PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2606, 24 August 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

• ~ " ■'■"•■■/;■. ;, I.,*''. FROM 0 UE SPECIAL REFOBTffI. -: STAR SPECIAL WISE).

' WELLINGTON, this day. f< LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.-FridAY.! , Z':^:' RABBITS.'" T . llto ' Colonel Whitmobe introduced a biu» the destruction of rabbits,which was reau» first time. T -^ rvrux? BILLS READ A SECOND TTMK. The Fraudulent Debtors Bill and w Friendly Societies were read a second^, and ordered to be committed next luesaiy I ■ BERLIN CONFERENCE. ~ The "Conncil adopted the address to » Queen which I wired to you. The U»uu , then adjourned till 7.30 p.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. _ THE SEPARATION CANAEU. ' Mr Fox asked Mr Macandrew \YWi» atapublic banquet in Dunedin, xa w* last, He made: the following stotemenj^, , i-eported by shorthand reporters fprtne ,i Press who where present on that P^ , ■—< There is now public opinion oeiD&eiiß dered throughout New Zealand, wine* nw yet compel Parliament to restores w people those privileges of which they a "been-aeprived and to restore, no^ Provincial -Institutions of : wHidi,they^ deprivefl,:tiuKinstitutions greatly i«Bp and more, adapted to the ?}^f\Zu stances1 of the colony'; and it «,«£s* vj aC . he did use those expressions b]y andrew admitted that he might pw» have made us 6of those words P^g^-to like them, <b^'M.^pld not be &&s£& . remember every thisfe he had said dnrijg long cargeK Tliw^m«ly. fa"-*".;^ a sentence-alanetnvithout considem.. lfl w.ent before ari*-«aftie after it. tenor of the speech -should be revie^ea.

Pr CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS MANAGEMENT. | In answer to Mr Stevens, the AttorneyGeneral said the Government did not propose to bring in a bill to provide for the management of Charitable Institutions. UPPER THAMES. In answer to Mr Howe, the AttorneyGeneral said the Government had no power to set aside lands for special settlement at • the Upper Thames, bnt they thought of moving in the matter. PROVINCIALISM. In answer to Mr Johnstone's question re Sir George Grey's remarks at Duncdin on Provincialism, the Premier said it was very probable that he used similar Avords, not only in Dunediu, but in other places, as they correctly expressed his views. He had nothing to retract. As to the introduction of institutions, &c, he intended to address himself to that, as was his duty. THE ELECTORAL BILL DEBATE. Mr Murray thought the people ought to have been appealed to before passing such an Act. Taxation of property without representation was all but robbery. He had no objection to women being ratepayers, but did not think they should ■enter the House as representatives. Too wide an extension of the franchise would lead to a more intense democracy than was seen in Victoria and the United States, ■and to all its concomitant evils.

Mr George did not think it fair that miners who lived in huts and tents should be disqualified. Mr Kichardson wa3 prepared to extend the franchise even further than the Government bill provided

Mr Byrce asked why, if the Opposition thought the bill hardly went far enough, they did not introduce a more extreme measure. In Ms opinion the bill went too far. There was no desire in the country for an extension of the franchise. Nevertheless, as it "was a Government measure, he would vote for it.

Mr Gibbs gave the bill his heartiest support. The residential qualification Avas an excellent idea, but in his part ot the country manhood suffrage was not wanted. The special representation of Maoris ought to be done away with. They were entitled to the same privileges as ourselves. Mr Fitzroy thought there was no necessity for the measure. He opposed the Maori vote, but would afford them increased representation. Mr Nahe said, no harm could arise from the Maori dual vote. Europeans were unreasonably afraid of it. Mr McMinn .would support the second reading of the bill, though it went unnecessarily far in regard to suffrage. He • approved of the Maori vote. They ought - to be encouraged in all possible ways to put ,■ their names on the roll.

Mr Rowe would also support the Bill, which did not, however, go far enough. If no", one moved an amendment on the residential clause he would propose _ that it be^reduced to 12 months, as a certain residence was necessary. Maoris ought to have one vote. He hoped the Bill Avould be -largely amended in committee. Mr Wood approved generally of the Bill, but hoped some temporary expedient would be adopted to remove the great inequalities ■ of representation. Mr, Murray-Aynsley thought the Bill ought not to be brought into operation _before a readjustment of. the Representation Bill was: introduced.

After the usual adjournment, Dr Wallis objected to Mr Seaton's -amendment, which, if carried, would have °th"c effect of postponing electoral reform till -rnext year, and perhaps indefinitely if ;itir were carried. The Maori double . .y-Qte, should it be permitted, would place ..Wost of the constituencies on both Islands ' "under the control, pi. the Premier and ."/Native" Minister. The learned doctor then . ■- -xjommenced to advocate at great length the ■i claims of the female sex to the franchise. '■' The only objection against allowing women to vote-was, he stated, a prejudice, and a prejudice which smacked of the Middle '' ' Ages.',;.,. ■)■' s " , ' - '"■;■ Sir Kobert Douglas opposed the bill, aad called-for **i division, which shewed that ■■'." he stp vod yalpne, the votes, being 61 against 2. * Mr Shrimski" announced his intention of giving .the" bill-his heartiest support, and Mr Rees nfa'de"a long speech'congratulating the House and the' Government on the advance made in liberal reform, of which the bill was an indication. ;

The Attorney-General, spoke at"- length in reply to the: various •arguments used against the Bill. -' The Bill was then read^a .second time on ~the voices

The Bribery Bill, was read a second time. The Martin Annuity Bill., passed. The Savings Banks Profits Bill, yhichis framed to empower trustees of Savings. Banks to dispose of surplus profits by division among public institutions, elicitect'ai good" deal of opposition. Two divisions" were .'.taken, on the clause^ authorising trustees to pay over any sum of profits exceeding £1,000. Ultimately an amendment by Mr Whitaker was moved to the effect, " That the words ' ten per cent, on the aggregate amount of the profits' be inserted in lieu of £J. 000." Passed, and the bill reported. ' j The House adjourned at 1.35 a.m. THE GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL

BILLS

The Government have brought down the Bills intended to give ; effect to the policy announced in the financial statement. - ■■■"-'■ THE CUSTOMS TARIFF BILL O\ provides for the reduction of duties on tea ■" and sugar. It provides that Australian ■ wines upon which the reduction of duty " shall take effect must not contain more than 38 degs. of proof spirits. .. The Bill.also con- • tainS provisions to guard against frauds under the ad valorem tariff. It compels the , production at the time of entry the genuine original invoice of manufacturer or person fromAvhom the same were purchased hi the country where the goods were shipped, shewing the actual prices paid, by the importer, and makes a false declaration punishable "■■■■ with the same penalties as perjury. ■ 'LAND TAX.

Th& Bill giving effect to this _ impost orders "that every ownes of land liable to duty under this Act shall pay to Her Maiesty every year, in respect thereof, duty by way of land tax, after the rate of one halfpenny for every £100 of capital value, according to valuation thereof under this Act, over and above the sura of £500. When any person is the owner of land in different parts of the colony of the aggregate capital value of £500, such property shall be within- the exemption before provided. For the purposees 'of",this Act, all lands in New Zealand liable to the duty under this Act shall be valued in manner hereinafter mentioned. 1. All land shall be valued at the actual value -thereof to sell, after deducting therefrom all inprovements thereon. 2. In Counties, no land shall be deemed of less primary value than; £1 per acre. 3. In Bo- ( roughs, no land shall be deemed to be of less primary value than £50 per acre. 4. Crown, lauds, held by any -^person for pastoral purposes, shall be valued at.. the"; capital value of such land to sell, :after .-dediicting the value of the improvements.'' Religious'aud school sites, latid"occupied by a mechanics' institute, or only < for- a friendly society's meeting place are! to be; exempt. The Act provides for dividing'the .colony into districts for thecollection of the. . tax, and also for the appointment of a' Lari'd Tax Commissioner and deputies. ! > THE BEER DUTY.

<.'-. The Beer Duty.Bill compels the brewer "• ' to enterinto bonds for the payment of the ,;,; ; tax before any beer-is so i& or rernovea f O r :.»..-:('Sale;.that he stall keep proper records to " be^verified, by declaration to be open for " 'inspection by the .proper officer. The ■ i "penalties levied for-evasions is not to be Jess than £100 or more than £200 or one ''.['■" year's imprisonment; __ Other severe Ipenal- .'. V,, ties are imposed for using a false or fraudulent stamp, leviable on any retailer who * shall aid and abet in the fraud. A penalty r of £100 with confiscation of chattels orutensils is imposed for drawing beer from any hogshead, on -which a stamp has not been affixed.

0 JOINT STOCK TAX. The Companies Income Duty Bill levies a

tax of 3d in the £ on the profits of Joint Stock Companies beyond the first £100, to be levied on half-yearly statements made for the purpose, a penalty not exceeding £200 being imposed for any false statement or attempted evasion.