General Assemble.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 217, 6 September 1878, Page 3

General Assemble.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28.

In the House of Representatives —

A number of unimportant questions were answered, and , a number of Bills were read a first time.

A motion, by Mr Bastings, that the House sit on Monday so as to adjourn on Wednesday to enable Members to be present at the opening of the Dunedin to Christchurch railway was passed.

The matter of the equalisation of the gaol officers was referred to the Gaol Commission now sitting.

Mr Ormond moved for an address to the Governor requesting that provision may be made for the payment to Road Boards of one-third of all moneys that accrued or may accrue on account of sale of land on deferred payment within any Road Board district, since passing the Land Act, 1877, whether purchased before the passing of the Act or not. The Hon. gentleman urged at some length the claims of a number of poor hard-working settlers who, having located themselves in the Seventy Mile Bush, and who having exhausted their means in settling themselves upon the land, were now unable to make roads so as to connect them with settled districts. The case of those settlers he considered peculiarly hard. After some discussion the matter was deferred-ifor a fortnight. A number of notices of motion were given. Mr Manders moved — (1) That, with a view of opening up the survey of outlying districts situate between Lake Wakatipu and the West Coast of the Middle Island, and of providing for the beneficial occupation and settlement thereof, it is desirable that a line of railway should be made between Lake Wakatipu and the head of Lake Hollyford, on the West Coast, Martin's Bay being the port thereof on the West Coast. The motion was agreed to. Mr Fox moved for the production of all correspondence, reports, or other documents relating to the suppression of the licenses of 0. 0. Davis and J. Grindell. After a discussion the motion was negatived. On the motion of Mr Joyce, the House agreed it was unnecessary to report in Committee on the Electoral Bill more than the amendments proposed and the divisions thereon. The Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill was read a first time. The South Dunedin Reserves Bill was read a second time and committed. , Dr Hodgkinson moved the second reading of Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill. Mr Barff moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Messrs Stout, Barton, Rees, and Moss supported, and Messrs Bowen, and Wakefield opposed the Bill which was read a second time by 47 against 23. Mr Curtis moved the second reading of the Education Act Amendment Bill. He explained that it was to enable 25 householders to form themselves into a -school district, with a condition that the education must be free, that the books must be approved by the Board, and that they shall be entitled to a share of the Board fund. The hon. gentleman pointed out how people of the Roman Catholic religion withheld themselves : altogether from the national system of education, and went on to show how beneficially this system 'had worked at Nelson, where all sections of the community worked harmoniously under the system he advocated.- .-It- was imperative that the House should take into its consideration a question which so largely affected a section of the community which consisted of about one seventh of the whole. . Mr Thomson moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six* months. He could not conceive that the hon. gentleman could have any hope of the Bill: beihgcarried. Mr Reeves supported the Bill. Mr Manders also supported the measure. Mr Woolcock opposed that part of the; Bill which would have the effect of. establishing a large number of small schools: with ill-paid teachers and an inefficient; system of education. He would vote for the second reading of the Bill, reserving the right should the Bill go, into Commit-* tee of proposing that its operation be restricted to large centres of population.

Mr Saunders hoped they would not return to denominationahsm.

Mr Gisborne supported the Bill,

The Hon. J. Sheehan said the hon.. member who had just sat down appealed to the Government to support the Bill. . He would say at once. ' emphatically he would oppose the Bill. He might be called a bad' Catholic for doing so, but he declined to be bound in respect to his vote in that House by the dictum of any priest or religious body. He contended that the interest of every Catholic lay in promoting strictly secular education in the Colony. If the Bill were allowed to pass the result would be a return to denominationahsm in education, which he strongly objected to. It would establish a barrier between large sections of the population, and engender a bitter party spirit. He was sorry that elements of this kind had already grown up in the Colony through the establishment of Orangeism and Hibernianism. The population of New Zealand ought not to be disturbed by elements such as these. There should be no party or national distinctions, but all who come into the country should consider themselves New Zealanders, and forget those associations that conduced to such evil results at home. Religion or nationality should not intrude itself to that extent, as : at present the whole population of New Zealand are living on terms of peace and good will with one another as colonists. Messrs Barff, Douglas, Seymour, Sutton, Murray- Ay nesly, "and Gibbs supported the Bill, not seeing how it could do any harm, and contending that it was certain to do good. Messrs Montgomery, Bowen,- Moss, and Hodgkihson opposed the Bill. Dr Henry moved the adjournment of the debate, which was negatived by 23 votes to 27. Mr Pyke then moved the adjournment of the House, but when a division was called he explained that he had no idea when he made the motion that it would have the effect of shelving the Bill, and he therefore gave his voice with the noes, and voted with them. The result was — for the adjournment, 30 ; against, 29. TB'UtfSDAY, AUGUST 29. In the Legislative Council — On the Savings Bank Bill three minor amendments made by the House of Representatives were agreed to. There then ensued a long discussion on the money clause of the Oamaru Waterworks Bill, which gives power to borrow L 40,000. The clause was agreed to on a division by 19 to 4, and progress was then reported. In the House of Representatives — Mr Pyke moved, without notice, that the second reading of the Education Act Amendment Bill be made an order of the day for next Wednesday week. He hoped the House would agree to this, because of an involuntary blunder last night. The Hon. J. Sheehan, on behalf the Government, offered, no objection, and the Bill was ordered to be restored to the Order Paper. Mr Stevens asked whether the Govern ment would lay before the House returns showing the total loans issued by all local bodies throughout the Colony. The Hon. R. Stout said they would make enquiry as to whether the information, could be obtained in sufficient time to get a return during the present session. In reply to Mr Rowe, the Hon. J. Macandrew said the Government did not intend this session to amend the Fish Protection Act. A batch of Bills for endowing the following harbours were read a first time : — Mahurangi, Port Albert, Matakana, Wade, Kaipara, Miranda, Hokianga, Mongonui, Whangaoroa, and Bay of Islands. Immediately afterwards Mr Morris gave notice to introduce seven more Bills for endowing harbours. Mr Rees moved — " That there should be four seminaries of higher education in the Colony, with an efficient professional staff each, to be placed in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, aud Dunedin." On the suggestion of Mr Stout, who said nothing could be done in the matter this session, the motion was withdrawn. Mr Rees mo-ved that all questions affecting harbour works in the Colony be dealt with on a general plan*; and that they should not. be endowed with money or land until the opinion of a competent engineer was taken approving of the work. ... After a good deal of discussion, the debate was adjourned till that day fortnight. Mr Barff, moved that the Go vernmentbe requested to take immediate steps to cause special enquiry to be held into the working of Jackson Bay. special settlement, and that any aggrieved persons obtain ample opportunities of giving evidence on oath. The hon. gentleman then read a petition on the matter, which alleged in general terms instances of mismanagement — such as settlers being compelled to accept orders for goods on Mr Mark's store, and compelled to purchase goods at 30 per cent, higher than they could obtain the goods for cash elsewhere. A discussion, ensued, and the motion was carried. ... On Mr Manders' motion that the Goldfields Committee ascertain as to practicablsness of amending certain provisions of the Mines Act, being put to the House, a division was called for, and the motion was carried by 54 against 8. Dr Wallis moved the second reading of the Triennial Parliaments Bill. Mr Manders opposed the Bill as claptrap. Mr Thomson did not see the utility of Triennial Parliaments unless there was some important public question requiring to be dealt with. Messrs Murfay-Aynsley, Hodgkinson, Moss, Stevens, Rees, Tole, and Sheehan supported the Bill, which was opposed by Messrs Bowen, Wakefield,, Pyke, Turnbull, and Gisborne. The Hon, R. Stout congratulated the House upon the unanimity of feeling - shown regarding this question.. He] believed the time would , come when annual parliaments would be the rule. The measure was not a Government one, ■ and members of the, Ministry would vote! ' on the Bill according to their private' : .views.* , ■ ■ * . * „'...... The debate was" adjourned for a fort-; ; night. .''**' ; FRIDAY, AUGUST 30. „ J The Rating: Act Amendment Bill arid

the Counties Act Bill were read a first time.

The Martin Annuity Bill was read a second time without opposition.

The Dangerous Goods Act was read a second time almost without; comment, also the Juries Act Amendment Bill. Both were introduced by the' Government.

The Civil Service Amendment Bill was read a second time.

■ The Hon. Captain Fraser moved — "That all expenditure on the Martin's Bay Settlement should cease." Motion agreed to.

The House then went into Committee on the Savings Bank Profits Bill. In the House of Representatives — Mr Murray asked what course the Government would take with reference to the petition of settlers in Wangaloa and Kaitangata; district for railway extension, which was referred to the Public Petitions Committee, and if it would lay before the House a copy of any papers connected therewith.

The Hon. Mr Macandrew said the Government were unable to say anything, as they had not received any petition from the Pubhc Petitions Committee.

, The Hon. R. Stout, in reply to Mr Wood, said the Government did not intend to introduce a Bill for the abolition of Grand Juries.

Mr Pox called the attention of the Government to an error in the Land Tax Bill, by which it read a halfpenny in the hundred pounds instead of a halfpenny per pound.

The Hon. J. Ballance explained that it was a printer's error, but an obvious one, he thought. Mr Thomson asked when the results of the census taken last March would be ready.

The Hon. J. Ballance said the complete returns would not be ready before next session, owing to the press of printing work. Full agricultural returns would be ready in a few days.

The Administration Bill was further considered in Committee.

The Hon. R. Stout moved the second reading of the Disqualification Bill No. 2, which proposes to prohibit civil servants and contractors from sitting in the House, and provided for another Executive officer, without a seat in the Cabinet, or in the Legislative Council.

After some discussion, the debate was interrupted by the usual adjournment.

The Hon. J. Ballance, in moving the second reading of the Land Tax Bill, proceeded to explain that having invited debate on the whole of the Government policy, he would not confine himself to the Bill under discussion. Referring to the colonialisation of the land fund, he said that though the direct gain through that had only been L 91,000 in the half year, the indirect gain was much larger. The land fund in many of the Provinces did not come up to the estimate, and had it not been for the surplus from Canterbury and Otago there . wonld have been a deficiency of L 279,000, and instead of having a surplus and being able to remit taxation the Government would have had to propose fresh taxation. Referring to the reductions in the tariff, the Treasurer pointed out that our taxes upon the articles of the breakfast table were considerably higher (double in some instances) than in any of the other Australian Colonies, and that after the proposed reductions there would still be a large percentage in favour of the other Colonies. As to a land tax, he was surprised to see such an amount of opposition to a tax so fair in principle. He drew a distinction between land and improvements, the latter being the result of industry and perseverance, he thought should be exempt. It had been a constant cause of complaint amongst settlers of the agricultural class that the more they improved the more they were rated. The honourable gentleman drew a vivid comparison between the legitimate settler upon the land, and the mere speculator who bought the land merely to hold' it with the object of selling at an immense profit when the land had acquired great value by the industry" of the legitimate , settlers round about. It had been argued that the tax would fall more heavily upon rural land than upon that in the city, but he disputed that. No rural land in the couhtry had shown such an increase in value as city land. The Marquis of. Westminister, who is supposed to be the wealthiest man in the world, became so by the purchase of land in towns which increased .annually in value, and the yery same causes were in active operation in this Colony. As a proof of the fairness of their proposed taxes, he might instance the general satisfaction with which they were received in all parts of the Colony. Not a single word of objection had been heard. This tax, too, had the merit of simplicity as compared with what was commonly known as the " allround tax,", which was seen in operation in the United States, and which the most eminent .atifchorities considered unfair and unequal in its operation, some, of the smallest States paying as much as the great State of New York. The Government had decided from motives of expediency not to subject Maoris to the proposed tax. An income tax, the hon. gentleman pointed out, even in England, was an exceptional tax, levied for war purposes generally, or in case of urgency. Touching the Beer Tax, he argued that there had been no well-grounded complaint — neither working men nor publicans objected. ' The hon. gentleman then proceeded to controvert arguments raised by brewers against the tax. He pointed out that-, the revenue had lost largely in consequence of the high protective duty placed on it to assist the' Colonial brewers. Had the duty of only sixpence a gallon been retained upon English beer the revenue from it this year would haye been L 96,000, whereas the amount, collected from the tax was only L 23,000. After careful inquiry it was estimated that L-40,000 per year would be derived from the tax, and owing to the simplicity of the tax, the collection of all that sum would not cost above five hundred per annum. Coming to the tariff, that was a question which •must necessarily evoke a large amount of opposition. The object of the Government had been to encourage free trade,' which, from the unrivalled position and; resources of the Colony, must ultimately: ..prove of : incalculable ; benefit to, the whole Colony. It was very unwise 'of 'the' Legis-; lafcure to protect the, produce of ;qne paxt of the Colony against another. The hon., "gentleman quoted statistics to > show 'that; [■no danger need be, apprehended from fre6

trade, inasmuch as New South Wales, which, like New Zealand, subsidised the San Francisco service, had only received in the last year L 37,000 worth of grain from California, while New Zealand sent to Sydney L 46,000 worth. It appeared to him that at this time of day it ought to need no argument to convince the grain grower that protection was not his friend. As regards the tax on boots, it did nou fall upon the working man, for the simple reason that he got his boots made in the Colony. The change of ad valorem tax would put an end to the organised system of fraud which had been growing up. Ono case he had brought under his notice by an importer who had received two invoices, one for the purpose of passing the Customs, the one being 30 per cent below the other, and similar instances were numerous. The hon. gentleman sat down amidst applause.

Mr Woolcock followed, and was speaking when the usual 10 o'clock adjournment took place.