HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.. The House met at 2.30; '

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1403, 30 June 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.. The House met at 2.30; '

Questions. Replying to questions, it was stated that" in dealing with the report of the Inspector of Prisons, care would be taken to do ho injustice to subordinate officers, and that each would be dealt with, relative to new appointments, on its merits, irrespective of the recommenda* tions of the report. The Government was of opinion that it was best to allow County Councils to impose a Dog Tax of not less than five shillings. Tbe matter of selecting a historical text book for the use of schools lay with the Education Boards, the Government having provided a list of such books for Boards to select 1 * from. The Government would be prepared to provide facilities for free vaccination, and a re -vaccination of grown up persons. The Government had no desire to see the Public Trustee competing for business by means of newspaper advertisements, and enquiries would be made as to the authority for issuing such advertisements.

New Bills. The following Bills were intraTuced and read a firafc time ;— Taranaki; — Taranaki County Council Loan Act 1878 Amendment; Waitara Harbor Board Loan {Mr Trimble) ; Cook County Eivers (Mr McDonald) ; To Further Affirmations Being Taken in Lieu of Oaths (Sir Geo. Grey).

New Zealand Railways. Mr Hursthouse moved— "That districts through which Government railways have been constructed, or are being constructed, should be rated to pay the difference between the working expenses, including interest on the cost and receipts from other lines." He argued that the proposal was part of the Public Works policy as originally proposed, but unfortunately it had not been acted on, while the land through which railways had been taken reap benefits, other places had actually been injured in proportion — places where these lines had not been taken. Under these circumstances, it was absurd to argue that they should all be taxed alike for the deficiency arising in working expenses. Mr George thought the motion imprac- | ticable, but agreed that the way of equalising the matter was that Government should take over the responsibility for maintaining the main roads throughout districts through which railways had not been made. Mr Seymour instanced the case of the Marl borough railway to show how unfair it would be to tax districts for expenditure of an unnecessary character incurred through the ignorance of local matters displayed by the Gener.il Government authorities. After further discussion, Sir George Grey considered the motion a most important one, but thought it should not be further discussed until . they had the Government financial proposal before them. He moved the adjournment of the debate to admit of these proposals being brought down. Mr Hall admitted that it was a mistake, that the principles ought to be affirmed by the motion had been even allowed to come out of the Public Works policy. They could not now, however, return to it. Besides railway ] works, they had other public works, such as goldfields water races, telegraphic extentensions, lighthouses, and the properties where values had been increased by their erection would be equally liable to taxation a« those contiguous to Jrailway lines. He opposed the motion for the adjournment, contending that no practical advantage would arise therefrom. However true the principle of the motion might be, there were now unsurpassable difficulties in the way of its being adopted, The House divided on the motion for adjournment of the debate : Ayes, 25 ; noes, 35. Mr Shepherd then moved the previous question. Mr Hall appealed to the mover of the motion to withdraw it. The Government, he said, fully admitted its principle, but in the present state of matters I it was quite impossible to act upon it. I Mr Hursthouse was agreeable to withdraw the motion, expressing himself satisfied with the expression of opinion that had been given in the debate. Sir George Grey charged the Government with shelving every proposal of importance without having the courage to face any question of policy. In that state of matters he called upon them to move off the Government benches altogether. The House divided on the motion that the question be now put: Ayes', 40; noes. 15. On the original motion being put, the House again divided : Ayes, 35; noes, 31. The motion was declared carried. The House adjourned at 5.30.