PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7865, 21 May 1886, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Per Press Association.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, May 20. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. questions. Replying to Mr Fergus, as to whether attention has been directed to the recent fatal accident in Dowling street cutting, Dunedin, and whether the men employed on the relief works there, before being entrusted with explosives, were examined and found competent to use the same, the Hon E. Richardson said the accident was reported to Government in the ordinary way. Tbe relief works were carried out under the direction solely of the Dunedin Corporation, and Government had nothing to do with them. Replying to Mr Fergus, if the Minister of Public Works will cause the Martin’s Bay track to be put in repair at once, the Hon E. Richardson said a vote of .£l5O was passed last session for this work, but it was found to be useless for the purpose required. The matter was now under consideration of Government. Replying to Mr Turnbull, if, in the event of the Government preparing further papers connected with, the Property tax statistics, they would show the amount of mortgages on rural and town property separately. Sir Julius Vogel said he was advised by the officers of his department that it would be impossible to give accurate information on this point at present. Replying to Mr R. J. Seddon, who asked whether it is the intention of Government this session to introduce a Bill, having for its object the redaction or abolition of the export duty on gold, the Hon W. Larnach said' a Bill ha ’ “been introduced by the Colonial Treasurer with this object. Replying to Mr Dargaville, who asked if the Colonial Treasurer is aware that there exists among the policy-holders in the Government Insurance Association throughout the Colony, grave dissatisfaction with the present system of management, and a desire that Parliament should resume more direct control of the business of the Association, and whether he will, during the present session, bring in a Bill to repeal “The Government Insurance Act, 1884,” Sir J. Vogel said Government were aware of the dissatisfaction that exists, and, he considered, naturally so. The question was now before the policyholders as to a change in the present constitution of the Association. He was not prepared to state at present what decision Government had arrived at on the subject, but the question would have to be dealt with this session. NEW BILLS. The following new Bills were introduced : —Boundaries of Wellington and Wanganui Education Districts Bill (Mr Wilson); Land Associations Bill (Mr Ivess) ; Eight Hours Bill (Mr Bradshaw) ; Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881, Amendment Bill (Mr Bradshaw); Native Equitable Owners Bill (Hon Mr Ballanoe); A Bill to Authorise the Purchase or Other Acquisition of Private Lands for Purposes of Settlement (Sir G. Grey). RETURNS. Mr Montgomery moved “That returns be laid before the House, showing the number of allotments and total acreage of land in each land district, surveyed, and now ready for occupation on the homestead system.” The Hon J. Ballancb said he had no objection to give the return asked for. He desired to give the homestead system a fair trial throughout the Colony. A lengthy discussion ensued on the whole

question of settlement of the land and on the homestead system generally, in which a large number of members took part, most of whom advocated that the homestead system should he allowed a trial. The motion was eventually put and agreed to. Mr Hobbs moved for a return of all moneys expended up to the present date by the Colony of New Zealand in connection with Samoa. Agreed to. Mr W. J. Hurst moved—“ That there be laid before the House a return showing, separately, the amount expended during the last financial year upon repairs and maintenance and additions to furniture for each of the Wellington Ministerial residences."

The Hon E. Richardson suggested that the return should be a continuation of a return asked for last year. Mr Hurst said he wished the return to be an annual one. The Hon E. Stout moved—" That the words ‘in continuation of last year’s return 'be added to the motion.” He was not opposed to the motion if those words were added.

The motion, as amended, was put and agreed to. Mr W. J. Huebt moved—" That there he laid before the House a return showing the travelling allowances drawn by each Minister and attendants during the last financial year.” Agreed to. The Hon W. Labnach moved—“ That a Committee be appointed to enquire into the best means of dealing with the rabbit pest, with power to confer or sit together with any similar Committee which may be appointed by the Legislative Council, and to agree to a joint or separate report; such Committee to consist of Messrs Buchanan, Cowan, Dodson, Fulton, Kerr, Lance, J. M'Kenzie, M‘Miilan, Captain Russell and the mover.” Agreed to. The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. 5 g' The House resumed at 7.30. THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL. The Hon E. Stout moved the second reading of the Municipal Corporations Bill. He explained that it was a consolidating Bill, and did not contain many new provisions. One of the new provisions related to the public health; another to raising special loans for works within boroughs; also to enable general rates to be levied. He had sent copies of the Bill to various local bodies before bringing it before the House. Mr Downik Stewart said no doubt the Bill was a useful one, but be thought the House should not go into Committee on it for at least ten days, so as to give members more time to consider its provisions. He referred to several of the new provisions, and pointed out the arbitrary manner in which corporations often acted in _ the matter of street levels, by which irreparable damage was done to ratepayers, without their receiving any corresponding advantages. Mr Sutter also hoped that the committal of the Bill would* be postponed, as there were some important new clauses in it. The Hon E. Stout said the Bill was read a second time last year, and many of the now clauses now introduced were then suggested as amendments. Ho said, however, that he had no desire to hurry on the Bill, and would be glad, in the meantime, to receive any suggestions from hon members. The motion was agreed to, LOST DEBENTURES BILL. The House went into Committee on the “ Lost Debentures Bill,” which passed without amendment, was read a third time and passed. THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. Sir J. Vogel moved Select Committee be appointed to examine into and report upon questions relating to public accounts, fou-r to be a quorum; the Committee to consist of Major Atkinson, Messrs Ballauce, Cowan, Dargaville, Holmes, Montgomery, Moss, Peacock, Wilson, and the mover. Mr Downie Stewart complained that only one Otago member was on this important Committee, while there were three from Canterbury. He hoped the Treasurer would allow Mr Barron’s name to appear on it. He could testify from personal experience that Mr Barron was a most capable man to serve on the Committee. He mo ved omitted, and Mr Barron’s substituted.” After some discussion, in which Major Atkinson, Messrs Montgomery, Fergus, and Sir J. Vogel took part, the original motion was carried. Sir J. Vogel agreeing to insert some additional names on the Committee. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. Mr G. F. Richardson moved —“That Government be requested to cause to be prepared, for the information of the House, plans showing the several blocks of land proposed to be given to the Company for the construction of the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway, with a schedule giving descriptions of the character and areas of such lands.” Mr Seddon moved, as an amendment, for a return showing the amount of land reserved in the provincial districts of Westland, Nelson and Canterbury, and assessed on the latest Property-tax valuation. He complained that too much land had been set apart for the railway, and settlement had been retarded. Sir Julius Vogel said the movers of the resolution and of the amendment did not exactly apprehend the position of affairs, as the Government understood them. Government were not in a position to state what blocks of lands were to be given to the Company, as that had not yet been decided. He apprehended that part of Westland would be taken, and the remaining part would then he made much more valuable. He thought it would not be ’advisable for Government to put forth a statement of values at present. One cf the first things the Company would be obliged to do under their contract was to select their land, and thus prevent it from being locked up longer than was necessary. A knowledge of the land through which the railway would go would shortly be laid on the table. He hoped the resolution would be withdrawn. Sir G. Grey intimated his intention of moving a further amendment—“ That the whole question of the expediency of granting large blocks of land as a concession to Companies for the construction of railways be referred to a Select Committee.” The amendment was lost on the voices. Sir G. Grey then moved his amendment. He said an end ought to be put to this system of giving blocks of land for making railways. It was an attempt to rob the people of New Zealand of the heritage of their children.

Sir J. Vogel said it would have a very had eSect if the Houocv would show itself so inconsistent as to pass the amendment now proposed. He said nothing was more certain than that the House affirmed that this railway was to he constructed without spending the money of the Colony upon it. If such an amendment were now passed, after the matter had been carried so far, it would he very derogatory to the dignity of the House. He hoped in a few days to have complete information of alterations made in the contract for constructing the railway. He might say, in reference to the charges that were constantly made by Sir G. Grey as to the land of the coun try being mopped np, that the whole of Australia was taken up for pastoral purposes. He trusted the House would maintain its character for consistency, and not pass the amendment. He wished to say that he (Sir J. Vogel) had not the smallest connection, directly or indirectly, with the Company that proposed to construct the railway.

Mr Suttee, as one who had opposed the construction of the railway last year, hoped, now that the matter was in a fair way of being satisfactorily settled, that Sir G. Grey's amendment would be rejected. Mr Seddon supported the amendment.

He deprecated the objections invariably made by Mr Sutter to all matters affecting the West Coast. The Hon R. Stout pointed out there was a special danse in the Act providing that the value of mineral lands was not lost by the proposal made for constructing ’the railways. Mr Scobie Mackenzie thought Sir G. Grey should have brought in a Bill to repeal the East and West Coast Railway Act. He said the amendment just now was peculiarly ill-timed, but he still felt that a schedule of the land proposed to be taken should he laid before the House. He had seen a prospectus lately, and was so taken by the audacious plausibility of it that he felt inclined to take up shares himself. He believed, however, that the time would come, when the East and West Coast Railway would he pointed at as a concern that .brought a large amount of disaster to those people in England who undertook the construction of it. Mr 6. P. Richardson said there was not half of the land proposed to be given as a bonus to this Company to be found anywhere adjacent to this line, and he thought it was only right the Company should know this.

Mr Fisher pointed out that it was rather late to discuss the question of the railway now, but he protested against the principle of allowing land-grabbing Companies to come into the Colony. There was no doubt whatever that the Colony would eventually purchase the railway, and the Company would walk out with two and a half millions of acres of land.

Mr Hursthoube thought Sir George Grey’s action was empty trifling with a serious question, especially now that the railway was about being constructed on such favourable terms. There had been a great doubt in his mind whether the allocation of the public estate for the construction of the railways was wise or not, but still he hoped the House would stand by the position they had taken up on this question.

Mr Fergus did not think the House was going to repudiate its action because members like Mr Seddon saw the error of their ways in formerly supporting this line. He hoped the motion of the member for Mataura would he carried. If there was nothing to hide in the matter, it should be allowed to see the light. It was admitted that the land for fifteen miles on each side of the railway was not sufficient to pay the Company, and he would ask where the land was to come from. He felt inclined to vote for the amendment, as he would never be a party to parting with the land of the Colony for the construction of railways. Mr Lbvestam pointed out that when Sir George Grey was Governor of the Colony, he issued regulations under which Superintendents of Provinces were compelled to sell large blocks of land. He protested against any attempt being made to discourage the Company from going on with the railway.

Mr Downie Stewart preferred that the Colony should not obtain railways if they had to obtain them by defrauding the Home capitalists. Mr Turnbull could not understand the opposition to the question at the present stage. Sir G. Grey’s amendment was finally put, and lost on a division hj 47 to 9. The original motion was then put, and lost by 34 to 24. The Hon E. Stout read a telegram re the New Hebrides.

Major Atkinson asked if tie date of the delivery of the Financial Statement could he named. The Hon Sir J. Vogel said he could not fix a day. The House rose at 10.50.