PARLIAMENTARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3117, 24 June 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COtJNCIL.

Thursday,

The Council met afc 3 p.m QTTES MOB'S.

Replying to questions, Mr Wbitaker stated that probably a bill would be introduced to amend the Property Tax Act with the view of remedying proved defects, and possibly settling the question of the liability of Mr Tollemache ; if there was any chance oi passing a Fencing Bill it would be introduced, but otherwise the existing Provincial Act would be validated ; the Government had received a letter from Sir Julius Vogel of a such nature that ifc had been returned to him. THE BABBIT NUISANCE. A committee was appointed to consider the rabbit nuisance. SECOND BEADINGS. The Native Land Frauds Prevention Bill and the Native Succession Bill were read a second time, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday. The House met at 2.30. PETITION. Mr George presented a petition from the County Council of Rodney praying that counties be placed on an equality with municipalities regarding landed endowments. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr Tole gave notice of a series questions as to the Government offering greater encouragement to volunteers. Mr Tole gave notice to ask the value of the gaol labor supplied to local bodies in the County of Eden. Colonel Trimble to move for the production of the uncorrected proof of Sir George Grey's speech on the Address in Eeply, or a transcript of the reporters notes.

Mr Jones to ask if ifc is intended to reintroduce the Native Land Sales Bill of las* session, or any bill having a similar object. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions Ministers said some delay had arisen in paying the travelling and field allowances to cadets and junior officers in the Public Works Departments through the necessity of altering the regulations, and these being now made no further delay would ensue, the consideration of regular holidays to the railway staff was engaging the attention of the Government; the Government had sent to tho telegraph departments in the Australian colonies the names of the telegraph operators who had taken a prominent; part in the strike hero, but they had not asked the Government not to employ these men ; the Government were considering whether it was possible to provide this year for the erection of a light at the entrance of Kaipara harbor; the Government did not intend to introduce a bill this session to regulate mining on private property, believing there was no necessity to do so ; a bill was in preparation authorising the boarding out of children committed to reformatories or industrial schools, and if time permitted ifc would be brought down this session. FIBST HEADINGS. The following bills were introduced and read a first time : —Bill to enforce and collect duties on the estates of deceased persons, bill to declare the lands of the Crown and native lands ratable property (Atkinson). SECOND READINGS. The following bills were read a second time :—Auckland Exchange Synagogues Site (Tole) ; Wellington Queen's Wharf and Stores Sale Bill (Levin). OAMABTT HABBOB BOABD BILL. Mr Shrimski moved the second reading of tho Oamaru Harbor Board Bill. Mr Lean opposed the motion, stating that the lands proposed to be dealt with might be required for other purposes. All he desired was to caution the House as to the step proposed to be taken. Mr Macandrew supported the bill. Mr Rolleston said that although not personally favorable to the b?U he had deferred to the opinions expressed by the Waste Lands Board. The motion was put and carried. LOCAL OOVBBNMENT. Mr Murray moved, " That'in the opinion

of this House local government is conducted under great disadvantages (1) from defects in the system, (2) from local funds for payment of rates to eflect local improvements being absorbed by the General Grovernment taxation, and (3) from the counties having been deprived of the 20 per cent, of the land fund (except in the case of New Plymouth), and that the Government be requested to bring in a bill this session to remedy the above cause of complaint and others which may be established during the debate upon this resolution. " After reviewing the present unsatisfactory state of things, Mr Murray said he thought Parliament should consider the matter and remit the result to the constituencies. What he thought _ was wanted was a system which for a minimum of official expenditure would do the largest amount of useful work, and that those who spend the money should provide ifc. The principle under which a portion of the land revenue was returned to the land to render ifc available for profitable colonisation should be again restored. The 20 per cent, land fund and deferred payments should be paid to the local bodies towards road making approved of by the Government, and counties and boroughs should be amalgamated into shirea with real powers. Mr Ormond seconded the resolution. He said that after the promise made by the Government to bring down a scheme of this kind he felt himself somewhat embarrassed. He hoped that during the debate the Government would see their way to indicate the direction in which they proposed going in this matter. It was a question which should have taken precedence of such matters as hospitals and charitable aid. The counties and road boards clashed, and that in some instances had resulted in litigation, thereby dissipating the ratepayers' money in law costs. Tbe first step towards reform was decentralisation, and the next to make permanent provision for the expenditure of the local bodies. He could make no suggestion as to what was likely to be the best mode of finance to adopt, further than to say that direct taxation was the proper mode. The counties should be enlarged, care being taken that the enlargement was made so as to preserve a community of interests. The waste lands administration should devolve upon the local bodies, and by that means much of the complaint at present existing, that the lands were not properly administered, would be obviated. The local bodies should also have a voice in the opening up of land for settlement, and the powers exercised by the Education Boards should also devolve upon them. Charitable aid and similar institutions should be relegated to them, and also the management of railways situated within their respective districts. By that means, he predicted, a great deal of much-needed railway reform would be brought about. Means for obtaining redress for local grievances similar to those provided under procialism should likewise be secured. The present Parliament was not at all likely to deal satisfactorily with this large question. What he would suggest was that the question should b« relegated to the people themselves at the election, and in the meantime the Government should pass its Redistribution of Seats Bill, and let them go to the country with this matter at as early a day as possible. Mr Hall said that until the financial statement was made by tho Treasurer the Government could not be expected to take part in the debate, and afc all events not until an opportunity had been afforded for bringing down the measuses that would be referred to by the Treasurer.

Mr Moss demurred to the question being left to the constituencies, and maintained that ifc was the duty of the House to force the whole question with the view of providing the remedy required. Mr Bunny moved that the debate be adjourned for two weeks to gire the Government an opportunity for submitting thoir proposals.

Mr Wood blamed the Government for not taking up the matter afc an earlier date. He was afraid chat ifc would be delayed until a late period of the session, and then, as on former occasions, they would be told there was not time fco go on with ifc. The whole question was one of ways and means. Ifc might be made an electioneering ciy, but that would do no real good. What was wanted was money, and until that difficulty was solved no real good would be achieved. The people asked for money, and Parliament gave them resolutions. Dr. Wallis talked out the motion up to the adjournment at 5.30. The House resumed al 7.30. HARBORS BILL. The Harbor Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. DRAINAGE BILL. The Drainage Bill was considered in committee, and reported with amendments. LICENSING BILL. The consideration of the Licensing Bill in committee was resumed. In clause 108 Mr Andrews moved to reduce the club license fee from £20 to £5, contending as the only object of the fee at all was to prevent " bogus " clubs, a small fee would attain the same object, and not be oppressive. Mr Hastings thought the fee should be £40, the same as hotels. The amount as printed was agreed to on the voices. Colonial wine license fee £1 Mr Bastings moved that it be increased to £20, but the original amount was carried by 36 to 17. The packet license fee was altered fco £5 for vessels under 50 tons, and £10 above that tonnage. Mr Andrews moved that the wholesale license fee be raised from £10 to £20, and it was agreed to. Mr Andrew's motion, that the conditional license fee be not exceeding £5 per day, instead of not exceeding £30 for the whole period, was rejected by 26 to 24, and the original proposal passed. Mr Tole moved to insert a confectioner's and eating-house license at £10 to authorise the sale of liquors during certain hours to persons to be consumed with victuals, but ifc was rejected by 27 to 19.

Mr Pitt moved the insertion of an accommodation house license fee not exceeding £20, and dwelt strongly on the necessity for such licenses in remote districts. Sir W. Fox strongly opposed. His experience showed that accommodation houses where licensed were usually abominable dens, where poisonous liquor was sold, and shepherds and shearers lambed down. He had seen this even in Nelson. Messrs Pitt, Reid, Shepherd, Reeves, Hursthouse, and others questioned this statement, bearing testimony to the excellent manner in which the accommodation houses in the Nelson district were conducted, and their great use and benefit to travellers. Mr Saunders opposed the proposal, holding that such houses were better conducted if not licensed. Messrs Dick and Hall opposed the proposal as unnecessary, as special licensing districts could be made where required. Mr Pitt's proposal was carried by 33 fco 11. Clause 108 was then passed.

Progress was here reported, and the House rose at 1.20.