Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 122, 16 September 1896, Page 2

Parliamentary Notes.

IN HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [Special to Standakd.] Wellington, This day. At the time the Asiatic Restriction Bill passed I ventured to predict that it would be reserved for Her Majesty's assent. That course having been been adopted, Government, pending the decision as to the Royal pleasure, n are now introducing the Chinese Ml®* 5 ® migrant's Bill, the principal object of which is to increase of the poll tax. In the House the Premier formally announced the appointment of Mr Martin as Public Trustee, and of Mr McGowan as Superintendent of the Advances to Settlers office. The Leader of the Opposition said that he thought both appointments would meet with the satisfaction of the House. The second readings of two technical measures—the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill and the Public Revenues Acts Amendment Bill—were agreed to. It was explained by the Premier that the last named Bill was intended to simplily the keeping of public accounts as promised in the Financial Statement. In the Council the Hon Mr Bowen presented a petition from Sir Walter Buller asking to be heard at the bar of that chamber. As foreshadowed on the second reading debate the Government Advances to Settlers Act Amendment Bill was emasculated in Committee by 25 to 7. The provision to allow of advances on suburban lands was struck out by 25 to 7, and by 20 to 12 the clause increasing the sum for which allowance may be made from £2500 to £4OOO was also excised. Advances on deferred payment sections or small grazing runs also went by the board, as did the clause dealing with the mortgage of Native lands, so that out of twelve sections only five were agreed to.

When the Loan Bill was called on the Minister of Education explained that the £200,000 for the development of goldfields, including roads on goldfields, and of the sum proposed to be raised, £65,000 had been already spent on account of works at the Thames, on the West Coast, and the waterworks in Central Otago. It was also contemplated to proclaim rivers and creeks as sludge channels under this vote, and probably roads and tracks would absorb the remainder. The £50,000 vote for improvement of Thermal springs and access to natural scenery he looked on as one of importance, and he was sorry to hear some members of the Council scoff at it. Rotorua would absorb the bulk of the money, but the Sutherland Falls and Tokaanu in the Wellington district also required to be opened up. Items making up £250,000 for railways were pretty well the same as appeared in last year's Estimates, and would be detailed in the Public Works Estimates. Native lands required to be opened up by roads, and in other ways rendered available for settlement. Now that the old Public Works Fund had come to an end, Government desired to see public works carried on at the old rate and also to prevent any stoppage of works or congestion of labor. The Hon. Mr Walker concluded by hoping that this explanation would be considered sufficient.

The Hon. Mr Ormond, who followed, considered the Council's action in delaying the measure for a week had been justified as it had more information now than had been given to the Council before, or to the other branch of the legislature. As Government had entered into engagements anticipating half of the loan he could not recommend the Councir to lay aside the measure. Though the action of the Government in reversing the policy on which they were elected was a question for the other branch of the legislature to express an opinion, he believed the Council should put on record some opinion about it before the Bill wai committed. He should move, " Resolved, that before going into Committee on the Loan Bill .the Council places on record its opinion that the Bill does not give sufficient information as to the services for which the loan is to be applied ; also the Council regrets that the policy of non - borrowing, which was affirmed when the present Parliament was elected, should be departed from on the eve of a general election ; but whereas the Council is informed that the proposed loan has been to a considerable extent anticipated, and therefore such expenditure must be provided for, and that the stoppage of all public works, and the consequent throwing out of employment of a large number of persons, would ensue, the Council does not feel justified in refusing to allow the Bill to proceed."

On a division the Hon. Mr Ormond's amendment was carried by 20 to 16. The following is the division list : Ayes (for the motion to commit the Bill): Hons. Messrs Stewart, Baillie, Acland, Smith, Arkwright, Kerr, Kelly, Rigg, Jones, Jenkinson, Taiaroa, Reeves, Feldwick, McLean, Bolt, and W. G. Walker. Noes (for the Hon Mr QrmomTs amendment): Hons Messrs Richardson, L. Walker, Whitnlore, Scotland, Barnicoat, Macgi egor, Jennings, Swanson, Williams, Morris, Bonar, Stevens, Ormond, Johnson, Bowen, Grace, Holmes, Peacock, and Montgomery, The Bill -will be committed on next sitting day; At the evening sitting the Premier introduced the Old Age Pensions Bill, and dwelt at length on its provisions. Captain Russell stigmatised the Bill as an election rase, and bitterly attacked Mr Seddon for his tactics, accusing him of insincerity. After a lengthy discussion the second jading wag carried by 42 to 6.