PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2051, 25 July 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

(united press association.) FRIDAY. [LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. , The Colonial Secretary said ' it was the ; .- intention of the Government to intra- _ ' duce a Bill to amend the Public Trustees Act.. . ■'. ■ t i" A number of Bills from the LovrelV - Chamber were read a first time. The Gaming and Lotteries Bill was read a third tune and passed. The , Criminal Code Bill ■ was with amendments. The Industrial Schools Bill and; the West Coast Settlement Bill were read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 4,40 p.m. • HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to 'questions, it was stated . that the railway could not compete.wjtL. the road for short distancesthat tls|»--Govemment had no personal. knowledge' of the firm of Meiggs and Sons; referred to in the Treasurer's ; East and West . Coast (Middle Island) railways statement, but from enquiries made: in Wellingtons \ it was found that the statements mjdo^ with reference.to; Harry Meiggs' ant^; cedents were without foundation;'that enquiries would bo made as -,to the desirability of procuring a tug for ■■ Kaipara Heads; that -further enquiries' were being nmde as to compensation to natives for land taken for railway pur* •' poses between Takapau aiid Kopua, on" the Naoiov line. A number #f Bills were introduced, . and read a first time. Mr Stout moved that Government business take precedence on Wednesdays / ' for the remainder uf the session, and.".' that the House on its rising do adjourn- ■ till Monday at half past seven Agreed to. W Mr Stout moved that a select Coinmittpe be appointed to consider the petition-from settlers and colonists of, . Fiji, and the general' position of til. Western Pacific islands in their relation • to New Zealand, such Committee to consist of Messrs Atkinson, Fitzherbert, Garrick, Grey, Levestam, Macandrew ( Moss, Urmond, Major Steward, and the mover, three to form a quorum, and to report in three weeks, Agreed,to. The House went into Committee of Supply. An Imprest Supply . Bill for £300,000 was passedthrough all its Btages. Sir Julius Vooel moved that the House go into Committee to consider tlie following resolutions That the Government bo authorised to negotiate for a fresh mail service between Auckland and San Fransciaco, for iivo years, at a ibst not exceeding £30,000 per annum. $e said some opposition had been raised to the proposal by the Chambers of merce of Wellington and JNapier, but he could not understand the ■ opposition to a mail service that had been such a remarkablosuccess in many ways. Heconsideredin proportion to its usefulness the J cost of the service was a mere bagatelle, although it was a great benefit to Auckland and Taranaki. Ho thought it largely benefited the whole colony, and 1 pointed out that the average passage of the steamers was 36 days and 20 hours, while the avorage passage of the direct steamors from the colony to Plymouth was 39 days 6 hours. He did not desire to disparage, tho direct service. Ho thought it was of immense value, but ho contended that the ' -San -Francisco service was really what they required. 'He continued that. by. the -.- arrangement made with New South Wales, by which New Zealand waa tcjj£v ceive the postage that formerly went that colony, that the Bervice, instead of being a loss, would be a profit. He had no faith in the idea that' a subsidy could be obtained from the United States. He hoped the House would pass the resolution. Captain Suttee moved as an amendment to strike out the figures £20,000 and to insert that the Postmaster-General will pay to the contracting party, for. . letters 12s per lb, packets 1b per lb, newspapers fid per lb. Mr Holmes opposed the motion. Mr Macandrew considered £30,000 would be too much for the service, and thought they should all cultivate a direct service, as the mere fact of it being a day or two later was of minorimportance, Ho did not desire to see the service abandoned but it was the cost he objected to. i Mr Levestam moved to report prdgftivJfl Major Atkinson strongly supported' the resolution, and hoped tho House would not report progress. He contended that the proposals of the PostmasterGeneral would result, not in a loss to colony, but a profit, and the £30,00(r would be more than recouped to the Colony by the postages that would be received. He would not oppose it if a more modest sum were asked for it, Messss Hubst and Moss strongly ' supported the resolution, and denied tho reports that were in circulation that the Auckland membors had entered into any compact with the Government. Mr Huksthouse objected to the proposal. He wm speaking when the 5.30 adjournment arrived. evening sitting. ... Mr Lamaoh delivered the Statement. , The committee resumed the'debate on tho Sa& Fraaojseo Mail resolutions, ■ : ? Mr Pxpa ooveij that contribute one thiiri of the cost.;?;! ;--v r ™ §m Gzo*gs Grey argued fchat- the

oaofiyear, ond m »fevr,-years wouiabea'toteS of revoirtoe/ • '■' Messrs Peacock,. Turnbull and' "Russell apoke in favor of the 'service, and 'Mr Holmes,. Captain Sflte' and; Messrs Bush*!®}; Fisher and Guinness against it, ■ : Mr Montgomery thought it advisable to have both services and it would he a misfortune for the Colony if the San Francißco service were abandoned, as it Would grant a monoply to tho direct stealers. Dr Newman thought they were paying too muchior^o- service, Mr jßgiu am favored voting a direct The motion to report progress was lost on division by 53 to G. Mr Montgomery moved that the contract be for three years instead of five. Agreed to. Captain Sutter's amendment was thon put and lost by 43 to 31. The following is the division list Agains—t Ballance, Barron, Beetham, Bevan, Bruce, Cadman, Dargaville, Fraser, Grey, Hakuene, Harper, Hirst, Hobbs, Hurst, Joyce, Kerr, Lake, Lance, Larnacjk Levestam, Locke, J, McKenzie, Mitchfflbn, Moat, Montgomery, Moss, O'Rorke, Peacock, Pratt, E. Richardson, Russell, Samuel, Seddon, Smith, Stout, T, Thompson, Tole, Turhbull, Vogel, Walker, J. B. Wliyte, Wilson. For Bradshaw, Buchanan, J. C. BffiMnd, Connolly, Cowan, Duncan, FergufTFisher, Fulton, Gore, Guinness, Hatch, Hislop, Hursthouse, Ivcss, Johnston M. J. S. McKenzie, Menteath J Newman, O'Callaghan, Pearson, Pyke, G. F. Richardson, Rolleston, Ross, Stewart, Sutter,. J. ,W. Thompson, Trimble, W, White. The original resolution was then carried, and ordered to be considered on Fridiy. ■ The House rose at 1 a.m.