HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2194, 31 July 1886, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

FRIDAY. The Cathedral Site (Parnell,) Leasing Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr Moss brought up the report of the Public Accounts Committee relative to the purchase of Stark's property at tho North Shore, Auckland, for defence purposes, to the effect that the Government were justified in paying the price they paid,fand that the weight of evidence went to show that the property could not have, been obtained for a lest Amount in tho compensation court. Replying to the questions it was stated that no land bad been given for tho track on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, by Wahanui or any other Maoris. Mr Guinness asked whether it was true that the Government had issued instructions that in future all labourers in the employment of the Government were to receive only Gs per day. Mr Richardson said it had been brought under his notice that men were offering in large numbers to go to work at 5s per day, and he had given instruction* that any men employed in future should not receive more than Us. Mr Wilson asked whether the circular contained nothing about unskilled labour. Mr Richardson said it applied to unskilled labour. The Hospitals and Charitable Aid Institutions Bill was further considered in committee. Sir R. Sti»ut said the only amendment as to districts that he would agree to was to constitute the North of Auckland and Waikato into hospital districts. He could not agree to the amendments respecting Nelson, Buller, and districts. Mr Levestam moved, as an amendment, that Nelson, Buller, and Inangahua be constituted. Agreed to. Mr Daicavillo moved, as an amendment, tn add the ountio of Whangarei, Hobson and Otun ito.v to tho North of Auckland. Mr llol)l)> strongly opposed tho amendment, which wa< caiiied by t"> to 12. Mr Why to moved, as an amendment, to out Piako from the Thames Distiict. Mr Frasor opposed the amendment, which was lost by 34 to 32. Sir R. Stout suggested that those members who had further sub-divisions would now drop them. Mr Buchanan moved an amendment to separate Wairar.ipa from Wellington. Sir Robert Stout hoped that thn committee would not agree to, the amendment, which was lost by 43 tol>!). Mr Walker moved tint Ashburton be separated from Christchurch. Sir U. Stout hoped the House would be consistent and reject the amendment in the same manner as Piako and Wairarapa districts had been rejected. He would ask the committee to give a decisive vote on tin's, in order to pi event further amendments of this kind being moved. Lost by 30 to 28. Mr W. J. Steward moved to separate the Waitnate Plains from South Canterbury. Lost by 3(5 to 10. The Bill was reported with amendments and ordeicd to be considered at next sitting day. Sir K. Stout moved that the House at its lismg be adjourned till 2.30 o'clock on Monday. Agreed to. The Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee, and reported with amendments. Sir J. Vogel moved th it the Bill be recommitted for the consideration of a new clause and the reconsideration of clause si\. Mr Buchanan opposed tho recommittal, and was speaking at the 5.30 adjournment. On resuming at 7.30 the debate on the motion to recommit the Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill continued for some time. Sir J. Vogel finally said he would not press consideration of clause six, and the Bill was committed. Clause seven was amended to provide that a license may be refused any brewor who shall be convicted of any offence under the Act. Progress was then leported. The Deceased Person's Estates Duties Amendment Bill was recommitted, and finally passed. The Loan Bill was further consideiod in committee. Mr Rolleston asked that the debate might be reported in Hansard. Major Atkinson, Mr Bryce, and Col. Trimble supported, and the Premier and Mr Turnbull opposed. Major Atkinson moved to report progress. Ayes, 33 ; noes, 37. The question was put that £175,000 be j appropriated to railways in the Middle Island. Major Atkinson said this was violation of the the Government pledge. He challenged the Premier, the Treasurer or the Public Works Minister to say this money could be profitably spent on railways in the middle island. Sir R. Stout said if they had proposed to devote the money to the purchase of native land Major Atkinson would not have objected. If he was not in favour of raising the whole million and a half why did he support Mr.Richaidson's amendment. Besidos they could not very well raise a loan for such an amount n« £1,325,000. Major Atkinson replied that Sir R. Stout had distinctly stated that the money was only to be borrowed for reproductive works. He did not specify on what works they intended to spend the £175,000. Sir R. Stout said it was to be kept over. Major Atkinson said if they were only going to borrow to keep money in the chest, why not make the amount two millions. If they would spend the extra money on profitable woik>. or on native lands he would vote for either of the proposals. Sir R. Stout askpd what necessity there was for appiopriating the money sit once. It was in the interests of economy that they should not allow the money to be spent this year, for if they did such a el.imour would arise from the 1 di^triccs to which it was appropiiated that they would have to spend it. Mr Montgomery said it was understood that every pound of the loan was to be tied up, and it would not do to leave so large a portion of it at the disposal of the Government. Mr Turnbull asked whether he would bo in older in moving that £75,000 of this sum should be devoted to the North Island and £100,000 to the South. The Chairman said the message sent down by the Governor could not be altered. It could either be reduced or rejected by the committee^ Mr Bryce said Government had not fulfilled their promise to ask for no more than tho total of the schedule. Sir J, Vogel quoted fiom a local paper and tho I're^s Association's repoit, to show lie had said that the Government would not fill up clause 3 of the bill with more than the total shown when the schedule was completed. Mr Bryce contended that the Tieasurer had promised that if tho schedule was cut down he would not '■eek to l.use it to the full amount of a million and a-half. Mr Ormond said his recollection was that Sii.F. Vo^el had said that Government would reserve the nu;ht to bring down furthei pmposals if the, <-ehedule was cut down, but th.it tho Piemi'Th.id afterwaids made a promise of reduction without any qualification. Looking at some items passed, he did not believe they would be reproductive for many years. : Mr Fulton said the debate they were

havinir showed the nece^itv of lepoiting these discussions in committee, to pievent misunderstandings and leciiinmations. Sir J. Vogel »viid the whole tiaditions of the colony, for more than a qu.uter of a. century, made the allocation of the loan funds a question of tiMiitoii.il division. The sums s-truck off had been set down for the Middle Island, aud Government proposed to reserve the money for the game part of the colony. If the total of the loan wero l educed it would affect the financier both this year and ne,\t, but if the House uas lesolved to do so the Government would leave the responsibility to it. Major Atkinson said if the Treasurer wanted money as a m.iigm, he ought to have said so at fiist. Ho had never asked for it. until th it moment. The money struck at had been eai marked foi two lines, and the refusal to \ote it could not therefore afleet the position. Mr Whyte <au\ if they refused to vote this money the Government would be able to trot out the fact on eveiy conceivable occasion, as they had done with Capt. Rusiel's motion laxt session. Major Atkinson said if the Government wanted a woiking balance he had no oljection to give it, but he thought if they did so the Bill ought to be amended to provide* for a separate account being kept for each line in the schedule. After some fui ther discussion a division was taken. Ayes 32, Noes 31. The amendment was lost. (Left Sitting).