NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8927, 16 December 1887, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— PBRS3 ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday. The Speaker took the chair at half-put two p.m. A NICE POINT. A discussion arose as to whether the vote of the Hon. Mr. Walker was correctly recorded in the division list with the noes the previous evening on the Wellington College and High School Bill, which had the effect of losing the Bill. Mr. Walker said lie had voted with the ayes. i The Speaker said he would take time to consider if the division could be taken again. MISGKLLAHKOU3. The Government Railways Management Bill was read a first time; the Ohristohuroh Hospital and Ghristohuroh Drain Reserves Bill were read a seoond time; the Native Land Administration Aot Repeal Bill was ordered to be committed. The Council adjourned at five p.m. to halfpast seven. NATIVK LAND ADMINISTRATION. The Council on resuming at half-past seven went into committee on the Native Land Ad* ministration Aot Repeal Bill. Several unimportant amendments, proposed by the Government, were agreed to, as also was an amendment by Mr Tairoa, to the effect that the Bill would not affeot the natives of the Middle and Stewart's Islands. MISCELLANEOUS.

The Native Land Court Bill and the Maori Real Estate Bill were read a third time and passed. The Building Societies Amendment Bill wae read a second time. The Govern* meut Loans to Looal Bodies Bill, in committee, waa slightly amended, and was reported with amendments. OTAQO CENTRAL RAILWAY BILL. Mr. Ollivkk, m a lengthy speech, moved the second reading of the Otiago Central Railway Bill, which would open up millions of acres of fertile land, besides enhancing the value of Government laud abutting on the proposed extension; and, in addition, would not cost the State a halfpenny. Mr. Scotland spoke in favour of the Bill. The suooiiii reading was opposed by Messrs. Shrihsk.l and MoLkan.

The debate, on the motion of Sir F. WhitaKKk, was adjourned to next day. The Council adjourned at twenty minutes to eleven.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday. The House met at at 2 30. QUESTIONS.

In reply to questions, it was stated that the Government had no knowledge of the proposal of the New South Wales Legislature to increase import duties on New Zealand products ; that there were no regulations at premat prohibiting Civil servants from being members of Eduoation Boards ; that the question of increasing the rate of pay allowed to common jurors would be taken into consideration during the reoess.

IMPOKTATION OF STOCK. Consideration of the report of the Importation of Stock Committee was, on Captain Russell's motion, ordered for next day. PROPOSED RtHEABINC. A lengthy discussion took place over the report on the petition for the re-hearing of the Porangahau (EJawke't Bay) blook. Mr. Hutchison's amendment for referring the report biuk to the committee for further consideration was lost, and the report was referred to the Government for consideration. THE PROPOSED DOTY ON GOAL. Mr. K. Kkkvks obtained leave to withdraw his motion to impose an import duty of 2« 6d per ton on all imported coal. THE LOAN BILL. Sir J. Vooel, at half-past four o'clock, hoped the debate on the Loan Bill would be postponed till the evening sitting. Major Atkinson objected to the adjournment, and said the debate had been postponed to that afternoon expressly to suit Sir J. Vogel's convenience. Mr. Hctohhon moved that the debate be adjourned till half-past seven, which was lost on the voices.

Sir J. Vooel then resumed the debate on the Loan Bill. He criticised the Pnblic Works proposals at some length. The pro* posals, he said, did not fit in with tbose of the Financial statement. He thought the North island Trunk railway proposals were made owing to a fear of offending both the Wellington and Auckland members. He had gone thoroughly into the whole matter, and he found that for £600,000 communication could be made between the ooast of Mew Plymouth and a point on the main line south of Te Awamutu. He strongly supported the line going right through Now Plymouth, and he did not think more than £400,000 would be required in exoeis of the loan already authorised for the completion of the line. The line between Palmenton and Woodville, in his opinion, should be pushed oa as quickly as possible, but he deprecated the proposed delay in the completion of tbe Oreymauth and Hokitika line, as it would be a vsry paying one. The proposals for the Otago Central railway were exceedingly unsatiifaotory, at he was con vinoed that the line would be melees till it was completed to Middlemarch. He thought the proposals re roads and bridges were fallaoiona, end the provisions re (joldfields roads wholly inadequate. lae sum setdown for the unemployed, £30,000, was less than had been spent in any one year for the last 25 years by the Qeneral or Provincial Governments. The amount was altogether insufficient. He thought the Sumner Kail way, to cost £14.000, might be undertaken. Further information should be given re emigration. The House adjourned at half'paat five. The House resumed at half-past seven p.m. Sir J. Vuokl oontinued the debate. He thought no necessity existed for tho continuance of large expenditure on harbour defences. Half a million was, in his opinion, sufficient for public works at present. He considered that the Government was placing the colony in great danger by giving a guarantee not to borrow further till 1891. Hβ condemned tbe Public Revenue Bill as giving power to the Government to appoint agents in Great Britain for the purpose of borrowing £400,000 to pay off last year's deficiency bills. Mr. Fishkr said the finances of the colony were in a perfect network of difficulties, and Sir J. Vogel was responsible for that oondition. Sir J. Vogel was simply making a bid for the votes of hou, members, but suoh tactics ae he was carrying out would, he (Mr. Fisher) believed, not alter the opinion of anyone. Aβ to the earmarking of loans, one distinct feature of the Public Works Statement was, that the loan proposals were epeoifioally stated, Sir J, Vogel's attempt to reduce the loans was a delusion, so that he might regain possession of the Treasury benches. Dr. Fitohkxt moved, "That there be added to the motion, ' with the understanding that the amount of the loan be reduced to half a million.'"

The Speaker ruled the amendment oat; of order.

Dr. Fitohett then moved an amendment to the motion, aftwr the words, "Ttiatthe Bill be read a leoond time, " That it is desirable that the loan shall not exceed £600,000"

Mr. HODGKISSON seconded the amendment.

Major Atkinson said it was impossible for the Government to mooept the amendment. When in committee the Government would be glad to explain the various works to be oonstruoted out of the loan, and if the House then thought that certain works should be delayed the Government would be prepared to reduce the loaa by that amount; but they oould not limit the expenditure to halt a million, and he wished it to be under* stood that the Government took a direot stand on this point. Sir Julius Vogel had misled the House as to the position of affaire. He reminded the House that £1,200,000 oash had to be provided by April next, and there was no less than £996,000 out at present, in J)olioiency Bills. Hβ deprecated the sudden stoppage of public works, whioh would throw 1500 men out of employment. The Government would willingly assist the committee in making any reductions considered neoesiary. Sir Gt. Gkev condemned the policy of the Government, and said the House would do well not to pledge itself to borrow any partioular amount.

Mr. Sgojbib McKbnzih did not like the present proposals, and he favoured oess&tion of borrowing, So far as he oould see, neither the Premier or leader of the Opposition seemed deairous of stopping borrowing. Mr. Reeves (St. Albans) said if the House decided to retrench, it could only be dona in the manner suggested in the amendment.

Mr. Barron thought the Government were anxious to honestly serve the country, and they desired the support of the House. He supported the proposals in the Loan Bill.

Mr. Walk KB spoke against the policy of the Government. Mr. Fish enp ported the amendment, as did also Mr. Fkldwkjk, [Left Sitting.]