PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9086, 21 June 1888, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday. The Speaker took his seat at half-past two p.m.

THE LATE EMPEROR. On the motion of the Attorney-General, fc was agreed that an address be presented to His Excellency, requesting him to forward to the Secretory of State for the Colonies, for transmission to the Dowager Empress Victoria, and Prime Minister of Germany, the sorrowful regret the Council feel at the death of the late Emperor, and expressing sympathy with the Dowager Empress. THE PROPERTY TAX.

Mr. Miller's motion, asking for a return showing the amount derivable from a property tax collected from owners of land who possess only £100, and amount derivable from the imposition of a tax on all incomes exceeding £150, was adjourned until to-morrow. LAND TRANSFER. The Land Transfer Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee, and reported with amendments. CRIMINAL CODE. The Criminal Code Bill was ordered to bo recommitted to-morrow. The Council rose at a quarter to four p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Wednesday. The Speaker took the chair at half-past two p.m. TIDE WEST COAST HARBOUR BOARDS. Mr. Seduon complained that all the papers connected with the removal of the members of the Westport and Greymouth Harbour Boards had not been laid on the table as ordered by the House. Mr. Fisher said all papers referring to this matter had been laid on the table with the exception of some confidential correspondence between the Engineer-in-Chief and the Government.

Mr. Reeves (luangahua) moved the adjournment of the House, and in doing so censured the Government for their action.

Mr. Skddon contended that the House should be put in full possession of all the facts connected with this matter.

Mr. Mitchklson justified the action of the Government, and said when the proper time arrived he should not shrink from the position he hnd taken up in advising the Government to remove the members of those Harbour Boards.

Mr. Guinnkss spoke at some length on the question, and said Parliament should have oeen consulted before the members of the Greymouth Harbour Board were removed from their offices, without any reason being given by the Government for such removal. Ho hoped the Minister for Public Works would not shelter himself behind a report that was not allowed to see the light of day. After further discussion the motion for adjournment was lost.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

Leave of absence for two weeks was granted to Mr. Pearson on account of illness, and to Sir J. Vogel for a month, and to Mr. Allen for one week on urgent private business. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that the only information in the possession of the Government with respect to the loan was that it had been floated at £97 15s. The usual charge for floating it was 14 per cent., but full information would not be available for some time to come that the Neva Stearine Candles were considered the best by the manager of the sludgechannalfor works over which he had supervision ; that the question of appointing a Supreme Court Judge was still under consideration ; that Mr. McCallum had been temporarily appointed to travel and lecture on butter-making and other dairy interests at £6 per week, exclusive of travelling expenses; that the Government had endeavoured to get the Chinese Conference postponed until Mr. Oliver's arrival in Sydney, but the request was refused; that Government considered the extension of the limits of the Thames Harbour Board's jurisdiction up to the river was unjust to settlers, who were not benefited by it; that it was not intended to complete the Manawatu Gorge line for summer traffic this year ; the line was hung up like others till it was decided what amount of money should be spent this year, and it was intended that expenditure on the line should last over three years, till 1891 ; that it was not intended to extend the small grazing system of land settlement; that steps would be taken to carry into effect General Schaw'B recommendation as to Rifle Clubs, and there were now 24 rifle clubs in the colony ; that steps would be taken to prevent sly grog-selling as much as possible ; that the Government had no immediate intention of stopping the importation of stoats and weasels ; that the question of uniting districts from which jurors can be summoned would be considered during the recess; that Justices who let their properties for immoral purposes should be deprived of the Commission of the Peace.

The House adjourned at half-past five. The House resumed at half-past seven. SECOND READING. The Mining Companies Act Amendment Bill was read a second time with little discussion. THE LATE EMPEROR. Mr. Hislop, in the absence of the Premier, moved, without notice, a resolution expressive of regret at the death of the Emperor of Germany, and of condolence with the Dowager Empress Victoria, one copy to be sent to the latter, and one to the Prime Minister of Germany. He alluded briefly to the character and ability of the dead monarch, who, as a soldier, statesman, and patriot, had shown his heroism and many good qualities. Mr. Lance, in seconding the resolution, referred to the eagerness with which the sad tale of the Emperor's last months had been read daily, and to the anxiety of the people, even in this distant part of her

mother's territory, testifying to their sympathy with the widowed Empress. The motion was then put and carried. IN COMMITTEE. The House went into Committee on the Land for Settlements Bill.

Clause 3: Governor may purchase or take land for settlement.

Mr. Richardson, in answer to a question, said he was opposed to the Bill altogether, and to test the feeling of the House should move that the sub-section, allowing private land to be resumed by the Governor, be struck out.

A lengthy discussion followed. Mr. Seddon thought the Bill would have to be abandoned if the amendment was carried.

Mr. Hislop supported the Bill. Mr. Reeves (St. Albans) would like to see a comprehensive measure brought down for the resumption of all great estates, but could not look on such a half-hearted measure with favour.

Mr. Steward and Dr. Fitchktt spoke in terms of praise of the provisions of the Bill. Some members complained that the whole principle of the Bill was now being debated over again. Sir G. Grey replied to the objections in a speech similar to his previous ones on the same subject. Mr. Turnbull said the Bill would be totally useless, as next session the Treasurer would, without doubt, have to come down with a progressive land tax. Moreover, the Waste Lands Committee had struck out the clauses providing the means of obtaining money. Mr. Taiwhanga wanted to have the Bill referred to the Native Affairs Committee.

Mr. Perceval advised Sir G. Grey to be content for the present with taking power to purchase land, and not to jeopardise the Bill by insisting on subsection 2, providing for taking any private land so long as compensation was granted. Mr. Samuel earnestly deprecated unsettling the tenure of land by legislation such as this, and moved that the Chairman leave the chair.

Mr. S. Mackenzie also spoke against the Bill, and pointed out the anomalies which would arise from enforcing its provisions. BSJA lengthy discussion went on for some time, when Sir G. Grey intimated his willingness to allow valuators to be appointed previous to resuming the land, and also to give up sub-section 2. Mr. Samuel still vigorously opposed proceeding with the measure, and was accused of wishing to stonewall the Limitation of Votes Bui, which was lower down on the order paper. This he strongly resented.

Mr. Kerr moved to report progress. Lost by 31 to 19. Subsection 2 was then

struck out on the voices. Mr. Samuel withdrew his amendment for the Chairman leaving the chair. A proviso was agreed to that Parliament must first approve of the purchase of any land. Clause 4, local authorities may apply for lands to be acquired under the Act, was struck out by 18 to 16.' Clause 5 was amended in accordance. On the motion of Mr. Anderson progress was reported by 16 to 15, and the House adjourned at 12.45.