HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2517, 28 August 1888, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MONDAY. Tlio Mouse mot at 11 a.m. Sir H. Atkinson moved that a message bo sent t:i tlio Legislative Council, asking for a, second conference on the Chinese Question. Also that a committee be appointed to inspect the journals of the Legislative Council with respect to the laying aside of the District Railways purchasing Bill, and Naval and Military Settlers Bill. Agreed to. Hon. Mr Hislop moved the second reading of the Road Boards Act Amendment bill to enable road Boards to make byelaws and levy rates for water works. Several members opposed the Bill, and Mr Kerr moved that it bo read that day month. After a lengthy discussion, the motion for the second reading was carried by 29 to 2fi, and the amendment was lost. The House rose at 1 p.m. On resuming at 2.30, the Hon. Mr Mitcholson mnvid that the Public Works Amendment Bill be discharged from the Order Paper. Agreed to. The Local Bodies Amendment Bill was rend a third time and passed. Sir H. Atkinson moved the second reading of the Property Tax Bill. Agreed to, and the Bill was committed. Clause 2, rate of property tax one penny in the pound: Sir George Grey spoke at some length against the Property-tax, and urged the committee to make some change in the present system of taxation next session. He strongly advocated a Land and Income-tax. Replying to Dr. Newman the Premier said the Government could not Ree their way to deal with the property of absentees this session, but the whole question would b« considered during the recess. . Replying to Mr Monk the Premier said he had intended bringing in a property

assessment bill tins session, exempting certain classes »f machinery from taxation, but time had not permitted. There was no doubt the whole question of taxation would have to be discussed next session. The clause passed and the Bill was reported On tho motion for reconsideration of the vote of £10,000 for the promotion of agri--1 culture lab mr settlement.--, Mr Levestam protested against a vote of this kind beinft passed in the manner proposed, and pointed :• out that the other Chamber would have no opportunity of considering it. Messrs Pish, Samuel, Fitchett and Peacock also opposed the vote. Messrs Verrall and Hodgkinson supported it. Mr Menteith strongly condemned a pro- ) posal of this kind being made merely be- , cause a handful of Mr Stewards constituents at Waimate desired it. He objected to conferring benefits on the few at the expense of •the many. The whole proposal was monstrous, Mr Kr,,-vthnught there was more under i the surfaco of this proposal than the House i was aware of, and ho protested against tho whole thing. Mr Thompson (Marsden) looked upon the i whole thins as simply an attempt to purchase land in tho Waimate district, and if it were carried it would result in a great scanlal. He could not imagine why the Pnm/er consented to put this vote on tho estimates at the request of the member for Waimate, and it was simply the result of skilful lobbying on that gentleman's part. Mr Scobic McKonzie said he endorsed the opinions of those members who were opposed to the vote. He looked on it as an attempt on the part of certain individuals to sell land to the Government which they could not utilise profitably in any other way. Sir G. Grey was absolutely opposed to the proposal, as it would not benefit the working men, but the owners of large estates, and would enrich foreign companies. Mr Buxton warmly supported the vote. Mr Monk approved of all that, had been said against it, and hoped this £10,000 would be disallowed by the House, Sir H. Atkinson said the reason the vote appeared on the estimates was, because alarge deputation of practical men from both sides of the House had represented to the Government that this was a crying evil, and he admitted he had been convinced by their argument. He hoped the House would pass tho vote, if not, the Government would feel they had done their duty. The motion was then put and lost by 32 to 30, and the vote thereupon was struck The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. The Appropriation Bill was read a first time. The Premier moved that the House agree with the Council's amendments in the Native Land Bill. Mr Ballance thought it would be better to consider the amendments in the other Maori Bills first. Messrs Samuel and Whyte approved the amendments. Mr Taiwhanga protested against any legislation this session at all. Mr Carroll thought the language of some of the amendments very ambiguous. Sir G. Grey also made a final protest against the Bills. Messrs Pratt and Taipua expressed themselves satisfied. The amendments were then agreed to without a division. The amendments made by Council in the I Native Land Ccurt Bill wore then considered seriatim. It was resolved to disagree with the amendment?, and also those in the other two Native Bills. On the motion for the second reading of" the Public Works Appropriation Bill Mr Moss said some £450,000 more had been appropriated than had been voted. The Premier explained it was merely a margin to enable contracts to be let, but the extra money was not to be spent during this year. Mr E. Richardson condemned bringing down the Public Wiirks Statement so late. The Bill was read a second time. Tho Property Tax, Government Life Assurance, and two Appropriation Bills were passed. The House rose at midnight till 11 a.m.