAL ANSWERS. Beplying to questions, Ministers said that the Public Trustee lent money on freehold mortgage under wills in many .cases, .and other money under- authority of the Revenues Act of last session. Great care was taken as to the valuation bf properties on which money was lent. The interest ranged from 7 to 8 per cent. Failiug . the Trustee the colony was liable for any loss. Nothing material bad been done towards purchasing the native rights on the northern goldfields. A few shares had been purchased, aud every opportunity of acquiring more would be taken. .The proposed lease of Cable and Druinmond's -prospecting area at Ngakawau was under consideration. ' A. road ' from Blaokwater Greek, Buller Boad, to Archer's Point, Beef ton Boad, had been .made. It.was not-inteoded to amend the Lunatics -Act this session. The particulars of the Otaio Reserve would receive the fullest publicity. No money had been advanced to the Oamaru Harbour Board since August, the Board being enabled to borrow in the open market, as its audit was bo good, on' more favourable terms than the Government could lend it. It would not be convenient to hold local elections on the Bame day. : NEW BILLS, . ;„' The following new Bills were, introduced and read a first time. Repeal of Cpnjpulsory Vaccination (Dodson) , Greymouth High School (Petrie), School Inspection (Smith), Religious Charitable and Educational Trusts Board Incorporation (Dargaville). ' OAOL LABOUR. Mr Hutchison moved that the teaching of trades and the employment of skilled labour in gaols are regarded by tbis House as inimical to discipline, and prejudicial' to- the interests of free skilled labour in the country, and that it is desirable that suoh teaching of trades and employment of skilled labour should be discontinued as soon as possible. — Messrs Bracken and Joyce supported the motion, and Messrs Pish and -Shepherd opposed it. — Mr Conuolly, at some length, supported the system of teaching trades in gaols, and said that the working men were simply used as a stalking horse for political purposes in relation to the subject. They were not really affected, nor did they care. Those who objected to thu system were 50 years behind the age. — Messrs Swanson and FitzGerald opposed the motion. —Mr Montgomery, considered it altogether too sweeping ; and could not therefore support it, although he objected to men being taught trades in gaol to compete with men who had served an apprenticeship. — Mr Tolo . opposed the motion as being founded on a wrong social principle. He moved an amendment, That a return of the number and classification of prisoners employed iu trades be laid on the table. — Mr Turnbull opposed the motion. The debate was interrupted. After the Financial Statement (which will be fonnd [in another place) Sir Geoge Grey complained that they had really heard nothing about the financial condition of the oountry, orits hopes or prospects. No.ohange was proposed in taxation, and yet thousands of men were toiling daily to earn their interest on our great debt. How many of the half million population of the colony had got their fair proportion . of the thirty million aores of Crown lanwdhioh had passed into private hand ? The Treasurer should have told them that the future of New Zealand waa one of misery and distress for the mass of its population, of riohe sand^uxury for a few.? Why had he not brought down some great scheme to remedy thiß state of things ? Why had he not proposed a -Land Tax on great estates ? Instead of that the nostrum of National Insurance was offered,- and making the land bear the burden of the poor. The House should insist on some great scheme of polioy to relieve the colony-- from its great burden 1 of taxation, and ' make its future dearer. No country with suoh great advantages' ever bad such a gloomy future. The Property Tax should be repealed, and a fair LandTaxsubstituted, and an Inoome Tax also, if necessary. The Land Tax Bhould increase in proportion to the. extent of the land held. — Major Atkinson objected to discuss the questions raised on euch an occasion as the present. He-was willing to have a proper debate on ■ tbe subjeot, and to fix a day whenever Sir G-eorge Grey wished. Then let the country deoide between a Property Tax and a Land Tax. — Sir George Grey asked would tho hon. member leave his followers to vote according to their consoience. — Major Atkinson said that their followers always voted according to their consciences, but if a Land Tax was to be imposed, the hon. member would have to do it, not the present Government. — Sir George Grey declined to oomnat the great interests of the future of New Zoaland to a party discussion. He would take his own time to endeavour to carry his point. — Major Atkinson Baid that he I was greatly disappointed. He at least I had the courage of bis convictions. — Sir G. Grey said th-.t Slaj-'-.r * tkirisan had not the courage of his convictions qr of

I a patriot. If he had, let him go to the country, and allow it to deoide.— Mr Montgomery said that Major Atkinson might be satisfied that 8}«; George Grey in no way lacked courage. He believed that the country would Bend a majority, ere long, to that House to impose a just and fair Land Tax.— Mr Fish said that Major Atkinson had endeavoured to esoapeoritioisin by using amass of words and figures. Inoreased taxation ■was a deplorable faot, and spoke little of the finanoial ability of the Government. —Mr Turnbull said that the country- was standing 1 on the verge of ruin, and the Government were not the men to save it. They dare not impose a Land Tax. — Mr Hursthouse would prefer a progressive Property Tax, without exemptions, to a Land Tax.— Sir George Grey again challenged the Government to go to the country. — Captain McKenzie considered a Land Tax would be equal to confiscation '. Money should be spent in opening up the country, instead of in the towns. — A resolution, moved by Major Atkinson, providing for Imprest Supply, was agreed to in the House. — The report *f the East and West' Coast Railway Commission was received by message from the Governor. The House rose at 10.25 p.m.