HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3145, 27 July 1881, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday. The House met at 2.30. QUESTIONS. Eeplying to questions, it was stated the survey of the Erasertown ferry reserve and the Turapatiki reserve would be completed in a few days' time, when they would be vested in the Wairoa County Council; arrangements had been made for forwarding the San Erancisco mails from Auckland immediately on their arrival to the various centres of population, and no unnecessary delay in doing so would be allowed to occur • a petition from the unemployed in Oamaru had been received some time ago, and the Government replied that arrangements would be made for transporting a limited number of the unemployed to places in the colony where they would be likely to find employment—no response was made to that offer, but since then another petition had been received and on the same offer being made a limited number of the Tinemployed took advantage of it • the Government did not see that the proposal made for the amendment of the Contractors Debt Act would secure the due payment of workmen's wages employed on contracts; in justice to the Hon. Mr Bonar the Government would cause a report to be prepared showing the outlay on the Government buildings at Hokitika since the abolition of the provinces, and by whom paid, and also an inventory of the furniture on the premises at that date and the amount of furniture on the premises at the present time. DURATION OP PARLIAMENTS. Mr Murray moved for leave to introduce a bill to regulate the duration of Parliaments, to come into force after the dissolution of the present Parliament. Mr Barron contended that a bill of that nature ought not to be dealt with by an expiring Parliament. The House divided —Ayes, 38 ; Noes, 34. The bill was introduced and read a first time. On the motion that it he read a second time on Wednesday week, Mr Barron moved that it be read that day six months. Mr Hall said the Government had no intention of interfering with the duration of Parliament as fixed by the Triennial Act, and although they would not object to the motion for fixing the day for the second reading of the bill, any interference in that direction would be opposed at the proper time. Mr Gisborne thought the question might very properly be brought forward with the view of having it relegated to the constituencies at the ensuing elections. He considered triennial Parliaments a mistake. Mr Speight spoke in favor of Mr Barron's amendment. Mr Macandrew admitted triennial Parliaments to be a mistake, but ho was not disposed to see the matter interfered with at present. Mr Bowen concurred in that view. Mr Levin was opposed to the existing state of matters being interfered with until the opinion of the public had been taken at the ensuing elections. The House divided on the original motion. Ayes, 37; noes 34. The second reading of the bill was therefore fixed as moved by Mr Murray. SUPPLY. Major Atkinson moved that the House go into Committee of Supply. In reply to a question put by Mr Brown it was stated that the Bill providing for the construction of the Otago Central, Canterbury Interior, and Wellington West Coast railways, and the bill for the re-adjustment of seats, were well advanced and would be introduced as soon as the no-confidence motion was disposed of. Mr Moss complained of the administration of native affairs by Major Parris, who he (Mr Moss) considered was responsible for much of the disturbances which had taken place in Taranaki dnring the last 20 years, and who now ruled the Commissioner. He also complained of undue favor shown to Hore Pihama by the Commissioner, adding that the time had come when it was absolutely necessary that responsibility should

be assumed by the Native Minister and not left to tho West Coast Commissioner. Mr "Rolleston replied that he held himself responsible for the administration of native affairs, nnd complained of tbe cowardly and slanderous attack made on Major Parris's conduct. After some further discussion the motion was put and carried. In committee Major Atkinson moved for leave to introduce a bill authorising the issue of deficiency bills for £200,000. Resolutions to that effect were passed and reported. The House adjourned at 5.15. The House resumed at 7.30. THE NO-CONFIDENCE AfOTION. Mr Montgomery resumed the no-con-fidence debate. He defended the action taken by Mr Ormond, and strongly condemned the Government proposals of local finance. What was, he thought, wanted for the former was a scheme similar to the one proposed in Canterbury in 1868 for the local government of the southern part of that province, which then complained of evils similar to those now generally felt throughout the colony. A committee of the Provincial Council then recommended the constitution of a large district, with a council of fifteen elected by the people, and electing their own chairman and council, and the chairman possessing full powers of local adminstration regarding gaols, police, hospitals, asylums, fencing, sheep, public health, etc., and having power to pass ordinances or bye-laws on all these or similar subjects. He thought such a system would work well now if large districts were constituted. Colonial taxation should also be to a large extent replaced by local taxation, and the work of that House reduced. The land administration should be handed over to the local bodies. Mr Bowen thought theso no-confidence motions a great waste of time, and a most inconvenient method of discussing either policy or finance. He was very doubtful about the advantage of party government, and was not at all sure that they Would not get on better without it by simply electing an administrative committee. The best thing they could now do was to waste no more time, but divide at once, then pass the Redistribution of Seats Bill, and the estimates as quickly as possible, and go somewhere else to address their constituents. Mr Ballance defended party government, and contended that the present motion was a ligitimate one supported by a strong well-organised party. The Government did not seem to have any real idea of what local government meant, or what the country required in regard to it. The promises made of something to take the place of the provinces had not been fulfilled. Some local body was necessary between the County Councils and Road Boards and the General Government. The proposals of the Government on the subject of Waste Lands Boards showed the centralising nature of their policy. The tendency of committees now was not to amalgamate but to reduce themselves to the position of Road Boards. A higher body was necessary, and it should have large powers of both administration and legislation on all local matters. He strongly condemned the Government proposal about a Public Works Board, which would really place eleven Ministers in the House. He would apply to the land sold on cash the same principles as worked well in regard to deferred payments land, namely, a return of 33 per cent of the cost to local bodies to open up roads with. He agreed with the rating of Crown lands and native lands, but not in the method proposed. It would be most unjust to advance rates oft the latter out of the consolidated fund. Such rating also meant partial confiscation, and could not be enforced in large portions of the colony. He did not agree with electing judges, but thought Justices of the Peace should be appointed by local bodies, and the police be under their control. Administration principally should be decentralised and localised as much as possible. At least nine out of the thirteen subjects which Major Atkinson bad said must be centrally administered could, he was convinced, be much better administered locally. He held that Ministers had shown themselves unequal to the position they held, and so he would vote against them. Mr Pitt had not heard any preferable scheme of local finance to that brought down by the Government proposed by any other member. For himself he thought the Government proposals would suit tbe requirements of the district he represented, and that they were calculated to do some tardy justice to those portions of the colony which had not experienced a fair share of the public works loan expenditure. The successful manner in which the present Ministry had conducted the adminstration of the country for the past two years justified the House in trusting them, and it would be unfortunate for the country to displace them at present. Mr Andrews said, as Ministers were willing to alter their proposals, and must intend to withdraw their bills, he did not see why they should break the amendment as a want of confidence motion. He held that Ministers had shown themselves quite incapable of leading the House, or of preparing acceptable measures. He condemned the property tax, and advocated a land tax. He also opposed strongly the tendency of the Government to have nominated members in local bodies. Had they really intended to carry the Redistribution of Seats Bill, they should, even if the details were not ready, have long ago brought down the proposals to determine the principle on which it should take place. If the Canterbury railways were locally managed they would pay half as well again. The Government did not understand the requirements of the country. They had no policy of their own, and did not enjoy the confidence of either the House or the country. Mr Levin, while not approving of all the Government proposals, had not heard any preferable scheme proposed, and the past administration of affairs by the present Ministry had been so satisfactory that be would require much stronger reasons than any that had been adduced before be would vote to turn them out. Mr Reeves moved the adjournment of the debate, and the House rose at 12.25. Wednesday. The House met at 2.30. NOTICE OF MOTION. Sir George Grey gave notice to move that the records of the Christchurch election committee be erased from the records of the House. PETITION. Sir George Grey presented a petition from the Liberal Association praying for an enquiry into the circumstances under which certain timber leases in the Thames County had been granted.