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WEDNESDAY.

The House met at 2.30. Mr Stout s.iid they weie aware he had pi. winded that if posbible lie would, to-day, be in a position to announce to them that he had succeeded in completing the task enti listed t> him by the Goveiuoi of foimmg an administration. lie had been enabled to do so, and announced the names of those bwoin in, that left two offices to be filled up, and he hoped to be able to announce to them in the couise of a few day-. that he had succeeded in filling up these. It was then- desire, if possible, th it the^e offices be filled up fioni the Noith Island membeis ; one, if possible, fiom the piovmcial district of Auckland. In leg.ud to the position taken by Su Julius Vogel of Tieisiuer, he had to explain that but for fear of his bad health he (Mr Stout) would have insisted upon him taking the position of Pienner. As it was, Su Julius Vogel had point blank refused to take that position. If his health nnpioved, however, theie might be a. change in that respect. The members of the Government, a* foimed, leseived the light of individual freedom of opinion. In the foi iiiation. of an administration he had found himself placed in a delicate position, and to his late colleagues he had been gieatly indebted m the assistance they had given him in the work ; so much had this beeu the case that he professed th.it their kindness m that jespoct would never be forgotten by him. The Government as completed recognised the great nupoitance of fostering the mining industry. He lnpant by that not only the pioduction of gold, bat of all other metals, including coal, etc. With the view of giving effect to that administiation they would at an early date ask members to agree to the appointment of a Minister for Mines, one who would devote himself entirely to that Department, and that would necessitate the appointment of an extra Ministei, as at present they could only appoint seven members to the Government. Parliament having now been in session for some Aveeks, Government recognised the impoitance of getting the business gone on with as fast as possible. They would therefore be prepared to go on with the Oidei Paper as fast as possible. He would say a word moie as to the policy in the Governor's Speech. Members would letriember that refeience had been made to the question of an abstract policy, and Government proposed to bring down bills at an early date dealing with these matters. As legards the management of the lailways, their purpose in that direction would be made known when the Financial and-EuJjlio Works Statement-* were produced. No attempt would be made this session to change the mode of taxation, as the subject was one of far too gieat impoitance to admit of any such, change being made without matin e consideiation. From the position of the colony at present the policy of the Government had to a great extent to be regulated by their fiuances. Such being the case, the policy of the Government could not be fully disclosed all at once. Several measures of importance, however, would be brought forward. Government saw that the piesent system of local government was most unsatisfactory, they having considered that it should not be thoughtlessly cut down or destroyed. They would take till next session to consider what change should be made. Respecting the North Island Railway, the proposal to appoint a select committee to consider and repoi t upon the best route was a promise made in all sincerety, and not with any desire of shelving the question indefinitely as had been asseited. The Government believed that would be the mobt satisfactory course to both Parliament and country. When the committee had arrived at a decision on the point, it was the intention of the Government that the work should be gone on with without delay. In conclusion he stated that tha portfolios, as einunerated above had been hastily allocated, and upon more nature reflection the Government might see it desiiable to re-distribute the same. He would, however, ask them to accept the names mentioned for the present, and by that means allow them to proceed to business. In answer to a question put, Mr Stout said that the Financial and Public Works Statements would be brought down within a fortnight, and in reply to another question put by Mr G inline s, who asked it it was true that the Governor had promised a dissolution in the event of this Government not standing, Mr Stout said that it would be most irregular for him to state what had transpired between him and the Go, varnor, Replying to Mr Bevan, Mr Ballance said Government had not yet time to consider what it would do in the matter of providing for elective Waste Lands Boards. Replying to Mr Moss, Sir J. Vogel said Government would bring in a bill for the payment of members, providing for the amount being paid, annually, and not as at present, sessionally. _ - Replying to Mr W. F. Buckland, Mr Richardson said steps 'would be taken to pfavj4<* against; the wmerqqa (wciclwte |

that had occurred on the Epsom Road at Bird (.Time, and further enquiries would be made into the matter. Replying to Mr Holmes, Sir .T. Vogel s>aid that in two instances money belonging to the Insurance Department of the Government had been invested in the purchase of dibtiict railways, debentuies.

NKSV BILLS. The following bills were introduced and read a first tune :—Abolition of Gold Duty Bill (Mr Brown); to amend the Property Assessment Act (Sir G. Grey); North Dunedin Cemetery Extension Bill, City of Dunedin Licensing Powers Bill (Mr Bradshaw); Wanganui Harbour Board Rating Bill (Mr Ballance); Drainage of Mines (Mr Brown); Workmen'^ Wages (Mr Cadman).

COMMITTEES. Sessional Committees were appointed.

THE KEVEXUE AND THE X \ILWAYS. Mr O'Connor moved, ''That, to relieve the Consolidated Revenue from charges derived from deficient lailway returns, it is desirable, unless where a special provision has been nude by the Legislature, that deficiencies so aiising shall in each case be made good by a tax to be levied upon adjoining lands in proportion to the benefit received from the railway, and then, to ensuie satisfactory and efficient management, that the local governing bodies be invited to suggest to the Minister any alterations necessary m their locality, such suggestion so made, with a note of the action taken upon them, to be laid before the House eatly m the session." He contended that this proposal would have the effect of securing more direct local interest in the railways than is at present the case. He instanced a number of anomalies in the traffic which arose f torn the railway authorities not being .suffic ently conversant with the actual requirements of the particular dibtrict. By providing for more diVect and intimate communication between the local bodies and the railway authorities these vv ould be ob\ iated. Mr Joyce opposed the motion. These lines had been made with the sanction of the House, and .us .such they became public piopeily. It was m all respects similar to the postal department; some paid and otheis did not, but as a gtand whole, one had been made to sustain the other. All Seddon moved, as an amendment, the adjournment of the debate, which was one which required more data to go on than they had befoie them. Mr Gairick seconded and supported the amendment. Mr Pyke called upon the Government to tell them what they proposed doing in the circumstances, as he could very well understand the whole matter involved a vital point of policy. Sir J. Vogel said the question of railway administration was one which required to ba con-ideied from different points of view. They might make their railwaypay at the "expense of their usefulness and that was not by any means desirable. He asked them to consent to a few weeks delay in order that they might be prepared to approach the subject in the light of the impoitance which the question demanded. Mr o'Conn<n was prepared to accept the adjournment, which was put and earned.

l'l,lini,ll'V OK UMT->. Mi Ban on moved the second reading of the Plurality of Votes Bill. Replying to a lism.trk made by Mr Guinness, Mr Stout said Government could not lccoguise any necessity for making this a paity question, and cited an instance to show that in the Impenal P.nliainent a course of that kind would not be adopted. SirJ. Vogel spoke against this bill, and repudiated the piactice of vested rights being inteifeiied with without mature consideiatton. Sn Gco. Giey suppoited the bill, contending that the resolution airived at was a most impoitant one, and the whole was well woithy of the achievement of any new P.uhament. Mr Pyke pointed out anomalies in the registration system, and while he suppoited the principle, he denounced the bill as a fiiuid, and being altogether crude and unwoikable. The motion was canied, and the House adjourned at ."5.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. tomoriow.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18840904.2.17.2

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1898, 4 September 1884, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,527

WEDNESDAY. Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1898, 4 September 1884, Page 2

WEDNESDAY. Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1898, 4 September 1884, Page 2

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