HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6905, 10 November 1887, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WkJ>XESDAT, XoVEJtBEH 9. The House met at 2.50 p.m. QCKSTJONS. Mr Moss asked the Colonial Traaso-. if he will inform the House wh&E~ among the various larj?e some whShi proposes to carry in rfobo as tedueStam! in the public expenditure, there areln. clnded any redactions in wasres at presen* paid to skilk'diUKi unskilled workiieS ployed in the pablic service ; if so lrifl iXL inform the House ot the extent aauLdbT racter of such proposed reductions, asTnutiativo in that direction on the part frf the Government must, gravely affeetth* position of large masses of oar peoofedi peudcnfcon manual labor thj-o-ueWtt tfcl colony. e-~w.Me Sliijor Atkinson said the Government had uo intention o< raatdiiß Che redraSa,. spoken of by the boa. nwfabec JUO * _ Mr Skduox asked tbo Minister of Bdnca. tion if he will take into cousfderatiSathe exceptional difficulties under which Edu cation Boards in nrfntns: districts isJbor and on thai aceoant wt] Ihe exempt sefcooli in mining districts from the proposafe to reduce the capitation aDbwance and raising of the school age to- six years. Mr Iftsiran said be would take the mutt or into consideration.

Mr Jokes asked the Premier if h»wtll favorably consider the position of fire angades throughout the cuieay by retaining on the estimates the gjaut. usually set aside for them.

Major Aikinson" said a auni would Iμ put on the estimates far that purpose- thi» yew. t~°<?i*u» Mr P'Callaguajs asked theGovernmenfc whether they eonsidcr it necessary in view of the facilities altbrued by' the Union Company's steamers, to send the Hinemoa to Auckland and eoovey members and their relafcivesto and from Wet linpton. Mr Fisukr said the Government did nob think it necessary to do so. Mr asked the PostmasterGeneral whether lie will fake steps to extend the penny postal system beyond its present limits, ekher by creatine country penny postal dfetriefcs oresteaE inp it generally throughout the eefcmy. Major Aikixson said he would take the matter into consideration, but be feeied he would be unable to grant tie eon« cession.

i GOLnPQXD DISCOVERIES. Mr Pjkacock moved—'- 1 That tbe Home will on Kith Novemberreaofcve. itself into Committee to consider au address te the Governor, requesting bis Excellency to ' j current year 1887-S8 of £5000, as a reward for the discovery of a new goMfletd in the North Island, and £3000 for the discovery of a new goldueM iv tbe Middle Island on. the the following conditions :—{l) Tbafc a dlscoFcry must be not lese than forty miles from eny existing goMfleld or ear existing workings. (2) Sacli regard not to be paid unlens 50,000 ounces of goMbore been produced from tiie new field within three years from date of its being announced. (3) Any discovery made upon Native land without the consent of NatLre owners, and the permission of the Native Minister, or some authorised person on bis behalf, shall have no claim to the reward." He said nothing would bo more calculated to lift the colony out of its present depression than a payable golofield, and he hoped the House would agree to the motion he had moved. Agreed to on the voices. PiSOPOSED DOTY ON COAL. Mrß.RKEVE3(lnan@hua>moved—"Thax** hi the opinion of this House, it Is deafcrahjj© and necessary that an import duty of net less than 2s 6d per ton be imposed oa. all coal imported into the colony from oihet countries." He spoke strongly in favor ot - the motion, and held that its adoption by the House would be an immense benefit to the West Coast, whilst it would not harmony body. The only people who hew uted at the present were the Union Skipping Company. Mr Fkutwick supported the motion, and aatd it wns only & matter of time when good payable coal woald be found on the east coast of tbe South Island, as well as the West Coast.

Mr Waiu> opposed the motion, as being calculated to bring the question of protection Into discredit.

MtTaylob also opposed it, and hoped tho motion would be withdrawn.

Mr MIU.S would not have spoken on the motion were it not tliat he had been directly challenged by the member for Inangahua. He combated the bon. gentleman's statement that the Union Company benefited, so largely by the coal mines. If the motion were carried il would have the opposite effect to that in> tended by the mover; It wonld drive all sailing vessels out of the trade and pat a monopoly in tho hands of the Company. Uo held that the motion, if adopted by the House, would cause the farmers of the country to be Berionsly handicapped. Dr. Fitchett; Mr Scddon and Mr O'Conor supported the motion. Mr I?ISEIEB said thia put the question of protection in its most objectionable light, as while seeking to benefit one industry it caused injury to many people. He suggested the adjournment of the debate. Mr Joyce moved that the debate be adjourned for a fortnight, which was agreed to. BAILT7AT LINEMEN. Mr HuTaaraoN moved—"That In the opinion of this House, it is desirable that the forty-eight hours' weekly task of Knomen on Government railways be: 90 arranged as to terminate at noon on Saturdays, subject Co micJt conditions as may be necessary for the public safety, Mr Mitcicdllsox said he could notaecept the motion, as it was inconvenient w grant Saturday afternoon to linemen. He hoped the motion would be withdrawn, Messrs Valentine, Fish and Skdixh* supported the motion. Major Atjkocsow hoped after the statement by his colleague, the Minister for Public Works, the House would not was it desirable to pass anyhard and Hβ* motion in the matter. Hβ thought J». member for Waitotara woaJdhave att*»«« bis object by drawing attention to it" . Mr Hutchison eyid the object he bait w view having been achieved by nwsmWß affirming the desirability of the asmk he should agree to its withdrawal The motion was withdrawn.

TUB CHINKSR QUESTION. . • Mr Tcbnbull, for Mr Ballance, rooted the second reading of the Municipal w"£ poratione Act Amendment Bill, provWJBK that Borough Councils may pass by-l&w* to prevent the Chinese from trading to w> borough unless licensed. ±A a*. Major Atkinson suggested bate be adjourned till tho member :W Wanganui was present ' Agreed to. .■■■■;• The House rose at 4.55 pan. ;