HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 194, 7 August 1873, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5. Mr Vogel while agreeing to Mr O'Uorke'a arguments for improving the city by >emoving sluirs objected to the powcsof the Auckland Improvement Commissioners as being too gre.it fm- a nominee body — a'so argunr, that the City Council should possess the power He objected to the Ge»er;tl Gove r nment officeis beirg in commission. — Mr GilJies also objected. He said ti'ere was already too many public bodies in Auckland,— Sir Wcod objected, saying that there *as too much power and too much interference in private pioperty, and he believed some persons we le foiceil into comp'iance. — Mr Swanson objected to the City Council getting the power, as the piopeity belouged to the province and not to the city ; and that if the Council had the power the city would secure the benefits. The Mail Sen ice discusmm isp ogiessipg. The caucus of the Auckland and Otago members aie favorable to subsulise the hue by the ljluff; and another from Sydney and Maau'cau instead of the secon be'ir.'by way of Hokitika. The proposal of the caucus i 9 doubtful. Jt is SAd that the Gall foi man service is certain to be re-esiaWished, with the ternunus at .Auckland. Th's ih understood by the Government plan, nnd will receive the support of the Southern membe f, Mr Vogel said that, although the CaKornian ]''ie was tcuipjiftiwy suspended, it had don« gieat good to .New ZuAwil ; and when it was renewed would do still more. U sdmulaled the direct denund for wool in Anieuci, and mipioved the wool trade in England. Id the House to-day, correspondence was produced relative to the Suez service. Ihe first letter was 'rum the Agent-General dated the Srd May, enclosing lettei fiotn the General Post Office, London, stating that the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury agreed to givo up to New Zealand the surplus of £1,534, accruing to the General Post Office, London, on the correspondence between the United Kingdom and New Zealand, via San Francisco, from the [commencement of the service. Another letter from Mr Parkos, of Sydney to the following effect:— ln reference to the contract made by New South Wales for a line of steam mail packets between Sydney and San Francisco, tho Sydney Government decided to withdraw from the position, seeking tbe co-operation of other colonies, and to throw the service open for tho conveyance of letters to and from Australia and New Zealand for postage only. Also, that the Sydney Government had secured to it a choice between mail delivery ca' dilated at forty-five days and one forty days to and from Liverpool, nnd the contract has been closed for a service of twelve knots an hour — 600 hours between Sydney and San Francisco. A notice of some observations addreesed by Mr Vogel to Mr Samuel, which appear to convey tlie impression on tho , part of the Government that the contract may not be carried out. I beg to assure you that this Government has no reason to entertain the slightest doubt as to its integrity and ample means of contractors who represented the large firms of Sydney, Melbourne, London, Liverpool, and New Zealand. New boats of the lino, built expressly jor the service, will commence running from Sydney to San Francisco about the middle of next year. But the Government are prepared to start an interim service, though not equal in speed, in January next. Should such temporary servico bo found required after expiration of present Suez contract, the Government of New South Wales will be prepared to convey the letters of New Zealand for postages on mail matter carried, without asking a direct contribution towards the subsidy of £68 000. The only arrangement necessary on the part of New Zealand to receive the full advantages of the servue will be the full employment of fast steamers between Kanawan and a New Zealand port. Any proposal for that object which will be satisfactory to you will bo entertained by the Sydney Government with u cordial debire to consult the interests of Now Zealand. In the House tc-'lay Mr Vogel laid on the table papers relative to the Suez and San Francisco mail services. He proposed to take tho opinion of the House to-night as to the acceptance of one of those offers. In reply to Mr Thompson as to what price £250,000 of dobenrures taken up by the Trust Fund were invested, Mr Vogel said the Government, in calling for tenders for debentures, did not think it right to tender on behalf of the Trust Fund, though the practice was pursued m Australia of tendering at par. lie agreed with the Comptroller that the price of the Trust Fund should be the a^ erage price leahsed. He should regard New Zealand debentures as good as any other. The Trust Fund was invested at ninetysix. Mr Bradshaw introduced a bill to make provision with regard to the employment, of females in workrooms and factories. The object of the bill is to provide ventilation in workrooms ; to prevent overworking , except where on piece work ; to ensure Saturday afternoon as a holiday, and to provide other regular holidays. An amendment is to be moved extending the bill to boys in flax mills. The bill was read a first time. A bill to amend the law whiting 1o registration of deeds by Mr Fox, and Native Land Bill by Mr McLean, were read a first time. Life Assurnnco Companies Bill was read a second time, and resolutions reported from tho committee on the Telegraph Cable Subsidy Bill were passed. Tho Telegraph Cable Ratification Bill wai read, committed, and passed. In the discussion Mr Vogel read the opinion of the Attorney-General, stating if either should iail, or not be maintained m good order, the guarantee would cease. Government is willing to insert clauses to that effect. Also providing that tbe line should be construcled with due diligence, and empowering either or all the contracting Governments to purchcie cables. The Post-office Act Amendment Bill passed. The .Education Bill was read a second time. Mr Vo^el explained the provisions of the bill. It was permissive °in character. Tbo control of educational matters in each district to be regulated by school boiirdi Jelectcd by school

committees. Four kinds of rates : uniform rate, on capital, on value of property, and annual value rate on adults ; religious education provided for, but only at end or commencement of school ; at least four hours secular education provided for. The choice of leligious education in the hands of patents and guardmns The permissive system to ultimately develop itaclf into a general system for the colon v. The differences with regard to the Education Bill are not at present lrreconcileable. At a meeting held and called to-day South and North Tsl md representath es arrange a material policy regarding native affairs, &c. Mr Gillies will introduce to-morrow a bill for the million loan to Auckland.