HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. YESTERDAY.

Evening Post, Volume VIII, Issue 150, 26 July 1872, Page 2

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. Y ESTERDAY.

Tn r»i>lv to Mr. i>or.LT>T.-. ihe SPC \ X )¦: Li n n- !th c C 0 !/"> X I A h S :-:'.' 5 : S-_ TAIIV made lam ; excuses for a «.vJay <.r nearly fo:ir mont'i^ 'ii-tv. een f c d^-.' ot - :i- J re f i 'A-iLi'Vi '¦:' tV- lute mem'ier £••!• !"> ¦"- ri i-j; ¦. .h: % . 1 vio r^'arTi oi th« n.*v." « >-• Errors h-.d L-isn >>>. - le hy uvery per-or v >i.-Ct-flifc 1. I:i venlv to Mr Stknv vr.n, tho rf.n. Mr. riLi'.VJtlS : 'T 11. c (ii.v-ij-ninen 1 ; woi.M shorMv 1-iv on the table papers aud report lvpijiicriuc: tho nruiacreinent <>t the (Joy; j:n-ifli-i:t Prinrirj' Cfnce"! in reply Id Mr. S'rrAVUir*. the COLON L\ L SECUST A RY said the (¦-Jovenilaeufc did not contemplate bringing _in rise i -jure? a fleet ing iarrikinidin, or win.wMt; ;;p h:iiiu-.d iiabiht.y companies. hi reply to Mr. G. B. Parkeii, the COLONIAL SECRETALtY said the vnri'-us Sr.perinter.-lunts were taking the necessary susps to prevent the introduction of the foot aud mouth disea.be from A.ustralia. In reoly to Mr. -T- Sht.ptieutj, the MtNTSTKLLof PUBLIC WOKK 3 'said the Superintendents of Otago, Marlboruiigb. and Nelson had not replied to his celebrated " Chinese circular." Two of them said the cireulai had not been received by them ]v reply to Mr. Luckte, ths Hon. Mr. REEVES said that plans of. the Nelson and Foxhill railway were nearly ready, the estimates would be prepared in a few days, and the woik would be commenced imwo diateiy afterwards. A bill, entitled the Pi ans of Towns Regulation Bill, was on the motion of Mr. O'Neill, read a iirst time. Mr. EPJID moved for a copy of tho Engineer's estimates in detail for the line-, of railway, [nvercargill to MatauTV- and Uunedin to Balclmha, be laid on the taiiie. Also, copies of any otters received by c'.io Government; for the construction of the whole or any portions of the said lines, and of the contracts entered into, giving uaou-s of contractors and schedule o[ price in each case. In moving this he said he had heard statements that higher su.r.s were being paid for the lines indicated to Mr. BrOiidi-u I than wns on the estimates ; that private ! firms had offered to constiucß them for the I sum estimat; d. | Mr. lIEtiVES savin? the Government had no objection to the return, it was ordered. ! On the motion of Mr. O'NEILL, a I Select Committee was appointed to inquire into the subject of connecting New Zealand by submarine electric cable with other countries, and to report thereon, was agreed to. The Hon. Mr. STAFFORD moved for a return showing, from the commencement of the service, the due dates in each- month, according to contract, of the delivery of I the mails by the steamers subsidised to carry i the said mails between San Francisco and | New Zealand ; and the actual dates in each month of tho delivery of the said I mails at the contract ports of Auckhiud, S Wellington, Lytteiton, and Port Chalmers, I and at the ports of 2Tew PJymouth, Nelson, | Picton, Westporl, Greymouth, and J-Joki-I tika, respectively. Return to be furnished within one week. Mr. VOGEL could have no objection fco give the return, tfe wished to announce to the House that further correspondence on the subject of the service would shorrly be laid before it. The Government intended to ask the House to ratify the Victorian contract, even though the Victorian Government might desire the terms modified. Correspondence with the Victorian Government was going on now, and the House would be invited to discuss the whole system. The return was ordered. Mr. COLLTNS, in an exhaustive speech, moved the reduction of the gold fields revenue to 2s. Mr. SPIEPHERD seconded the motion. Mr. VOGEL moved, as an amendment, that the question of che reduction of the gold duty be referred to the Gold Fields Committee to enquire into with regard to the requirements of existing and probable future gold fields, ile hoped the committee would not only give their decision, but their reasons fortifying it. _ A considerable discussion on this motion ensued, which was not completed when the hour of adjournment arrived. On resuming, the House went into the orders of the day. Mr. GILLIES moved the second reading of the Highways Board Empowering Act aud Amendment Bill. He explaiued that the act it was now sought to amend wa-j passed last session. But it ultimately beccime law in a different form to that in which it passed the House. He sketched what occurred of the bill last session, the alteration, the free conference between both Houses, the compromise, and the insertiou of a provi&o. He produced the opinions of 70 or about two-thirds of the Boards in Auckland against the proviso, which they considered would cause 'the bill to become inoperative. He showed how the bill had been adopted differently in each province, and argued that any cast iron act must be a faihire. Eating, he agreed, should be left in the hands of the local bodie3. He therefore hoped the bill would pass, and the proviso be repealed. The COLONIAL SECRETARY supported the bill. Mr. BUCKLAND, after advocating the establishment of one system of rating, leaving the fixing of the maximum and minimum only to the local bodies, moved the adjournment of the debate, in order that some reports of the Petitions Committee might be received before any decision was arrived at. The question as to when the adjournment should take place was rather amusing, a week, a day, and till Order of the Day No. 3 had been passed, being successively moved. Eventually the adjournment till tomorrow was decided. Mr. CURTIS moved the second reading of the Larceny Act. He commenced his remarks by stating that half the business of lawyers was caused by the present doubtful wording of the acts, and he expected opposition from those in the House. He quoted from several acts some amusing mistakes which have crept in, and he pointed out the exceeding length, of many of the clauses. The bill he introduced would shorten the two acts now in existence. He was contented that the bill should be referred to a select committee to decide as to its value. The COLONIAL SECRETARY read some criticisms by the Attorney-General on the bill, and warned the House not to be in too great a hurry to condense and consolidate existing acts. If the evidence of the judges would be taken by the committee, he would not object to it. The PREMIER, after congratulating Mr. Curtis on his first appearance as a law reformer, pointed out that the proposed bill contained nearly as many curious errors as those pointed out in the existing acts. Mr. SHEEH AN -defended the lawyers from the charges made by the mover of the . proposed bill. He pointed out the impos-

~ii ill* »* '"-f d~.iv,-ijm-ip a bill ?o as to prevent *!: i. ?-:oilitv of t i vn construeiions bein_,..l:i'- J - "ii ic. " lie r- ti J If Jlr. L\irti o ' law ur,b b.iJ, the A^torney-Uenerai's was "Vii "GILLIES defendcl Mr. Curtis hill wliii 1. ! .e sniii was drawn as c-ovftsby and cor.-.-i -ly ns ui'.'st i'ill-s in:rv:i:ce.i in tL« [ H"U^i "lie said the- Preinirti's siiuc- cjaiiisi; • cv 1..-v; :an oonnr.-'j: f > -wr.rd a? ;•- J «• re former . -.v.uU fill hariiiles^ if r.hd i louse r-rueia- . !:«•:;'. rh.--;z ¦he £.i'.:hor of the ertieWr.ted ( \, '•¦:' l"i uistT Act; v-ts a ia v ir". >. H* 1 is- | r.ivu' lih-Jiu:ise UiC if, as t - Vivinnv i -._<ie-tfd. (".in ciaus-o oi tho :ig!, were. ? '.;. r ,; «) .is to r-^ id '•.-.nvone \:\v) ffl'.y | --cii .<¦ tr.!;..' r.vv.r, i.oxthusg." ife mi;_'it be | :>..<.!-. v. .r-i : >- =!i).ri-j ::\ i mbcis of tif Liouse , why too;; ;uui trauu I ou tile ideas or uiuers. j ( i auuht'.T. ) j Mr. LUCKIE con-sidproa the Housts j Khoulil snupoit Mr. Curtis, and made a i- v.- i-i/marhis whicli were more «ipp!:eablp •¦ to a motion of his own on the Order L J aper th:i:i to rb.f one before the Hou?2. r>[r. «JLTIT]" ; >. i:i a few words nf r:pty. disposed tif tha tec-inical objections, jocise j remaiks, and attempis at aigumeuD i-y the j Premier. The bill was then read a second lime, and referred to a Select Committee. Mr. i>UX!Ny, in moving the Borough of Wang-urni Borrowing Bill, merely fcaul it was to enable t4ie Borough of Wangauui to borrow money for drainage, lighting, w.iter, and other purposes. The bill was r^ad a second time. The adjourned debate on the second reading or the Public Trast Oifice Bill was resumed by SiIEEQAN, who said the bill was uuuucessarj'. If a uv.m above reproach oi- ! blames nnl able to give large security, i ! would do the work lor nothing on the chance of the commisbions he could make [ out of it, there would not be so numb, obj jeetion. But the creation of a new ai.d expensive department to do \vork_ which was by no rneana the most pressing, lie would decidedly oppose. j Mr. MUILRkY said the bill was another j I of the many attempts of Government; to ¦ draw piivate funds into their hands. >.ir. JOHNSTON" said tho oulv <! ut V of the Public Trust omuor would be to take care of the public funds, a duty now dune by tho. controller. The idea of the waut^of j a"tm&tee for private estates was only tha j result of a panic. The bill would merely create a new department, the head of which would be appointed by the Governor at any j salary he liked, lie should ceitainly opposu tho bill. Th« COLON TAL TREASUPvKPv. in reply, said the oince wonkl be self-support-ing pavticutary if t,Ke Life Co:npmies' Bill were p t assed. Bo deuined to make any explanation as to the trust commissionerships at that stage of tho bill. The second reading was carried, on division, by 23 to 14. In reply to Mr. PvOLLESTON', the COLONIAL TRiSASUPJEII said the Nebraska wou'd be detained in quarantine for 15 days, as the Board had decided that such a course was necessary. The adjourned debate en the second reading of the Life Assurance Companies Bill j was resinned. | Mr. BRANDON" said he should not have spoken on the bill had not the Colonial Treasurer made charges against companies aud individuals. He had charged Greyiile's A ir oncy with disseminating information as j to^the Australian Mutual Society at the request of the agent, while all that he had done was to ask the asjenb to furnish him I with ccrcjun figures received by the mail, j vi-hioh would bs items of interesting public ' information A charge of having given false information he showed to be unfounded. He said an extract, quoted by the Colonial Treasurer as from the Edinburgh Review, against mutual companies, he believed to be from some other work. Th.3 Colonial Treasurer's charge against the Australian Mutual Society of having no capital he showed to be grossly untrue. He then read an extract really from the Edinburgh Review, which he held in his hand, in favour of the system of mutuality. He then said a few words on the open candid v ay in which ths Australian Mutual Provident"Society's accounts were kept. Mr. M'GLA&FIAN gave a lecture, bristling with figures, on insurance companies, aud on the advantages of the Government scheme I'ho CJOLONT A L TREASURER confined his remarks almost entirely to advocating the Government iusurance. Mr. FLTZ HERBERT said that on the whole, lie considered the measure a good one, in so far as it destroyed a monopoly, and extended a protection enjoyed by the Government scheme r,o other companies. tie deprecated the kind of duel between the Government ou tile one side and supporters of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, bub he had been informed that the Colonial Treasurer had made disparaging remarks on the manager of the Wellingtou branch and of the solvency of the company. He would not descend to defend the solvency of the most powerful company of the Australian Colonies, but he would say he thought the Colonial Treasurer's remarks uncJied for, and out of taste. The Imperial Government scheme had been alluded to by tho Colonial Seeretarj- as a success, but "a more perfect fiasco it was impossible to imagine, and unless we could recognise: that our Ministry was abler tli£.n that of Mr. Gladstone's, we could not deny that the New Zealand Government scheme might also fail. He would not go into figures on thaquestion. It had been evident that in the discussion there had been too much of mercantile rivalry. He supported the bill, but did not think it went The assured throughout the colony should have the amplest powers to stop companies when it became evident they were no longer in a solvent condition ; they should also have the fullest facilities for examining books. He also thought the amount of guarantee might be increased. The COLONIAL TREASURER, in rising to reply, said he had on a previous occasion expressed his unwillingness to cast imputations, but after the remarks which had. beeu made, he was bound to go further into the subject. The evening paper contained an ai-ticle on the management of the Government office. It was easy to see that it emanated from the manager^ room of the Australian Mutual office. The statements in it were simply falsehoods. A great array of figures were given to bolster up the Australian Society, which he begged leave to state were incorrect. For instance, it was stated that the society had accumulated over £264,000, besides a reserve fund of £50.000. But he found in the report issued by the society, mention of the former but not of the latter sum. He denied the accuracy of the statement, that the balance of receipts over disbursements was £J46,652. He said the gross annual revenue of the society wa3 no evidence as to its position unless the liabilities of the company were also stated. The business of the company had increased 1<") per cen'c while its expenses hn.d risen 25 jjer ! cent. Was that a sign of success. He alluded 1 to the dangerous gambling habit the eomi paay had of buying pap^r. He cjuoieil i. an authority to the effocs that a society in existence 10, 20. or 30 -years, should, have 10, 20, or 30 per cent of the sum assured j as a reserve; applying this test to the Aus- [ traliau Mutual,' what was the result? He

asked h,w th-: rxam.uation of the books of c./irtpaiues c.ul-.i U- managed vht-n thuir hts-ul quarters \v B re :u .-.uutLer colony. He dsd ;ioc profc-ss tk:>.t uAs bill nave .iL'Soiatu ¦security r>-> .-'ssiirtrf. Ijuc i:~was a small step in that <iireeti'»n. The bill w;.s tin; a lea la second tims. 'iu<> Wellington Pnt<-nt vSiif. Bill was committed, rr-fiwitel without amendment, au.t re;.-l .-. rhini time. (m the morion that the House go into Committee "f >?iii)«)U\ 2ilr. EioLL&STuX aslied when a return ;)rurni.-=e.l \ <sstx--i\.y. ros[.ect:ng ths Broaden enntract-i. would b« laid on the table. 'L'i-b UoLO.NI \L TiiEASL'KKII said the rttuir. wr.s bv>..» cm:pi!td. and would be jyeseiited a^ early as yuss'.i.-ie. The Hoiue went into Committee of Supply. An at! i:tfcri.:i supply oc £100,000 out of consolidated fund, aud £:-;u,()U0 for defence purposes, were granted. The rJouse then adjourned.