PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 8323, 10 November 1887, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Fes Press Association.] HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, Not. 9. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Mr Moss asked the Colonial Treasurer if he will inform the House whether, among the various large sums which he proposes to carry ui globo as reductions in the publie expenditure, there are included reduo* in the wages at present paid to skilled and unskilled workmen employed in the public service ; if so, will he inform the House ol the extent and character of such proposed reductions, as an initiative in that direction on the part of the Government must gravely affect the position of large masses of our people dependent on ■manual labour throughout the Colony. The Ron Major Atkinson said the Government had no intention of making the redactions spoken of by the hon memMr Sbddon asked the Minister of Education if he will take into consideration the exceptional difficulties under which Education Boards in the mining districts labour, and on that account will he exempt schools in mining districts from the proposals to reduce the capitation allowance, and the raising of the school age to six Tears. The Hon G. Fisher said he would take the matter into consideration. Mr Jones asked the Premier if he will favourably consider the position of Fire Brigades throughout the Colony, by retaining on the Estimates the annual grant usually set aside for them. The Hou Major Atkinson said a sum woujd be put on the Estimates for the purpose this year. Mr O'Oawaghan asked the Government whether they consider it necessary, in view of the facilities afforded by the Union Company’s steamers, to send the Hinemoa to Auckland and convey members and their relatives to and from Wellington. Th® Hon G. Fishes said the Government did not think it necessary to do so. Mr Valentine asked the PostmasterGeneral whether he will take steps to extend the penny postal system beyond its present limits, either by creating country penny postal districts or extending it generally throughout the Colony. The Hath Major Atkinson would take the matter into I 'consideration, but he feared he would be unable to grant the concession. BILLS. Several Bills were introduced. bewand to gold discoverers. Mr Pbacook moved —“ That the House will, on Nov. 16, resolve itself into Committee to consider an address to the Governor, requesting His Excellency to recommend the appropriation for the current year 1887-88 of £SOOO as a reward for the discovery of a new goldfield in the North Island, and £SOOO for the discovery of a new goldfield in the Middle Island on the following conditions: —(1) That the discovery must be not less thftß 40 miles from any existing goldfield or any existing workings; (3) such reward not to be paid iiploag 60,000 ounces of gold have been produced from the new field within three years from the date of its being announced; (3) any discovery made upon Native land without the consent of the Native owners and the permission of the Native Minister, or some authorised person on his behalf, shall have no claim to the reward.” He said that nothing would be more calculated to lift the Colony out of its present depression than a payable goldfield, and he hoped the House would agree to the motion he had moved. Agreed to on the voices. DUTY ON COAL. Mr R. Reeves (Inangahua) moved—- " That in the opinion of this House it is desirable and necessary that an import duly of not less than 2a 6d per ton be imposed on all coal imported into the Colony from other countries. He spoke strongly a in favour of the motion, and held that its A adoption by the House would be an inflypflpyA benefit to tbs Coast# white it would not barm anybody. The only people who benefited at present were the Unwo Shipping Company. Mr Peldwick supported the motion, and said it was only a matter of time when good payable coal would he found on the East Coast of the South Island as well as on the West Coast. , . Mr Wabd opposed the motion as being calculated to bring the question of Protection into discredit.. Mr Tatlob also opposed it, and hoped the motion would be withdrawn. Mr Mills would not have spoken on the motion were it not that he had been directly challenged by the member for Inangahua. He combated the hon gentleman » statement that the Union Company benefited so largely by the coal mines. If the motion were carried it would have the opposite effect to that intended by the mover; it would drive all sailing vessels out of the trade and put a monopoly in the wda of the Company. He held that the motion, if adopted by the House, would cause the farmers of the country to he seriously handicapped. Dr Fitohett, Mr Sbddon, and Mr o‘Conob supported the motion. The Hon G- Fishes said this put the question of Protection in its moat objectionable light, as, while seeking to benefit one industry it caused injury to many people. He suggested the adjournment of the debate. Mr Joyce moved that the debate he adjourned for a fortnight, which was agreed to. RAILWAY LINEMEN. Mr Hutchison moved—" That, in the opinion of this House, it is desirable that 48 hoars weekly task of linemen on the Government railways be so arranged as to terminate at noon on Saturdays, subject to such conditions as may be necessary for ‘ the public safety.” The Hon E, Mitchelson said he could notaceept the motion, as it was inconvenint to grant Saturday afternoon to linemen. He hoped the motion would be withdrawn. , ~ Mr Valentine, Mr Fish, and Mr Skodon supported the motion. The Hon Major Atkinson hoped that after the statement by his colleague the Minister for Public Works, the House would not think it desirable to pass any hard and fast motion on the matter. He thought the member for Waitotara would have attained his object by drawing attention to it. <til ~ ~ ... Mr Hutchison said the object he had in riew having been achieved by members affirming the desirability of the motion, he should agree to its withdrawal. The motion was withdrawn. MUNICIPAL corporations bill. Mr Turnbull, for Mr Balance, moved the second reading of the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill, providing that Borough Councils may pass bylaws to prevent Chinese from trading in any borough unless licensed. The Hon Major Atkinson suggested that the debate be adjourned till the member for Wanganui was present. Agreed to. The House rose at 4.55 p m. EVENING SITTING. FINANCIAL DEBATE. The dehate on the Financial Statement was resumed by Dr Newman, who generally supported the proposals, but differed from some of the details. He supported the abolition of the Native Department. Mr Reeves (St Albans) condemned the Government proposals, and the absence of anything in them that would relieve the present depression. Mr MTLenzie approved of the Budget, as calculated to meet the requirements of the country. Ho objected to borrowing unless the necessity existed for it. fDr Hodgkinson spoke to a similar effect. Mr Tatlob thought the proposals would largely increase the deficit. Mr Fish moved the adjournment of the debate till next day. Agreed to. TneJHouße rose-at 11,35 p.m.