PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2037, 9 July 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

v (UNITED PRESS: ASSOCIATION,)

WEDNESDAY.

, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

The Colonial Secretary 1 moved the seeond reading of the llabbit Nuisance Continuance Bill, and mentioned fcliat the cost to the country last year of endeavoring to eradicate the. rabbit • pest was between £13,000 and £15,000. The motion was carried.

The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill, sayingjie believed it would meet with jjhe confidence i()f, the Council.

Mr' Scotland agreed to the tenure being ten years, but in committee would move that all members be placed on the same footing. Col. Brett opposed the Bill, being in favor of retaining his political life as long as possible. Sir F. Whitakek moved, as an amendment,- " That a committee be appointed to take into consideration the present constitution, powers, and procedure of this Council, with a view to suggest sucli amendments or alterations therein as such cdmmittee may deem expedient or desirable] The Committee to consist of nine members, to be chosen by ballot, and to report within three weeks. Mr McLean opposed the second reading. ■ Mr Bathgate and Mr Chamberlin spoke in favor of the Bill. After further, discussion the debate was adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Replying to questions it was stated that the. Government would favorably consider the question of giving effect to the action of the Legislature in. 1881, respecting the construction of a graving dock at Poifc Chalmers, provided that an assurance was received from the responsible body that the work would be proceeded with within a reasonable 'time; that the Government would bring down proposals for a fresh contract for tho San Franscisco Mail Service after the close of the financial debate; that the Government could not sanction the schemo of Railway Reform, advocated by Mr Vaile, of Auckland, as itwould lead to a considerable loss to the revenue; that no delay would take placo in giving the necessary instructions relaxing the Quarantine Regulations as to steamers coming from Sydney as no detention was now required ; that long service medals would be granted to those members of the police force whose long service and good conduct entitle them to such recognition; that tho Government could not consent t Q give a grant in aid to the publishers of the publishers of the Maori newspaper Konmako.

Mr J. B, Whvi'e introduced the Spencer Water Right Restoration Bill. S

Mr Fisher nnved, that there be laid before'this House a return D howing the amount paid by the several Official Assignees in bankruptcy out of bankrupt estates for law charges, and to whom paid.—Agreed to, Mr Macandrew moved, that an address bo transmitted to th<\ Governor, to the oft'oct that ho may be pleased to call the attention of the Imperial Government to the necessity for a fresh marine survey of the coast of New Zealand, and on a more detailed scale than appears on tlio chart at present; also, that thecolony will, if necessary, bo prepared to place at the disposal of the Admiralty, the services of the " Hinemoa," or •' Stella," or other Buitable vessels. He explained that his

reason for putting the motion on the order paper was the recent accident to the steamer lonic, from Napier to Wel-

lington. Mr Laknach said the Government were in possession of reports from Captains Johnson and Fairchild to the effect that a re-survey .if' the coast was not necessary. As regarded the accident to the lonic, it was intended to despatch the Stella to ascertain tlio cause of the accident. The motion was withdrawn.

F- Bruce moved the second reading of the Seamen's Representation B'"l. Agreed to. Mr Tubnbum moved the second reading of the Rating Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the object of the Bill wao to exempt Friendly Societies from rating. Agreed to. Mr J. 0, Buckland moved the second reading of tho Impounding Act 18S4 Amendment Bill. He said tho Bill was simply intended to place the provincial district of Otago on tho same footing as tho rest of the colony.'

Mr Stout opposed the second reading on the'ground that it was unwise to alter the law i'j the direction proposed. The second reading was carried on division by 40 against 25.

Mr Stout said the Bill, if passed, would result in ereat injuy to small holders. It had never been the law in Otago to impound off unfenced land.

Mr Fisiier moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners' Act 1882 Amendment Bill (No, 2), Agreed to. Mr Guiness moved the second readhg of the Armed Constabula;/ Act 1876 Amendment Bill. He said the Bill was simply to give members of tho Armed Constabulary and Police Force tho right of voting at general elections. Major Atkinson opposed' the Bill as being most dangerous. He said in no other country such a power was exercised.

Mr Ballajjce supported tho Bill as far as the Civil Police wero concerned. He saw no reason why the Civil Police should not bo put on the aamo footing as Civil

Servants at eloctions.

The motion for the second reading was carried on division by 46 against 22.

Mr Guinness moved tho second .reading of the Coroners, Juries Abolition Bill,

Mr Tole . said ' it would be rather a sweeping change to: abolish : Coroners' Juries altogether. He'hoped shortly to bring in a Bill to reduce the number liable to serve on Coroners' Juries to four or six persons. He moved that the debate be adjourned,r-Carried on the voices. Mr Downie Stewart moved the second reading of the Evidence Further Amendment Bill.—Agreed to. Mr Garrick moved the second reading of the Distress Bill,—Agreed to. The House rose at 5.30. ? EVENING SITTING. The House went into Committee of Ways and Means to consider alterations in the tariff, V'; Sir Juuus Yogel submitted a number, of resolutions, which would form the basis,of a Bill to be introduced almost immediately. The tendency of the new tariff would be less;'oppressive on the poorer classes. In regard to the duty on coal, the Government were relitctantly compelled to withdraw it,/ in response to numerousrepresentations. The most important change to be. made was in the duty on wearing apparel, haberdashery,, etc. The alteration proposed would reduce goods coming under that head to two classes, one to be free, and the other 10J per cent, ad valorem. The Treasurer oxplained in detail" the n this respeet -and -the- -proportion the customs-taxes bore to other taxes, which were less in the colony : than in any other except Victoria.: It had been said that the public was fully against the tariff; but the public was generally opposed to taxation, in whatever way it came. As far as the Government were informed, they believed their proposals had the support of the majority of the people. He hoped the House would not refuse to grant the means of raising tlio necessary revenue. ! ...

Major Steward took the chair in Committee. » . '

Mr Barron asked whether in theevejit of any item being negatived, the duty on that item would fall back in the duty of tho present Customs Act, The Premier saidany items" negatived would remain as in the present Customs Act'. Those on spirits 'l4s Gd, wines 5s Gd, sparkling \Vines 6s Gd, Australian winos GsGd, and bitters 14s Gd were passed without alteration. Mr Moss moved that the duty on tea bo reduced from Gd to 4d, On division the amount was re duced by 61 votes to 24. Cornflour, farinaceousfood, maizena,maccaron prepared groats, sago, tapioca and vermecelli, | per ft, was negatived; that on boots of various sorts was nega tived ; bacon and hams 3d, per lb, negatived ; "preserved bananas, Id per lb, agreed to ; beef and pork, salted, 4d per cwt., negatived; butter and cheese, 2d per lb, negatived; candles, various sorts, duty negatived on division by 48 to 36, carpetbags, 20per cent,, negatived on the voices. On ■moving carriages and carriage wheels,' 20 per cent., Mr Seddon said it appeared from the manner in which items were being struck out that it was a sure indication that all items would be lost, irrespective of merit. He moved that progress be reported, The Premier thought it would be better to go on, and asked Mr Seddon to withdraw the motion, After further discussion Sir Julius Voqel said debate, had assumed a semi-party character, and as it was impossible in view of tho division to judge the exact position of parties, thequestion arose whether it would be advisable to discuss the new proposals at once; but ho did not himself blame the leader of the opposite Bide for taking advantage of the votes offered liim that evening.. He thought it would be better to report progress, Beeing that they could not get the proposals discussed on their merits. The Government was prepared either to go on or not.

The motion for reporting progress was carried, and the House rose at 11,45 p,m 4