PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1604, 15 July 1885, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Press Association)

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 14. The Postal Notes Bill was read a second time. . The other business was unimportant.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. Mr Ivess, member for Wakauui, took the oath and his seat. . Mr WILSON (for Captain Russell) introducep the Napier Gas Company’s Act, 1875. Amendment Bill, 1885. Mr FULTON moved that the amendment made by the Committee to the Congregtional Synod Incorporation Bill be adopted. Agreed to. _ . . Mr PYKE gave notice—That in going into Committee of Supply he would move that the system of nomintaed immigration be resumed without delay. Replying to questions it- was stated_ that arrangements would be made for providing wire, instruments, labor, etc., for erecting a telegraph line between Gisborne and Tologa Bay if the cost did not exceed LI 000 ; that the question of connecting Cromwell Hospital with Cromwell town had better be left in abeyance till after the passing of the Charitable Aid Bill; that a sum would be put on the estimates for the purchase of copies of Keary Nicholl’s book on the King country ; that steps would be at once taken for including the compouud known as "Bough on Rats” under the Poisons Act, 1871; that the Government recognisedithat a stopping place be made useful at Dobson township, but there was already two stations closed by. When the new station is arranged for one of those already existing would be closed. The following Bills were introduced The Westland and Grey Education Boards Bill (Stout); a Bill to validate Sydenham Municipal Council ; Public Works Loan (White); The Coroners Juries Act, Amendment Bill (Tole). Sir JULIUS VOGEL gave notice to move on Tuesday that the House go into committee to consider the following resolution t —That the Government be requested to arrange a fresh service between Frisco and Auckland for five years at a cost not exceeding L 30,000 a year. LOCAL BODIES BILL. Major ATKINSON resumed the debate on the second reading of the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill. He said he regretted the' Government had decided to make it a party measure, as he considered it was especially a Bill that should be considered free from party bias. He thought the main principle of the Bill was that roads should be constructed out of the consolidated fund; but he considered the Chief cost of the roads should fall upon the lauded property of the country, and the only way to make them would be by capitalising special rates. He hoped the Government would not thrust the Bill on an unwilling House. Some arrangement should be made this year with the view of the whole matter being more fully considered during the recess, Mr STOUT congratulated the leader of the Opposition on the attitude he had taken up on the Bill, but he contended that by the speech he had just made he had altogether given up the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. He denied that the Government made any proposals for constructing the roads out of the Con« solidatedFund. They merely told the people they must tax themselves before the Go> vernment assisted them. He did not think l they would have any satisfactory system of road construction till they had large boards of works to deal with each road, and to allocate the money for it. Mr BEETHAM said the one noticeable feature in the Bill was that no provision was made as to the nature of the work to be undertaken. The House rose at 5,30.

EVENING SITTING The House resumed at 7.30. M BUCHANAN continued his remarks on the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill. He denied that local bodies would repudiate their engagement under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. Mr HURST said the Bill should be withdrawn, with a view of submitting a more acceptable measure. Mr COWAN said he did not look with favour on the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, and thought the time had arrived when some other scheme of local government should be devised. He thought under the new Bil', cities would have to i/npose rates in consequence of the responsibilities thrown upon them He would oppose the measure at every stage. Mr WALKER thought the proposal of Government re the Hospital and Charitable AiJ Bill deserved the consideration of the IT.use. It was the most satisfactory principle of local government they had had. He considered the proposal to pay local bodies out of consolidated revenue was only an act of justice. Mr PYKE thought the Bill was so modified by the Government that there was but little harm in it now. He asked the Government to adopt the resolutions passed at the meeting of County Council delegates in Wellington, or take the Bill back and appoint a Royal Commission to inquire and report on the best system of local government for the colony. Mr FISHER hoped the system of subsidies would not come into force. He would deprecate borrowing in any form. Mr W. F. BUCKLAND supported the Bill, but would attempt to amend it in Committee. Mr HURSTHOUSE said the objection be had to the Biil was the facilities It would give for the di-integration of bodies that already existed. [The debate was proceeding when we went to press,]