GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 34, 9 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Per Anglo-Australian Press Telegraph Agency.') Wellington, July 8.

In the Legislative Council to-day—

A Bill relating to real estate was read a first time ; also, a Bill amending the marriage law, Mr Waterhouse commenting on the absurdity of New Zealand being different from the other colonies re deceased’s wife’s sister.

An address of congratulation on the marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh was agreed to. Mr Campbell, in moving the address in reply, said it was desirable that the Governor should visit every portion of the colony. New Zealand was not like Australia, which had one great centre of population. He thought the public works very well carried out during the past year. All available work should be applied to effect the completion of works already far advanced. Immigration should be increased rather than decreased. 15,000 had been brought in from July, 1873, to the end of March, 1874, at a total cost of £lO per head. The return from them paid 30 to 40 per cent on the cost. He thought that in two or three years the population would be a million. He estimated the Customs at £300,000 over the estimated revenue. The life assurance bonus scheme was premature ; the accounts should be sent to a firstclass actuary in England, to ascertain their real position. New Zealand would be a great manufacturing country, and the Polynesian trade should be directed here, as it would supply abundant raw material. He did not anticipate a very serious difference between the two Houses, The Council’s services were not sufficiently known ; they had saved the country £11,000,000 last session. They followed the example of the Australian colonics too much. The Government of New Zealand could teach them better than be taught. Mr Miller seconded the address.

Mr Waterhouse made a very alarmist speech on the prospects of the country. He said his Excellency’s speech contained nothing. During the recess Ministers had been feted and the Premier banquetted, and important negotiations had been carried on with the heads of the provinces, resulting in large suras of money being promised to several provinces. There would be a great fight this session on a subject of which no mention had been made in the speech, viz., provincial borrowing. In re immigration, he considered the present policy of the Government dangerous in the extreme, and that they had broken through constitutional limits. Last year £250,000 was voted for the introduction of 12,500 immigrants up to the end of 1K74 ; but as soon as Mr Vogel took over the Immigration Department 35,000 immigrants were ordered at a cost of over £700,000. Besides, the introduction of immigrants did not lower the price of wages. Every immigrant required to be housed, and for the first twelvemonths demanded labor instead of supplying it. In a short time a crash must come, and he believed it was very close. Their prosperity was not owing solely to public works, but to three causes. First, the rise in the value of their natural products ; second, the confidence established thereby ; and third, the public works policy. The appearance of prosperity, however, was deceptive, for back returns showed that they were owing £lO per head, and tightness was already observable in the money market. There would be no fall in the revenue, but a great stoppage of private enterprises of every kind. He thought the Polynesian scheme a problem, Dr Pollen said the stream of immigration could not be kept up enough. If the Government had not sent for a larger number than authorised they would have incurred censure. Colonel Brett praised the Native Minister, and condemned the Volunteer force as inefficient and useless. Captain Fraser urged the importance of the trade with Polynesia. Mr Campbell, in reply, combated Mr Waterhouse’s remarks, and upheld the Government in their conduct of immigration. In the House of Representatives last night, In reply to Mr J. L. Gillies regarding telegrams regarding Judge Chapman in the “ Otago Daily Times,” Mr Vogel sad the Government had not taken any steps (o investigate t.ie charges, He had the assurance

of Judge Chapman and Judge Ward that they were not responsible for their publication, nor was the Government aware how they came to be published. Of itself the Government would not have produced the correspondence and telegrams on the matter, but would recognise the right of the House, on motion, for such correspondence, and would lay them upon the table. Mr Reynolds, in reply to Mr O’Neill, said it had been found that the Three Kings was not a suitable site for a lighthouse, but Government would erect one in a more suitable place. In the House of Representatives to-day, Mr' I , Vogel, in answering a question by Mr Wakefield regarding a reduction of the customs duties and equalising the revenue by taxing laud and property, said, if the Government had such an intention, they would refrain from making known the fact earlier than was possible, so as to avoid the dangerous and injurious amount of speculation which would naturally follow. In reply to a second question, the Premier said an approximate census of the whole native population was then in the hands of the printer. The following Bills were read a first time : —Regulation of Mines Bill ; Municipal Reserves Bill ; Electric Telegraph Act Amendment Bill ; Post-office Savings’ Bank Act Amendment Bill ; Wellington Hospital Reserves Bill.

The Premier explained that the Electric Telegraph Amendment Bill dealt chiefly with the production of telegrams in courts of justice and offences against the Telegraph Act.

Mr Yogel moved an address to Her Majesty, offering congratulations on the auspicious occasion of the marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh, as it was a matter of special interest to the people of New Zealand, His Royal Highness having twice visited the colony, and expressing an earnest prayer for the welfare of the royal pair, and renewing assurance of devoted affection and loyalty to Her Majesty’s throne and person.

Mr Curtis moved that to-morrow the House resolve itself into committee to consider giving leave to introduce a Nelson Loan Bill. He said the security was four hundred thousand acres of land. Mr Vogel asked the House not to allow the second reading of any Bill of that character until after the Financial statement was brought down, which would be in not more than ten days. The motion was agreed to.

Mr Gillies moved for a return in detail of the expenditure out of the sums devoted to the purchase of land in the North Island.

Mr Richardson said the return was in the course of preparation; The House agreed to the motion.

A motion of Mr Mervyn that a return be prepared of the land sold during the last twelve months in the various provinces, specifying the number of new settlers and the quantities of land, was agreed to. Mr Vogel said he hoped no needless opposition would be raised against the imprest Supply Bill to be brought down tomorrow, as it was desirable to pass it this week. The House then adjourned;