GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 76, 28 August 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Per Anglo-Australian Press Telegragh Agency.) Wellington, August 27. In the Legislative Council last night— The hon Mr Mantell's motion was carried that the Ward-Chapman correspondence be remitted to the custody of the bpcaker, Government to have access if they think necessary. On the Wellington Land Payment Bill the hon Dr Pollen carried a clause that the particulars of all transactions under the Act should be published in the Gazette before a Crown grant issue. The Council threw out, on the second reading, both Mr Shepherd's Bills, viz. the Goldfields Amendment Bill and the Clyde Waterworks Borrowing Bill. The following Bills were passed:—New Zealand Extradition, Excise Duties, Native Land Amendment, Volunteer Act, Wellington Land Payment, Walsh and oLher Pensions, Wilson Gray Pension, Invercargill Gas, Loan Harbor Board Act Amendment, Taranaki Waste Land. Wanganui Hiver Foreshore, Poverty Bay Lands' Titles, Outlying Districts of Spirits, Lewis' Retiring Allowances. In the House of Representatives today. Mr Fox asked whether the Government intended to give effect to the recommendation contained in the interim report of the Ward-Chapman Committee, for an interchange of judicial circuits. The Premier thought it a desirable thing to do, and had no doubt that the changes would be. made after this. Mr O'Neill asked whether during the recess the Government would cause inquiries to be made relating to the working of the Royal Mint in Melbourne, and report at the commencement of next session. The Premier promised to endeavor to procure all information upon the' subject calculated to be useful to New Zealand, and he had no doubt the Victorian Govern-

ment would readily furnish the information ,sked for. Mr Murray asked if the Government would do anything to obtain cheapness, simplicity, and uniformity in the patent laws throughout the colonies. The PREMIER did not think New Zealand could have much influence in determining what was an Imperial question really. Mr Murray asked the Government what course they proposed to adopt to induce the Imperial Government to take measures to protect and encourage British commerce in Polynesia, or without involving any pecuniary liability on the Imperial Government to permit New Zealand alone, or in conjunction with one or more of the Australian colonies, to deal with the question. The Premier said the New Zealand Government had done all that rested with it at present. He did not think the other Australian colonies looked upon the Polynesian trade with the same interest as New Zealand. He would assure the hon member that the Government would continue carefully to watch the question in future, so as to be prepared to act in conjunction with the Australian colonies or otherwise. In reply to Mr liExVDER WOOD, The Premier said he did not know whether the prorogation would take place on Saturday or Monday. Even if postponed till Monday there wouid be sufficient members to form a House. The Appropriation Act has passed through all its stages. The Pke.mier made a statement regarding the Railways Bill. The objects of the Bill included the purchase of the provincial lines in Canterbury and Otago. He regretted exceedingly that the Bill had been thrown out in the other House. He regretted that Otago would have to go away from the Assembly, almost the only province which had not been recognised specially by the Assembly. While regretting that anying should be done to prevent the purchase of these lines aud the construction of branch lines, he could not see any legitimate course by which to remedy the matter this session. All he could say was, that the Government were prepared to proceed with the valuation of the railways, to be purchased at a given date, and submit a similar proposal to the Assembly next session. They proposed to leave out the objectionable clauses so as not to prejudice the Bill. As they understood, there would be no objection to the Bill if these clauses were left out. The other portions of the Bill were of very great importance. Mr Reid was sorry to hear what the Premier said. He thought the Government ought to be prepared to go a little farther in order to enable Otago to carry out her branch railways. It was absolute necessity for the success of the great policy that Otago should be afforded some opportunity of proceeding with these works during the present year. If they choose to sell their lands at a sacrifice, they could easily construct them, but in the interest of the colony they were averse to such a course. He proposed to move a resolution, in effect the same as the clauses in the Railways Bill referring to the purchase of the railways in Canterbury and Otago, so as to enable the Government to proceed as if the Rill had been passed, the House pledging itself to indemnify the Government for any action taken in the matter dnringthe recess. Mr Macandrew entirely concurred with what fell from the previous speaker. He regretted exceedingly that the Government would not stand or fall by the Bill as a whole, and throw upon the shoulders of the Council the responsibility of throwing out such an important measure. Nothing could be more unfair or unjust than the way the South Island was being treated in this matter. There could not be a greater damper thrown upon the efforts ot Otago and Canterbury to carry out the public works policy. Mr Richardson said if there had been the faintest hope of getting the bill passed in the present shape they would "have used every effort they knew, "if the Bill went up again in the same shape a still larger majority would be against it. Mr Bradsiiaav said that Otago was placed in such a difficulty by this Bill being thrown out that her only way out of it was by selling large blocks of land at a sacrifice. Mr Montgomery also greatly regretted that the Government could not see their way to send the Bill back. Should the resolution of the hon member for Taieri not be carried, he would move, "That this House believed that the policy of purchasing the provincial lines of railway belonging at present to Otago and Canterbury, as stated in the Treasurer's statement, is sound in principle and should be carried out, the Government is, therefore, requested to negotiate the purchase of those lines during the recess, and bring the matter before Parliament next session." Mr J. L. Gillies hoped Government would reconsider their decision, as they were about to drive Otago into selling as she could land which it was desired to settle people upon. On the recommendation of the Speaker the Bill as amended by the Government was passed through committee." Mr Reid then proceeded to put his motion. Mr Richardson thought the resolution of the member for Akaroa much preferable. Messrs Macandrew and Creighton again urged the Government to adhere to the engagement they had made with Otago. The Premier said he could not accept the resolution. If they did so, they might as well do away with the other House altogether. If however inconvenient it might be to have the purchasing clauses in the Railway Bill thrown out. to act upon the resolution would be a most unconstitutional proceeding. Mr Macandrew said if anything could justify the insinuations thrown out as to the bona fide* of the Government in the matter, it, was the course now proposed. The Premier treated all such insinuations with most unqualified contempt. He had gone out of his way to secure the passing of this Bill. He did not consider this an opportunity to read the other branch a lesson. He would endeavor to carry the Bill through next session in some more legitimate manner. He had no objection to act upon the resolution of the member for Akaroa. Mr Reid did not like to remind the Premier of the very different tone he had assumed last year when speaking of the other House. Etiquette between the two Houses was very good, but the importance of this matter to Otago was of infinitely more importance. The Premier pointed out that if the Government acted upon the resolution, it would

make the members of the Government penally liable. He was willing enough to give the other House an opportunity of reconsidering their decision, but they could not send that Bill up again. It was perfectly impossible that the Government could assent to any proposal to spend money in an illegitimate manner. Mr Creighton asked if it would not be possible for the Government to make some advances to Otago as they done to Nelson and Auckland, otherwise Otago must inflict a public calamity upon the whole colony by being obliged to sell her best lands in order to keep faith with contractors she had employed. The Premier said in order to test the matter again, he was prepared to bring down a Bill at the evening sitting, proposing to give authority to pay £OO,OOO on account of the purchase of railways in question. Mr Curtis wanted the Premier to include in the Bill the Nelson Loan Bill which was also thrown out. This raised a sharp discussion. The Premier deprecated the request, but promised to bring down a separate Bill for the purpose. Wellington, August 28. In the House of Representatives yesterday, at the evening sitting, Upon the adjourned debate on the interim report of the Ward Chapman committee coming on, The Premier moved the following amendment, which was agreed to:—"That the evidence in this case be referred to the Government, to take such actiou on it as seemed desirable." He did not consider it worth the trouble of appointing a Royal Commission ; it would be better to leave the matter in the hands of the Government. Mr J. L. Gillies concurred in the amendment ; as a private member, he could say that he was perfectly satisfied with the evidence adduced at the enquiry, especially that part which referred to how Macassey became possessed of the information in the telegrams. Mr Rolleston supported the amendment of the Premier, and could not see the propriety of appointing a Royal Commission in this case. Mr J. L. Gillies moved for a return showing the distribution of the million and ahalf of money stated by the Premier as having gone in concessions to the provinces to purchase their support for the public works and immigration policy. The Premier presumed that the hon member meant this as a joke ; he hoped when the consolidation of the North Island took place, they would have less of this provincial pressure ; members would then represent their constituents more, and would have some regard for the colony as whole. As an instance of the combination capable of being made by provinces, and against which the Government of the colony was unable to cope in the House, he could refer them to the fate of the Public Works Advances Bill, which passed through the Legislative Council, while the Railways Bill was thrown out; the cause of this was, that in one Bill a number of the provinces were represented, while in the other, only two were. Mr Rolleston referred at length to the admission made by the Premier, as most damaging to him. He admitted his whole policy had been one of shifts, expediency, and of building up a party by pandering to the needs of those whom he drew around him, to be the destruction of all justice and right. This session he went away from all his political utterances, in coming down with a policy not his own ; the voice was the voice of Jacob, but the hand was the red hand they had seen so often of late years, meddling in the affairs af the provinces. Mr J. E. Brown said that the last speaker dare not use such language before his constituents ; it was all very fine now to find fault with Government, when they all knew, that on the very threshold of the public works policy, it was throttled by the whole of the provincial authorities. Had it not been for the Upper House, the whole country would have been ruined by the demands of the provinces ; he was sorry that the Government could not furnish a return to show to what extent the provinces had forced the Government out of their original intentions. Mr Reid was thankful for the admissions made by the Premier and his supporters that they had made unjust concessions solely for the purchase of support ; it was vain for the Premier to attempt to put the responsibility of any failure, of his policy upon the House, he must bear the sole burden. Sir J. Cracroft Wilson made a vigorous denunciation of the House finding fault with the Premier and the Government; they should recollect that Judge Richmond, the cleanest handed man in the colony, after five years in office, threw it up because he refused to giye some members £3OO per year to secure their support ; only a few days ago, when the Premier announced that he intended to assist those poor provinces which could not assist themselves, he was received with cheers from one end of the house to the other. Before they found fault with the Government, they should see that they, were pure themselves. He protested against the men who had brought about such a state of things, accusing the Ministry of acts which the House alone was responsible for. He had consistently opposed the policy from the first; but knowing now that its success depended upon its being carried out in its entirety, he could not offer any obstructive opposition. Mr Vogel replied very briefly. Mr BHEEHAN said it was pretty clear from the admissions made by the Premier, that they were open at least, to the term of bribery under extenuating'circumstances. He could assure the Government that if the provinces were to die, they would die game. The motion was negatived on the voices. Mr Macandrew said Otago could get along without assistance from the Government, if allowed. He objected altogether to the people of Otago being obliged to sue in forma pauperis. He was confident that the people would protest against being placed in such an invidious position. The Premier then explained that the Bill he had promised to bring down made no reference to the question of Otago railways : it only provided for authority to advance £OO,OOO to Otago for works. He enumerated various amounts of expenditure on several provinces, which the Government had sanctioned solely to prevent their policy from coming to a stand still ; if the hon gentleman chose to go over the items, he would have no difficulty in finding how much Government had to concede for the sake of its policy. . Alter some desultory discussion, the Premier introduced a Bill authorising the

expenditure of an advance of £60,000 to the province of Otago, for the purchase of the railways from the Bluff to Winton. The Bill was agreed to, and the House adjourned at 10.5 p.m. to 12.30 a.m. on Saturday.