PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2048, 22 July 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION,) . TUESDAY. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Council, Mp Richmond moved the second reading of the Employment pf Females Amendment Bill. After discussion, the Pill was thrown out by.2l to 14. The Gaming and' Lotteries Amendment Bill was read a secqpd time, and the Council adjourned at 4.50. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at.2.30 p.m. Replying to questions, it was stated that reductions would, if possible, be

made in the changes for the use of the telephonic instruments between Dunedin and Port Chalmers; . that the telephone line from Tapanui to' Heriot would be completed about the beginning of next week; that it was i undesirable that persons in the employment of the Government should be appointed in connection with tho Property Tax valuations, and other such assistance required from skilled persons; that the statistics of the colony were published as early as in any other colony; the Government could not undertake to supply a year book in consequence of the cost entailed. The following Bills were introduced a Bill to amend " The River Boards Act, 1884" (Stout); a Bill to amend "The Life Assuranoe Policies' Act, 1884" (Vogel); a Bill to give effect to a resolution of the House of Representatives agreed to on the 9th July, 1885, imposing certain Customs duties (Vogel), Me Macandkew gave notice to move on Wednesday the 12th August that in the opinion of this House the time has come when efforts should be made to unite the .whole of the English speaking people throughout the world in one grandpolitical confederation, having • for its' object mutual defence against foreign aggression, the maint#nance of peace, and the' promotion of tho brotherhood of nations, and that a respectful address bo presented to His Excellency the Governor requesting that he may be pleased to transmit this resolution to the Queen, in the hope that Her Majesty may still fur- j ther distinguish heir illustrious reign by endeavoring to bring about a conferouce that shall represent the whole of the British Dominions and the United States of America, to meet either at London, or Washington, to consider the question of political conference as here-in before mentioned. Mr Sum gave notice that when the House went into Committee to consider tl}e proposals for the San Francisco Mai subsidy lie' would mqye as an amendment " That the figures and words L 30,000 be Btruck out, with a view of inserting the following figures and words, "That the Postmaster-General will pay to the contracting party at the following rates: — letters, 12s per lb; packets Is per lb; newspapers Gd per lb," Sir Julius Vqoel read & statement regarding tho East and West Coast RailRailway, He said intelligence had been received by cable from tho delegates who went home to arrange for the construction of the East and West Coastand Nelson railway lines, that they have concluded arrangements with Messas Meiggs and Sons, a firm whom they describe as of good standing and repute. They further say that powerful financial houses known to them promise support, and are ready to take substantial interest in the contract. Messrs Meiggs and Sons (a well known firm of railway contractors and financiers), have agreed in writing to construct the railways, provided further (loppessions are granted, They ask, in addition to the land grants, a guaranteed payment of L 97,000, in excess of working expenses per annum, for twenty years, payable in London half yearly, commencing after the railways are finished, and tjiey .fifate fhat jt in intended to finish them in frqm thres to five years. The amount of L 97,000 is arrived at because qf its being 2ipor cent, on the cost, which i« thus estimated Actual cost of works, L1i,015,000 (which closely resembles our own estimate); interest during construction, L 400,000 engineers and administration, L 50,000, and expense of Underwriting, L 385,000, making in all L 3,860,000, 2£ per cent on which would equal (within L 500) the L 97,000 asked for. In considering this proposal it was desirable first to compareit witl} effort to construct the railway ourselves. If we havo to construct it ourselves by borrowing tho money, we should save L 385,000. The railway would, however, cost more for interest during construction. The L 400,000 is evidently computed on basis ot about four years occupied in construction, but if we have to copstruct it ourselves, we should Be very unlikely to do tho worlf in lps§ than ten years, and galoulatine interest at 4 per cent, at mean poriod of five years would give £615,000 as the cost of interest. He proposed to ask the House to consider this most important subject in Committee of tho whole 011 Friday next. Ho .shoijlfl prepare a resolution appfoyingof ftie'proposal) on condition jihat after the works are completed, and when payment pf the L 97,000 begins half the cpst (whatever it may he—and it is not ljkely pxqeed lifiQiP, for fhe railway? should at least yield one per sent tq begin with) shquld be charged to the provincial qf Qaijlerbqry north pf the ijangjtata, aqd to the provincial districts of Nelson and Westland, aa well as the entire cost of maintaining the main roads between Nelson and Greymouth, andbetween Christchurch and Hokitika. _

|lfo Houso w?nt into Committee on tho Starnj) Act Amendment sill, Cllause 7 was amended so as to provide that persons or companies acting as agents for effecting jnai»rappeß abrpsd, should pay license fees. Several othej: amendments were here made, and a new qlauße was added, that the Act should come, into force of) 1 ft Ttie House went into Committee on the Peaewed Persons Estate Duties Aot Amendment Pjll. s»e Hqtp rpi(e at 5,30, PVISNINO BJTXJNS. The Committee resinned on the Pq> ceased Persons' Estate Duties Aot. Messrs \V. F. Buckland, Newman, and others condemned the . Bill. Mr Turndull suggested it should be withdrawn. Sir Julius Vogel pointed

out-that if the measure was rejected,the Property Tax would have to be increased Jof a penny.' Mr Coholly's amendment for the elimination of the clause providingfor duties on deeds of gift was carried The Bill was reported with amendments. The Stamp Act Amendment Bill was reported and the third reading Bet down for Friday. The Premier delivered a long statement on education, dealing with the work of technical, primary and secondary education in the past, and the duty of the state in the matter. Mr Baliance moved the second reading of the Whitmore Enabling Bill, and.briefly explained its provisions. He thought no better appointment could have been made, and also, that members must come to the conclusion that it was absolutely essential there should be someone to organise the forces. Major Atkinson would oppose the Bill if he thought the 'appointment wa 8 a permanent one. He did not, however. think it was necessary for the Commander-in-chief to be an under-secretaiy. and commander of artillery, and when in committee of supply, he would oppose the appointment of unnecessary officers. Replying to Mr Montgomery, Mr Ballance said the agreement could be terminated at any time without compensation, ' Me Hukst thought Colonel Whitmore should either have refused tho position or vacated his seat in tho Council. Mr Skddon defended the appointment, and said it was the duty uf the House to, confirm the',Government's action. Messrs Fulton, Barron, andßussELL, spoke in support of the Bill, and Sir George Grey thought it would be better to pass tho second reading, and for the Government to defer the proceedings further until it had been decided in the estimates what forces they were to have. Mk Hamlin supported the Bill, as it was absolutely necessary to have a por ; manenfc head to the Volunteors. After Mr Ballapce had replied, the second reading was carried on the voices. The Industrial Schools Amendment Bill, and the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill were read a third time and passed. ■ The House rose 12.20.