LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6923, 1 December 1887, Page 5

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, November 30. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. miscellaneous. Mb .Mantell gave notice, to move that all papers not already printed in connection with the Owahaoko scandal be laid on the table. The Wesleyan Methodist Church Property Trust Bill passed, its final stage.. Mr Shkihski asked the Attorney-General if it is true tfcatthe Government intend to provide work for, the unemployed at the public Domain, Auckland, such work to consist of forming and constructing carriage drives, "&c.; and, if so, will Government extend the same benefits to the unemployed in the other towns and municipalities in the Southern part of the colony... The Aotoeney-Genebal was .not aware that any works as described by the hon. member were to be prosecuted in Auckland. He believed that.relief works had been provided in Southern towns/ and if Mr Shriinski so desired the retnrnSin con? nectionwith these' Southern works would be furnished. . ..-' . relief to tekants. . Mr Watebkodsb- moved—" That in the opinion of this Council it is.a matter of most urgent public importanojß that a Bill should be passed during the-present session to grant Crown tenants and tenants of public bodies that relief which is necessitated by the change in circumstances of the .colony." The hon. gentleman said that neither the Crown. ,nor public bodies, be they ever so a_xious ; possessed the power at present to give the relief indicated, but it - was highly essential that relief should be afforded during the present Session, Such a course if adopted would, he believed, strengthen the hands of Gove*rnment and of the House of Eepresentatives. Even at this late hour of the session he hoped Government would bring down a Bill granting at any rate temporary relief. Mr Stevens said that the Government were fully convinced of the importance of the matter,, and intended bringing in a Bill affording relief to the tenanta of pub*: lie bodies jthis session. The, subject however so far as it related to Crown tenants was a different one,- and the Govern-Mont would do their best this session to u_ord what relief they could .till next session, wheri a Bill would he brought down. The motion wasagreed to.:, . SLATJGHTEE HOUSES. The- ATToaXEY - General moved the second reading of the Slaughter Homse Act Amendment Bill, and in so doing cx- | plained that the Bill sought to reduce the j fees charged at present. The motion was agreed to. SECOND EEADINGS. Mr Scotland moved the second reading of the New Plymouth Borough and Harbor Board Exchange Bill, The motion was agreed to. Mr Hoiarasmoved the second*reading of the Oamaru Harbor Board Loan Bill, and after discussion the motion was agreed to on a division-!— Ayes 28, noe3 8. The Council went into Comnrittee on tlie New Plymouth Eecreation and Reserves' Bill.. The Bill was reported without amendments, and passed the final stages. THE MIDLAND BAILWAY. Mr Holmes resumed the adjourned debate upon the Attorney-General's motion —"That the resolutions of the House of Eepresentatives, agreeing tf> the revised contract of the Midland Railway Company, be concurred in." To the motion an .amendment by -Mr Waterhouse that,the affair be referred to a Select Com-, ' mittee had been moved. Mr Holmes spoke at some length, and in the course of his remarks said he ootdd not understand how anyone in his sober senses could advocate the eo_structipn of the line from Spring Grove to Esefton. The pro•posed route was nothing but a series of gorges, and could never prove remunerative, either to the Company, or the State.. He was not favourable to .English contractors, as in the case of Brogden they had been tried and found wanting. If the railway had been required capital would have been forthcoming in the colony. He deprecated strongly the giving away of large tracts of country to foreign capitalists. Mr G. K. Johnston was not prepared to agree" with the motion for the new contract. The Company were quite able to protect their own interests, as embodied in toe present contracts. He confessed he apprehended little or no danger of the line not being constructed, even if the concessions now asked for ware not acceded to. He believed that the concessions asked for inizht bo purchased at too great a sacrifice to the colony. He objected to the legal form which was sought to give effect to the revised contract. Why, he asked, bad no deed been drawn, up and placed before the Council, showing that the present contract would be cancelled. Viewing the affair calmly, he believed that to agree to this revised contract would be to lead the country into a trap. He should vote for tho amendment.. .. . The Ai-to-xey-Ge-s-eeal. in reply, said that he would be willing that certain vords be aided to clause 3, as proposed in fhe other Chamber, should be inserted. He wouldpoint out that, the Act made it imTjerfiture that a new contract should be entered into. . Hon. members would see, if «_y"studied: the subject, that the colony, wasthoroughly well protected, imd_thc State i was ootamW in exchange for their concessions far wore than they were conceding « preservation to the State of „?S CoJt goldfields. lithe amend, mont was withdrawn be would get his to move the addition of the hfll clause 3 which he alluded to. S the Council not to stultify \

the colony, and thereby place the country in a worse -position than it at present occupied in England. Mr Wateohouse replied to the Attorney* General, and expressed hie \rillingnes3 to withdraw hie amendment in favor of .the addition of the words to clause Sail*"" , " c to by the Attorney-General. 5 The amendment was withdrawn. . Dr. μ-ehzies moved tlie adjournment of ; the debate till next day. This was I agreed to, and the Council at o odocS adjourned to the following day.