PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2072, 19 August 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

(united press association.)

TUESDAY. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tho.New Zealand State Forests Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Waste Lands Committee, on the understanding that the debate on the Bill shall be taken when the report of the Committee shall bo presented. The Council went into Committee on the Fire and Marine Insurance Companies Bill and River Boards Bill, which wore reported with amendments. Mr Holmes moved that the Council do not insist 011 the amendment in the School Committees Election Bill with which the House of Representatives disagreed. Carried. The Westland and Grey Education Bil was passed. The Resident Magistrates Courts Validation Bill and Mining Companies Bill were read a second time. The Invereargill Loan Consolidation Bill and Tuakitoto and Kaitangata Lakes Bill were further considered in Committee, and progress reported. Mr Reeves moved the second reading of the Seamen's Representation Bill. Mr Mantell moved that it be read a second time Bix months hence, which was carried by 16 to 9d. The Council adjourned at 5 p,m! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The House met at 2,30 p. m. Mr Maoabthur gavo notice to' ask whether the Government had received any intimation from the Agent-General as to his probable resignation, and if so whether they have entered into negotiations with any other persons to fill the office.

Mr Locke introduced the Waito a Harbor Board Empowering Bill. Sir George Grey gave notice to ask the Government to-morrow, if they intended to undertake the construction of the East and West-Coast' Railway, bo as to connect Ohristchiirch and Hokitika. Replying to questions it was stated that the pay of Aucklrnd fireman had not been reduced; that Mahurangi hydraulic lime was being-used by the Public Work Department. . ■ -. . A long dißcußaion ensued on the motion

hat the resolutions from Committee of Supply bo reported lo the House. Major Atkinson contended &at Mr Ballance had not shewn where-4P promised saving of £14,000 from other departments was to come from. Mr Ballaxoe said he had already pioved that in Gommittoe. He defended his conduct of the Native Department at some length, and said his administration of it had been as' economical as that of his predecessor, • The House went into Committee on the Otago Dock Bill.. Mp Ross moved that_ only one member of' the Dock Trus® should be elected by the Borough of Port Chalmers, instead of two, as provided by the Bill, The amendment was lost by the casting vote of the Chairman. The debate was. interrupted by the 5.30 ' adjournment. - EVENING SITTING.' The House resumed at 7.30. •, In-Committee, the Otago' Dock Bill wasreported with amendments, On the motion that it.be read a third time, Mr Gore moyed that the third reading take place six months hence,; On divi'A the third reading was carried by 34% 82. The Bill then passed, Mr Tolb moved ■ the "third reading of the Coroner's Act 1807' Amendment Bill, which was agreed to, and tlio Bill passed.

Mr Ballance moved the committal of the Land Bill, and. in doing so said ho> thought the amendments made in tlipfc Bill by the Waste Lands Committee had improved it. He then detailed the nature aftho amendments made, The Bill was one of the most important of the session, and the House would not be wasting time m fully discussing the measure,

Sir George Grey thought Mr Ballance thd not understand tho amendments made by .the Committee. His own opinion was that Crown Lands were the property of all. He contended that under this. Bill the most onerous conditions were • not only on the deferred payment settlers, but on village settlers and small farmers, The Government should have imposed a Land Tax, which would have remedied the evils he complained AkThe Government should buy up all thPfarpe estates which were heavily mortgaged, and let tlieni out on perpetual leases. 0 Mr Stout agreed that Crown Lands should be the property of all, but not without payment, as suggested by Sir George Grey. Sir George Grey ymJ opposed to the perpetual leasing and yet he had advocated the system in his speech. The member for Auckland City East had prevented the imposition of a Land Tax by the manner he had gone about the country speaking on taxation, and he, (Mr Stout), contended that all hopes of a Land Tax were delayed for years by the action taken. "So far as he could see, Sir George Grey had not mastered the Bill. Mr J. McKenzie thought the Bill of great value, inasmuch as it repealed 28 statutes, and lie strongly supported the motion for the Committal;

Mr Stewart hoped that if the Bill passed it would remain on the Statute Book for a number of years,- and not be subject to the alterations which were constantly being made in Land Laws in the past. _ ' : ' . The motion for committal was Jwied on the voices. _ln clause 2, an amendment was carried to bring the Act into operation on the Ist November instead of the Ist October. . Clause 12 was amended so as to provide that the Governor 'JHW Council may assign or change the names of localities On clause 28,; Breach of Land Act punishable by imprisonment, being read, Mr Stewart moved that the penalty be £SOO, or threo monthsimprisoninent. The amendment was lost, and the clause amended by making the penalty oxtend to persons wilfully breaking the Statute. On clause 34, providing for the establishment of Land Boards, a long discussion onsued, and several times motions were proposed to report progress. Ultimately olauaes 34 to 41, inclusive' were postponed. Clauses 42 to 48, inclusive, which related to . conduct of business by Boards, -were agreed to, and at 1.40 a.m. progress was reported, and the House rose.