PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2365, 5 August 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

United Piess Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Otago Harbor Board Leasing bill was committed and progress reported. Leavo was given to nit again. Mr Robinson objected to tha manner he had been reported in Hansard, a copy of whioli he had just received, Mr Buckley said he had noticed inac : curaeiea in the Hansard reports of the Council this session, and but for the lateness of the session should have called attention to the fact. Messrs MoLean, Holmes, and Shrimaki bore testimony generally to Hansard reports, The Speaker promised to give attention to the allegations.

The North Island Main.Trunk Eailway Loan Bill, the Beer Duty Bill, and the Registration of Deeds Bill were read a first time. The Mining Bill was further considered in committee. Several amendments were agreed to and committed. The Council adjourned at five o'clook, Evening Sitting.

The Mining Bill was further considered in Committee, and progress reported. The second reading of the Loan Bill was made an order of the day for Thursday. SirF. Whitakergave notice of moving the following contingent motion this 'day (Thursday):—That the Bill be referred to a select committee to ascertain (1) whether the Beveral railways specified in the schedule have been authorised by speoial Aot as required by law. (2) <Alio as to any of the said Rail-

wivys that are not new, the itale of work'sthereon "and to report' fully to the Couhdili -To. report on or before Monday next,'9th instant. "V ,: •':'"';'• The Deceased Persons Estate Duties Bill waa read a second time. - The Public Trust Office'.AmendmentBui was considered in Committee and reported with amendments. ; : - -■■■".. The Council adjourned at 9,00.-'

HOUSE OF REPEESENTATIYES.

The House met at 2.30 Replying to questions it was stated that it had boon the practice for some time to obtain the consent of the Natives interested in lousing reserves on the West Coast beforo such leases were made. There were large arrears of laud yet to be let on that coast, That copies of the educational statement would be circulated to the various Educational Boardß and Sohool Committees in the colony, also the mines statement .to the.Bcbools of mines in the colony. Mr BillanCe introduced the Special .Powers and Contract Bill, Mr Larnach moved that & Committee be appointed to inspect the journals of the Council with relation to any proceedings upon Bills to repeal! and reduce, expprt. duty on gold and to make a repoit to the House, the Committoo to consist of Messrs Pyke, Seddon, Guinness, aud the mover.

Sir Julius Yogel moved that the following Bills be discharged from the order 'paper ;—Tho Magistrate's Court Bill, the Alienatiou of Land Bill, The Cndlin Moth Act Amendment Bill, the. Workman's Wages Act Extension Bill, and Stock-driving Bill,. Agreed to, Mr O'Callaghan uioyedjthat the Wai; mate Village Settlements Bill which stood in Major Stewart's name be discharged. Ho said his object in doing bo was to enable him to move, in going into Committee of' Supply, a motion to a similar effect as that contained in the Bill iu question. It had been brought forward in the Waste Landß Committee and iu the Land Board in Canterbury, and he thought it his duty to bring it before the House. After considerable discussion the motion for disohaiging the Bill was put and lost oh the voices. Mr Tolo moved the second reading of the Rabbit Act Amendment Bill which, ha explained was to give effect to the report of the Rabbit Committee recently presented to the House. ,\ Mr Cowan supported the Bill aud [pid if it were giveu effect to they would have more prospect of combatting the. evils from which the country had been suffering through rabbits, , • Mr Buchanan supported the Bill. Mr Lake thought the section for levying a rate was unfair, Mr Lance pointed out that this p« k ticular clause was optional and could only lw brought into operation at the' request of the residents at the.localities,

Sir J.Vbgel could not help thinking the Committee had foiled to deal with the question of eradicating the pest. He was not sure whether the introduction of stouts and weasals would not be a greater. pest than the rabbits, and he considered, from a scientific point of view that the natural enemy o( rabbits was tlu fox. Ho thought the best course was to got some capable person to go into the question scientifically, so as to aocertaui whether rabbits eonld not bo boat destroyed by disease. He felt sure they | shpiild not top hastily introduce what the I report called natural enemies of rabbits, but he was not at all opposing the Bill m the remarks he had made. Mr Lance, as a member of Committee, agreed with what the Treasurer had said. Since recommendingthe,importation, of stoats and weasels the Committee found'there were mauy objections to the introduction. of those animals, aud .they thought Government should not import them too hastily, but rather that ferrets should be introduced as thoy were not destructive to lambs, lie.would ask tho Government fcoencouragothe introduction of these animals, and for the time to abandon stoats and weasels which might, hereinafter, provo very destructive to the country. Mr J. McKenzio thought the Bill did not carry out the recommendation of the Committee, and unless it was altered it would be opposed by the ConK, mitfcee. _ Mr S. F. Riohardson said the Bill in ifcs present form waa very objectionable. MrHurßthouee considered the Bill would put an enormous power into the hands of the owners of large blocks of land. Mr Tole said he should revise the Bill before going into Committee, and he would be glad to receive every suggestion on it.—The motion was agreed to. Mr Riohardson moved'the-seoond reading of the District Railways Purchasing Act, 1885, Extension and Amendment Bill. Papers had been laid on the table, showing .what correspondence had taken place regarding tho purchase by Government of the Waimea plamß railway. The matter had this session been referred to the Public •Accounts Committee which reported in favor of the purchase. The line was constructed by a private company to onen up a large blook of land well fitted for cultivation. He said the line had cost the country altogether about £IOB,OOO and he explained at some length the position of the line, explaining that the Bill was drawn up on the lineß of last years Bills. Mr Montgomery said it was shown in evidence that the commercial value of the land to the country was £07,000 and the total cost to the colony was £102,000. He spoke at some length on the question. The Houso rose at 5.80 p.m.

House resumed at 7 30, Mr Cowan appealed to the House to favorably consider the provisions, ot the Bill in justice to tax-payers in the dis: trict, Mr Sutter said in Committee he would move to Btrjke out olause 7, which provided that the Treasurer may make pay meuts in cash to the Compauv. Colonel Trimble opposed the proposal, as the line would only pay 1| por cent on the purchase money. Dr Newman thoughtLllo.ooowas a.good price for the line, and ho was prepared to vote for the purchase of the railway, as the Government had bought other lines. Mr Beetham opposed the Bill. Sir Gr, Gray thought the burden of purchasing the line would fall on the poorer part of the population and for that reason he opposed the Bill, He contended that the Bill would benefit the New Zealand Agricultural Uompany, He referred to the formation of that Company and the names of the directors, and he thought the promoters must,have received very considerable sums. He felt convinced in hiß own mind that the present Govorti' ment should not attempt to pass the Bill through, and it should have oeen left for another Government.' Mrßallance said when Sir G. Grey was premier he had sanctioned the then Agent-General of the colony becoming-a Director of the New; Zealand Agricultural Company. (Sir G. Grey denied it); Mr BaUance continued thnfctho colloagucs of the hon. gentleman would confirm it. He felt sure that Jihe promoters of that. Company were actuated''by no othur motives than for the: publio benefit. Ho thowrht the purchase of the Waimea line would be profitable for the eolony, • Mr Meston thsughfc the price ■asked by the company was excessive. With respect to agricultural eompiny, he wished to say Sir George-GreyV statoments were borne out by hit utterances at the time, and he quoted froa Hansard

——l——-—"' /t. •"/*<■■ •—•-• • jii corroboration'• of;,tiat,;'§^,w,o|, opinion the into a bargain that way KOt.'desirable '■}s' the Gfovornmentvto TuidfirtaVe. ''. Mr Biirronaaid : if ; the";iine'ft» worth' £U0;000' he that anrountrßnmtld; not tr«.jftiid to the ratepayers who vrere" eiititied to it. On a division IhQ Second reading was •carried by 28 to'2i,---'"; ;: ;; The Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill was received by Message from the Governor mid passed all; stasis without discussion; : Jsiv J. yogeljii6yed;thei J second reading of the GoyornnipiiV Lif Bill, the object of which - waf to'ijtp «HBct to the to tho reoommendatioir of the" policy holo^en. Heexplaiuod the provisions of the BUI, which followed closely the recommendation of thp select committee. He did not consider it necessary to go into the other; questions, as thoyjiad been gone into fully beforotlle committee which nit recently, ' Mr Montgotuorf criticised the action of thV.Boara. He satd'hs ajrreed with the recommondation'of the Committee to bake the business out of the hands of the present Board,- and entrust it to a reconstituted Board. ;;•'■ Mr D. iSterarfc'.also criticised some of tho 'Boirct'B did not see any 'necessityofficer. ■■■ •' '•"•■ Mr Ormond Said though Chairman of .tho Committee he was: not. in favor of handing the business lack f» tho Government; ■ He- would Iprofer Ms'ue it entrusted to art officer responsible to Parliament. He did not like to see the/funds invested without the sanction of'Parliamttnthi a member of the Government, and hyfijid there was no'provision against it m the Bill. - : AII purchase of Wwn property had been instructed by the Minister at the heed of the deparkmenty and they ought to guard against any such power being given in future; The; Qhtiafcchureh purchase: was absolutely illegal. MrScobio Mackenzie -disagreed with the previous.speakers the value of the city' purchases. -He-defended the appointment'of'MtDriver as beneficial t» the Association.' Mr Leveatam thought the Bill exactly met the recommendations of the Committee., .., :.-,-, : , -r i- ■ Mr Barron ; considered; Mr Driver's appointment imured-thelissociatiou. Sir J... yogel defending the . actibn of tlio. Board in fcho,purchases they had made. He denied evar, having used bis Ministerial position tpVinfluence the Board. Such directly contradicted by the'oMdence. He cobtended that if a statutory officer were appointed, it would" rejieye m Gtoywo- . nient of any rosponsibility/'asFßs would over-ride theirs,..and he thought . such a course open to grave objectjoas. \The.Hoiise.went intoJJommitte?mi tho . Bill.- At clause 3 progfesilwas reported, , and tho Hoosoroee at 1.10 a.m,