GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 5150, 22 August 1877, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, Augubt2l. The business was unimportant. The Hon D. Pollbn obtained bare to girt evidence before a Select Committee onlfativa affairs. Several Bills were read a first time, and there’were also several second readings. HOUSE OF BBPBKBISNTATIYBB. Tuesday, August 2L The House met at 2.30 p,m. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence for 14 days was granted to Ur Bolleston. QUESTIONS, .Replying to Mr Sheehan, The Hon H. A. Atkinson said thatta Bill for preventing illegitimate speculation s native lands, pending other legislation nr not yet ready. Government were otag enquiries on ths subject. Replying to Mr Oex, The Hon H. A. Atkinson said that Government would supply Road Boards vith the N.Z. Qatette. MESSAGE NBOX HIS EXONLIEKCT. A further Imprest Supply Bill for £250,000 was received by message from his Excellency the Governor. Sir Q. Gbby objected to the House being taken by surprise. Under the present circumstances not more than ten days’ mppliet should be granted. Major Atkinson said that snpplist wsn absolutely required. Ha regretted that they had not informed the House earlier. The Hon W. Qibbomss and Sir G. Obex objected to a Supply Bill of a quarter of a million being rushed through without notice at one sitting. Major Atkinson explained that the matter was argent. Mr Reaubu Wood denied that the matter was so urgent that notice could not hare been givens The Hon B.W. Stayfoed regretted that doe notice had not been given. Could the Minis* ter for Public Works show that contracts falling due required immediate provision for payment? At this period of the month them would noth# any salaries due unless in tba matter of contracts. There wes no urgency. The He- J. D. Oknond said that he oomd not name any particular amount due to-day or to-morrow, bat large payment* for contracts all over the Colony wen centmuaUy becoming due; and imprest already bong granted, no payments could be made till a further supply was granted. The Bill waa passed through all stages up to the third reading. On that a resolution was moTM ] —“ That it be read a third time tomorrow." This wae negatived on the voieee, and the Bill passed. ■ incidence on taxation debate. On the motion for going into Supply, Mr MubbAY said that the question at iwns was not a new one. It .-was discussed on the hustings at the hut election. It was only fair to throws proper share of ths public burdens 00 property improved by public works. Ibs «m. had now oome when further taxation was necessary. They could no longer livs on Xnasury bids and land revenue,- financial legerdemain should oease. He thought tbs profits,on the reiiways to a large extent visionary, especially considering the light, unsubstantial temporary character of thelm* There was a. discrepancy between the statement of Mr Atkinson and Mr Ormond regarding the earnings of the railways. He approved of leasing the Auckland lines, The deficiency on the railways should fall on property bsnefitsd-r-in some oases to an snonnoui .extant, and It was most unfair to tax the general community through the Custom* for this purpose. He moved—" That the word * immediately ’be straek out of Sir G. Gray f amendment, and th# words ‘ next sesrion' be inserted in UsSEtbsreot." The Hon D. Beid endeavoured to mow the substance of the Qovsmment amendment, read by Mr Bowen on Friday, as a previom amendment, but after a long discussion ou points of order, the Speaker ruled that “ could not do so. Mr Bold continued •“ debate, dwelling on the grert involved, which demanded a careful, - and tamposata consideration. He defend the Government from Mr Tyke a charge 0 leading the House. They eould not do the Opposition wee bound together by . common principle, but were anxious to at anything to injnia Government. At P the present of their mode), Imperial Parliament, really did £ w hsUT Memben here were not »? bo “^ a d party, smd their greater Indiyidnriity te “ t to render real representative Gove difficult. He dented that the way abandoned ** & ot sing a readiness to, consider to ff? n9 t taxation next »e*sion, aUhongh they tw invited that consideration in the Budg ths present year. .-The bon m#mh°ra and replied at length to Mr ® tout A owr no* nt enee to the education reserve*, G° h a s, o atb must prpvide f or ths mmt brtoulftnl to to- If** wMiofis d** o ®*- ** “

and poUoy, and would jjeSsienl “ j n fome parte of the e»ui« or Canterbury members fS t gT&rey't land revenue proIf* p Wl ftx»Uon»houldb« born# by sll men with the“ •bilitar to beer it, ‘“/property according asitbenefited. S d .2usy wmM ted I* l * ide » tot people ? taxation cheerfully because the entitle them to look to the gSp*toi* old age. was interrupted at 6.80 p.m.

/iso* ova omr oobbbsposdkst.) There i» little news stirring. Thedndrion -.♦ha incidence of taxation queetion will take to-night. The queetion i* getting very with the numerous amendments,l>ut in Kse Government will have a nateife UfZ, members voting with the Ministry Smply through fear of Sir G. Q»J getting Soffit Mr Beid was speaking very wefl fIP ;£ 9 th DiSf Eall^Js 1 Bill seems to be in his seat to-day. for a ■JTdsr. Since the cession opened, he has Kmost of the time #t Wanganui, trying tx eet the Murimotu block through the SfstiTe Lands Court. He has eearoely been 8 dozen timee in the House.