PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2361, 31 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The speaker ruled that the Gold Duty Reduction Bil{ could not be introduced this session, because it would be against standing orders which provided that any Bill rejected by the Council, could not be introduced during the remainder of the samo session, the Bill was ordered to be hod aside, The Native Land Administration Bill and the Native Land Court Bill were read a third time. The Public Bodies Leasing Bill and the Administration Amendment Bill were read a lirst time.

In reply to Sir F. Whitaker, the speaker said considering the Government Loans t» Local Bodies Bill was a money Bill, he could, by leave of tho Council] direct it should bo laid aside. The Spcakei directed accordingly. The Otago Harbor Bridge Bill was read a second time. The Counties Bill and First Offenders Bill were read a third time and passed. The Civil Service Reform Bill, the Port Chalmers Brigade Site Bill, the Otago Harbor Leasim' Bill, tho Auckland Harbor Loan Bill, the City of Christchurch Municipal Offices Bill, and the Oamaru Harbor Board Loan Bill wore further considered in Committee, and progress reported on each Bill. The Council at 5 adjourned till Monday.

HOUSE OF REPfdSSENTATIVES. Tho Cathedral Site (Parueli) Leasing Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr Moss brought up the report i,f the Public Accounts Committee relative to the purchase of Stock's property at the North Shore, Auckland, for defence purposes. It was to the effect that the Government were justified in paying the price they did and that the weight of evidence went to show the property could not have been obtained for a less amount in the Compensation Court.

Replying to questions it was sta'cd that no hiud hud been given fur the track of the North Island Main Trunk railway by Walianui or any other natives. Mr Guinness usiuid whether it was true the Government had issued instructions that in future all lahorors in the employ of Government were to receive only lis per day. Mr Richardson said it had been brought under his notice that men were olt'enng in large numbers to do the work at 5s per day. He had givon instructions that any man employed in future should receive no more than b's. Mr Wilson asked whether the circular contained nothing about unskilled labor. Mr Richardson said it applied to unskilled labor. The Hospital and Charitable- Aids Bill was further considered in committee. Sir R. Stout said the only amendments as to districts that he would agree to was to constitute the North of Auckland and Waikato with hospital districts. He could not agree to the amendments respecting tho Nelson, Bullor, and lnaugahau districts. Mr Lovcstam moved its an amendment that Nelson, Buller, and lnaugahua be inserted.—Agreed to. Mr Dargaville moved an amendment to add tho comities of Wangavei, Hobson, and Ofcamafcea, and the North of Auckland. Mr Hobbs strongly opposed the amendment, which to carried by 45 to 13. Mr Whyte moved an amendment, which was lost by 34 to 33. Sir R. Stout suggested that those members who had further subdivisions would now drop them. Mr Buchanan movod an amendment to separate the Wairarapa from Wellington, Sir R. Stout hoped the Committee would not agree to the amendment - Lost by 34 to 29. Mr Walker moved that Ashburton be separated from Ghristchuroh.

Sir R. Stout hoped the House would be consistent and roject this amendment in the same manner as tho Piako and Wairatapa Districts had been rejected. He would ask the Committee to give a decisive vote on this, in order to prevent further amendments of this kind being moved—Lost by 30 to 28 Mr \V. J. Steward moved to separate Waimate from South Canterbury. Lost by 36 to 10. The Bill was reported with amendment which wero ordered to be read next sitting day. Sir R, Stout moved that the House on its rising adjourn till 2.30 on Monday. —Agreed to.

The Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee and reported with amendments. Sir Julius Vogel moved the Bill bo recommitted for the consideration of a new clause, and the re-consideration of clause 6. Mr Buchanan opposed the re-committal, and was speaking at the 5.20 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. On resuming at 7.30, the debate on the motion to recommend the Beer Dnty Act Amendment Bill was continued for some time. Sir J. Vogel finally said he would not press the consideration of Clause 6. The Bill was committed, and' Clause 1 was amended to provide that; a license may be refused to any brewor who shall be convicted of any offence under the Act. Progress was then reported. Tho Deceased Persons Estates Duties

Amendment Bill was re-committed, and finally passed. The Loan Bill was further considered in Committee. Mr Rolleston moved that the debate might bo reported in Hansard. Major Atkinson, Mr Bryco and Colonel Trinjble supported the application, and the Premier and Mr Tiimimll opposed it. Major .Atkinson moved tu report progress. Ayes, 33 ; noes, 37. The question was put that £'175,000 bo appropriated to railways in the Middle Island. Major Atkinson said this was a violation ot the Government pledge. He challenged tho Premier, the Treasurer, or the Public Works Minister to say that the money could be profitably spent on railways m the Middle island. Sir R. Stout said if they had proposed to denote the money to the purchase of ■Native lands Major Atkinson would not have objected If lie was not in favor of raising the whole million and a half, why did ho support Mr F. Richardson's amendment. Besides, they could not very well raise a loan for such an amount as L 1,325,000. Major Atkinson replied that Sir R. Stout had distinctly stated that money was only to be borrowed for ru-pruduc'-tive works. He did not specify on what works they intended to spend L 175,000. Sir R, Stout said it was to bo kept over.

Major Atkinson said if they wore only going to borrow to keep money in the chest why nut make tho amount two millions. If tiny would spend the extra money on profitable works or on Native land he would vote for either proposal. Sir R. Stout asked what necessity there was for appropriating the money at once. It was in tho interest of economy they should not allot money this year, for if | they did, such a clamour would arise from the district to which it was appropriated that they would have to spend it. Mr Montgomery said it was nuderslood every pound of tho loan was to bo tied up, and it would not do to luavo so largo a portion of it at the disposal of the Government. Mr Turnbull asked whether he would be in order in moving that L 75.000 of this sum should lie devoted to the North Island and LIOO,OOO to the South. The chairman said the message sent down by tho Governor could not be altered, It could bo either,be reduced or rejected by the Committee." Mr Bryco said the Government had not fulfilled their promise to ask for no more than the total of the schedule. Sir J. Vogel quoted from the local papers and Press Association's report to show he had said the Government would not lill up clause 3 of tho Bill with more than the total shown when the schedule was complete, Mr Dryco contended the Treasurer had promised that, if tho Schedule was cut down he would not seek tu raise it to die full amount of a million and a half. Mr Ormond said his reolloction was that Sir Julius Vogel had said the Government would reserve, the right to bring down further proposals if the schedulo was cut down, but that the Premier had afterwards made a promise of a reduction without any qualification. Looking at some of the items passed he did not believe they would beruproduetive for many years, Sir J. Vogel said the whole tradition of the colony for more than a quarter of a century made the allocation of the loan funds a question of territorial division. The items struck off had been sot down for the Middle Island, and the Governnow proposed to reserve the money for tho same part of the colony. If the total of the loan were reduced, it would atl'oct the finances both this year and next year, but if the House was resolved to do so, the Government would leave the responsibility to it. Major Atkinson said if the Treasurer wanted the money as a margin he should have said so at first. He had never asked for it until that moment. The money struck out had been earmarked for two lines and a refusal to vote it could not therefore affect the position, Mr Whyte said if they refuse-.! to vote this money the Government would be able to trot out the fact on every conceivable occasion, as they had done with CapUin Russell's motion last sossion. Major Atkinson said if the Go/eminent wanted a working balance he had no objection to give it, but ho thought if they did bo, the Bill ought to bo amended to provide for a separate account being kept for each line in the schedule. After some further discussion a division was taken. Ayes, 32; noos, 34. Tho amendment was lost. The schedule as amended with a total of 1,325,000 was then passed, Sir J. Vogel said tho vote just given would have a vory serious effect on the general finances of tho colony as it would contract expenditure unless a further loan was asked for next year. Major Atkinson said if the Treasurer would state specifically what he wanted money for, tho opposition would bo willing to vote it. Messrs Moss, Newman, and Reid spoko adversely to the position taken up by the Treasurer, Sir R. Stout was surprised at the demand that the sum of £175,000 should bo specifically allocated when in former years millions had been voted without any such restraint. The debate was kept up by Messrs D. Stewart, Menteath, and Levestam. The latter said ho intended to yoto against the third reading of the Bill altogether. After some further discussion the amendments wore agreed to and the House rose at a quarter paßt 2, the third reading being sot down for Alonday.