HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4128, 14 July 1881, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wbdnbsday, July 13. AFTERNOON BITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Pitt give notice he would move that under the Property Assessment Act, Building Societies should only be taxed on their profits. "PETITION. Mr Bunny presented a petition from Alfred B. Jackson, praying for compensation for injuries sustained in consequence of the Eimutaka railway accident last year. He said he hoped Government would refer it to the Committee about to be formed, as this was only one of many petitions that would be sent for compeneation for similar mishaps. LBATB OV ABBBNCB. On the motion of Mr Bain leave of absence for a week was granted to Mr Hirst. QUBBTIONS. Replying to Mr Finn, The Hon T. Diok stated that Government had no power to prevent juvenile theatrical performances, and they knew of no good reason why such a power should be sought. Replying to Mr Barron, The Hon J. Hall said Government had under consideration the report of the Committee on Mr Mansford's petition recommending that they should insist upon civil servants in future insuring their lives for an amount equal to one year's pay. The point required a good deal of deliberation, all the faots requiring to be carefully considered. Replying to Mr Tawhai, The Hon W. Rollbston said the question of authorising the sale of Hokianga school reserves, situate in that township, was a point for the Education Commissioners to consider in the first instance. Replying to Mr Bain, The Hon W. Rollbston said it was the intention of Government to make provision for resuming nominated immigration, subject to certain restrictions and conditions. Replying to Mr Reeves, The Hon T. Dick said that it was a mistake to say that in spite of frequent applications to obtain the necessary forms of olaims to vote in the electoral districts of Grey Valley, they could not be obtained. All such applications received in Wellington had been promptly attonded to, and Government was at all times glad to give such applications attention. Replying to Major Harris, The Hon J. Hall said that maps showing the proposed new electoral districts were in course of preparation, and would be produced shortly. Replying to Mr Allwright, The Hon W. Rollbston Baid that pending the receipt of Colonel Scratchley's plans, Government could not say what would he done with the large guns on the reolaimed land at Wellington. Replying to Mr Pyke, Tho Hon W. Johnston said that Government was preparing a scheme under which the services of postmasters would be utilised for the issuo of miners' rights. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time : — To amend the Law of Evidence (Mr Hutchison) ; Marihaku Native Reserves Grant (Mr Taiaroa) ; Roxburgh Racecourse Reserves (Mr Bastings) ; for the Establishment and Management of a Grammar School at Onehunga, (Mr Hamlin). THE BAILWAYS. Mr Oliyeb moved that a Select Committee bo appointed to enquire into the management and working of the New Zealand Railways, and to report their opinion as to the changes which it may appear to them desirable to introduce ; the Committee to consist of Messrs Wood, Ormond, Kelly, Shephard, Saunders, Bunny, Richardson, Wright, Macandrew, and the mover. The Hon J. Hall spoko in support of the motion, stating that Government felt sure valuable information could be obtained through that channel, which could not be had from the ordinary official sources. Mr Macandbbw thought the question a large ono, and one which would take up the attention of a Committee for months. * The whole eubject was one which would have to be gone into elaborately to do any good. He would not, howevor, oppose the motion. The Hon E. Richakdson thought that the subject waß one whioh should be dealt with exhaustively, and that the opportunity for doing so would be far too short. Committees of this sort were calculated to disorganise a service. Major Habbis moved an addition to the motion, empowering the Committee to deal with the grievance of railway employees in the North island in not being paid tbe full salaries promised to them. Mr J. B. Fishes suggested that it be an instruction to the Committee to deal with the queetion of the completion of railways. That was recognised to be a most important feature in the payable properties of railway lines. By completion, ho meant all the different descriptions of work required to make the lines pay. In his district, harbour works were required, and until these harbour works wero undertaken, oven were the lines completed, it appeared absurd to him to expect that they could be made to pay. Of course thoro were other defects that would have to bo lookod to. In tho district represented by the Promier ho was aware that road traffic competed with the railway on more favourable torms. Tho samo thing applied to traffic on other portions of tho Canterbury lines. Mr BUNNY supported tho motion, and complained of tho want of attontion to public convenience in tho timing of trains to and from the Wairarapa. There seemed to be no effort on tho part of the railway to draw all the traffic they could on tho lino. The fact was that thoy ran with otnpty trucks rather than adjust their tariff co as to compote with the road traffic. He hoped tho Committoe would go into the whole thing exhaustively. Mr Wood did not see that any good would come out of tho Committee. The motion as worded was a very wido one, and tho time was vory limited. An enquiry to do any good would have to be on tho spot. Sitting in Wellington thoy could como to no definite conclusion. Complaints had been mado that tho public convenience was not consulted, and that all tho servants on tho Hdob cared about was to shut up at an early hour, tmd draw their salaries punctually at tho end of the month. In Auckland a similar complaint had existod, and a Committeo of Enquiry took placo. That Committeo recommended that the servants should be paid a small salary, the balanco to be mado up by a commission upon the paying capabilities of the lines. By that means it was thought that the servants would havo a porsonal interost in making the lines p<iy. lhat report was never acted upon ■ in i'uet it was nevor hoard of any more. He would not oppose the motion ; at the same time, as tho proposal stood, he did not expect much good would reeult from it. Tho Hon W. Gisbobnb adopted a similar view, giving it as his opinion that to do any good tho Committeo would havo to prosecute its enquiries nil through tho recess. Mr Haundeks agreed in tho opinion that tho Committoo could not possibly do the work efficiently in tho short timo placed at its disposal. Mr Mukkay thought tho wholo quostior J was one of administration, and ought to be ; dealt with by tlie Government iteolf. To dc 1 tho work of tho railways efficiently thoy bo dealt with by a Board apart alto —^l..«». ft.ri.Yi ririlW.ioa.

Mr Olitbb said that after the opinions expressed during the debate, he thought it would be judicious to withdraw the motion. Mr Bastings agreed in the opinion that if lines were to be made a success, they would have to be placed under the control of a Board. It was a notorious fact thafc a lot of men had been put into the railways who were thoroughly inefficient, and otherwise unfitted for tho work. Any private concern conducted as they were, would have landed itself in the Bankruptcy Courfc. He hoped thafc the mover of the motion would, before the session closed, take action with the view of getting the lines plaoed under the management of a Board. Mr -HBPHABD said that so far as they could judge, the present was an early period of the session, and he believed the Committee would have time to effect some good. In the matter of railways, as things stood they were nofc advantageous to the public, and certainly they did not realise the amount which ought to be realised. He agreed in the proposal for the establishment of a Board. The motion and amendment, with the leave of the House, were withdrawn. SEDUCTIONS IN THB POLIOS TOBOE. Mr Sthwabt moved—" That a Committee be appointed to inquire into the reductions and removals in the police force of the Colony during the last twelve months, to consist of Messrs Colbe'jk, Harris, Pitt, Hirst, Shrimski, and the mover." The Hon W. Rollbston hoped tbat the motion would be rejected, aB if the House intruded in such matters their interference would tend to disorganise the force. It was a disagreeable dutythrußt on Government, hut ifc had to be done. In the Civil Police £10,000 had beon saved, and in the Armed Constabulary £40,000. Such being the case, he hoped the House would strengthen the hands of Government in a matter of this kind. Mr Collins said he believed thafc throughout the whole country these reductions had been heartily approved of, Mr Bbtcb said he was responsible for these reductions, and he could assert that they were made in a perfectly fair spirit. He had reduced 21 inspectors, and a commotion immediately created. Something like 3000 persons immediately took up their cause, and he felt that this was simply a prolongation of that agitation. Mr Rbbteb said that a great deal of partiality had been shown in making these reductions, and if a Committee were appointed he would be able to make good that statement. Mr Macandrew spoke in favour of the motion. Thore could be no doubt but that favouritism had been shown, and if the Committee was not grantod it would have a very bad effect. The Hon J. Hall said that the charge of favouritism having been made without a tittle of evidence, if a Committee were appointed it would be tantamount to a vote of censure on the Government. Mr Sthwabt s*id that he did not complain of retrenchment. What he complained of was that tho so-called retrenchment had not been properly gone about. He instanced the case of Inspector Mallard, who was willing to remain in the force at a much reduced pay, provided he was allowed to retain the rank of a commissioned officer. Government 6aid, no. If you remain you must go back to the ranks. The oonsequence was that he left and got £400 compensation. That sum might have been saved had thoy agreed to allow him to rt-main on the terms mentioned. Tho House divided ,* Ayes, 30; Noes, 38. Tho following is the division list : — Ayes, 30— Messrs Andrews, Ballance, Barron, Brown, Bunny, De Liutour, Fisher, J. 8., Fisher, J. T., George, Gisborne, Sir G, Grey, Messrs Hamlin, Karris, Hutchison, Jones, Leveßtam, Macandrew, Montgomery, Moss, Pyke, Reed, Shephard, Shrimski, Speight, Stewart, Taiaroa,* Thomson, Tole, Turnbull, Wallis. Nobs, 38— Messrs Allwright, Atkinson, Bain, Beetham, Brandon, Bryce, Collins, (teller), Dick, Sir W. Fox, Messrs Fulton, Gibbs, Hall, Hursthouse, Johnston, Kelly, Kenny, Levin, M'Lean, Murray, Oliver, Ormond, Pitt, Richardson, Bolleston, Russell, Saunders, Seymour, Stevens, Studholme, Sutton, Swanson, Te Wheoro, Trimble, Wakefield, Whitaker, Whyte, Wood, Wright. ADJOUBNMENT OF THE HOUSK. The Premier intimated thafc he would move the adjournment of the House afc 8.30 p.m., as he understood that in doing so he would be consulting the convenience of hon members. _. Mr Pyke said he would oppose the adjournment as he thought they had come there to do the work of the country, nofc to attend Governors' balls. Mr J. 0. Bbown also opposed the wasting of time, and, to enable him to speak on the matter, moved the adjournment of the House. This, after some discussion, was negatived by 3.) to 22. The House rose at 5.30 p.m.