PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9269, 3 August 1893, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

THE RATING OF LANDS.

/BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] f Wellington', Wednesday. ' THE GUMFISLDS. Mr. Robert Thompson is desirous that the Government during the present session should introduce a Bill to give effect to the desire of settlers North of Auckland to have tho gumtields handed over to the County Councils, as an endowment for the maintenance of main roads in that part of the colony. The Local Bodies could then administer the fields and derive revenue from them. Tho Premier, however, cays nothing can be done until the arrival of the Cum Commission report. Then every effort will bo made to pass tho necessary legislation. Mr. Jackson Palmer asked if any legislation was recommended for the exclusion of Austrian*, would there be every effort to pass legislation this session ? The Premier replied lie would stats the intentions of Government when he laid tho report on the table.

LABOUR BILLS. The Shop Hours Assistants' Bill was before tho Committee this morning. Mr. Rolleston attended, and gave evidence of a nature generally adverse to any legislation of the kind. Clause S was re-committed, to add the following: "In the case of any Council or Hoard neglecting or refusing to appoint a day or days as in this Act provided, tho Governor-in-Council shall appoint such day, and do all acts necessary." The Industrial and Conciliation Bill was also considered, and Mr. Black well (chairman of directors of Kaiapoi Woollen Factory) attended to give evidence, which was against compulsory and in favour of voluntary arbitration, with legal compulsions as to the tin ling. Mr. Blackwell was closely questioned by the Committee, during which, in answer to the Chairman, he was understood to say that if the Bill became law it would diminish strikes.

IS TDK EDUCATION ACT IN DANGER?

The Post sticks to it* guns upon this subject, and states thit the fear of Sir Robert Stout as the true loader of the Liboral party is causing the present holders of office to strengthen themselves by securing the denominational vote, which they know would be given against Sir Robert Stout, and with which he would hold no commerce. 1 have reason think that there are intrigues afoot that may ripen into early developments that should be promptly grappled with, and it will be well for the friends of national education to be on the watch.

My first dispitch on this subject dealt chiefly with native land-; as provided in part '2 of the Hill. ' I now give more full and important particulars relating to other lands. The first part deals with general amendments in the Rating Acts, the principal of these being thai in future local bo lies are to make their own assessments, that the county rolls shall bo the standard from which all oilier rolls in the country .-hall be framed, or when th- Counties Act is not in force the Road Board roll shall be the standard ; sopaiato rolls shall be compiled for the purposes of special rates; property shall be assisted on the capital value, and pastoral Crown lands shall be valued in the same way as other rateable Crown lands. Part .'{ of the Bill introduces the principle of rating on the unimproved value of' land, with the absolute exemption of all improvements. This is done by amending section 'J of the Rating Act, ISM', so that the definition of rateable property shall read "without buildings and improvements thereon." The definition ot " rateable value" is to bo repealed. Rating on the unimproved value i- to be carried out on the local option principle. It is provided tint a pill of ratepayers may take place every two years on the question whether or not the property in the city, borough, county, or town district shall henceforth be rated upon the bads of the unimproved value, the proposal to be carried by the same majority as is inn* required to carry a special loan. A r?.te on the unimproved value of the land shall not exceed 3d in the pound. Where this part of the Act is in force in any city, boi'Jugh, county, or town district, all rates of other local bodies in the same district art to be levied and collected in the same siant. er. LAND TAX REVIEWERS. The gentlemen who acted as land tax reviewers at. U'hangurei consider themselves badly treated. They say they were not told their services were to be honorary until they had done the work and sent in their claim". Previously, too, they said they had been pail. Mr. K. Thompson voiced their complaint. The Colonial Treasurer said he was given to understand the rule was to pay travelling expenses only ; that was what hid been done over the greater part of the colony, and if the Whangarei request was granted it would have to be general. He, however, was willing to investigate. NORTHERN FISHERIES. Mr. Houston has a-ke I for a close season for mullet on the northeast coast of the North Island. Both fishers and enters said the fish are getting smaller an I of inferior quality. The Ministerial reply was that, a close season over the whole of the North Island had been practically abandoned because of the remonstrances and objections of Auckland and the northern part of the colony. If it would be any satisfaction to Mr. Houston, however, inquiries would be made as to the advisability of proclaiming a close season.

THE JACKSON PALMER INCIDENT.

One of the discussions to-day which ended in smoke was that following Mr. I Fish's motion that there be laid on the table a copy of the evidence taken and the report of the Inspector of Lunatic Asylums in the celebrated Jackson Ptlmor-cuin-Revel! inquiry, together with the terms of the apology made by Revel!, the Government Buildings caretaker, to the member for Waitemata. Mr. McLean asked that that the motion should be withdrawn, the caretaker having taken Mr. Palmer for a "book fiend." Mr. Buchanan said it was a sorry thing indeed that an apology should have been wrung from a man earning his living, and who could not afford to resist compulsion. The blame of the affair must rest upon the member who, despite the protests of the messengers insisted upon breaking the rules. Mr. Bruce thought it possible unnecessary violence had been used, but the House should not assume the apology had been wrung from the messenger; but ho could not understand why in such a trumpery case the Government had obtained the services of Dr. Macgregor, when the whole tiling could have been settled departmentally in live minutes. Mr. Taylor believed the messenger had simply done his duty, while Mr. -. Hutchison pointed out that Dr. Mac gregorhad required no apology. But the Government had gone further and required one. The Minister for Labour said, anyone reading the evidence could see there was blame attaching to both sides. Neither the member nor the caretaker had shown an extra amount of judgment. Eventually the matter was allowed to drop, on the suggestion of Mr. Robert Thompson, who jocularly referred to the fact that the matter had been referred to the Inspector of Lunatic Asylums. PETITIONS. Amongst petitions presented to-day were the following : By Mr. Lawry from butchers of Auckland and suburbs, praying for a Wednesday instead of a Saturday halfholiday; by Mr. R. Thompson, from North Albertland, etc., praying for the direct veto; by Mr. Buckland, from J. A. Lloyd, of Onehunga, for land grant for military services ; and from Mary Stead man Aldis, drawing attention to the attempt being made to bring the CD. Acts into force at Chrlstchureh ; by Mr. W. Kelly, from settlers of Whakatane, praying for a bridge over the river at the place named. The petition from residents of Hikurangl and Whang..rei districts, praying for the extension of the Whaiiif.uoiK.amo railway has been referred to the Government. JOTTINGS. The Colonial Treasurer has agreed to a rebate of the duty of £2 per ton upon such rice as might be used in the manufacture of starch. With regard to tho cement industry, it would, Mr. Ward states engage the attention of the Government, but rebate would not be allowed to the Napier .Harbour Board.

Mr. Harkness declares the cost under the co-operative system of constructing tho

Mokohinui section of railway was over £4001), whereas it was tendered for at £•2017. There is, says the Premier, absolutely no truth whatever in the statement that Mr. Donkin, who has been sent out to explore the route for the North Island Main Trunk Railway Line, had refused to go into the bush with the inexperienced men from the Labour Bureau sent to him from Wellington. The Minister for Agriculture doos not think there is any neeeessity to set up a further committee to deal with matters relating to dairy produce and the protection of the producers' interests in London. Mr. Lawry's Newmarket Hall Act 1874 Amendment Bill has been read a first time. The Native Titles Validation Bill has been amended to provide that all certificates granted by a judge under the Act shall be laid on the table of the House, and if there be no objection thereto final validation will be authorised.

Mr. Speaker Steward is preparing a bill to give preferential lion to threshing machine owners over grain threshed by them until the work is paid for. Mr. Buick's advocacy of proper accommodation for shearers is to be formulated in a bill.

Mr. O'Conor desires the Government to introduce a bill to exempt improvements up to £230 from local rates. It, is proposed that all police-officers at country stations shall act as agents of the Labour Bureau. Mr. W. Hutchison i* moving for the introduction of Bible-reading in schools. Tho Hon. W. J. Steward will ask tho Government if they intend to put a tax on stud-entire horses. The Hon. Mr. Rolleston presented a petition signed by 1900 residents of Christchurch to day to the Labour Bills Committee to the effect that there was no necessity for the Shop and Shop Assistants Bill. The original date for bringing the Shop and Shop Assistants Bill into force, January, 1894, has been adhered to. The Shipping and Seamen's Bill will probably coine before the Labour Bills Committee next week.

The Amending Land and Income Assessment Bill which will bo introduced shortly will contain provision? setting at rest some doubts as to fie interpretation of the Act, and further powers will bo asked to be granted to the Commissioner to obtain information respecting the completeness ami accuracy of returns of income. The member for Mannkau is responsible for a novel suggestion. He thinks it would be a good idea if all members were returned to the House with a rope.round their necks, and if they voted for anything which turned out not to be for the good of the country, they should be taken out and hanged to the nearest lamppost. This would conduce, he say?, to less and better legi-lation. Mr. Moss Davis and Mr. Kidd occupied 'eat.-: on the left, of the Speaker during the Liquor Kill discussion. Representatives of the brewing and trade interests from all parts of the colony are in Wellington watching tho progress of the Liquor Hills. 'the Hon. Mr. MeCullough has proposed a useful amendment to the Timber Floating Act Amendment Bill which would impose a penalty of £50 for every tree felled into a river by any settler. Mr. McCullough would only impose the penalty where the obstruction is wilful.

Colonel Fraser to-night said in Albertland the direct veto had been a perfect and utter failure. Mr. R. Thompson said the statement made was not correct.

Mr. Shera wants more police along the North Island Main Trunk Railway, with instructions to suppress the sly-grog selling. The Minister of Lands is to be asked by Mr. Shera if he will at an early date place parties of road makers at intervals along the Ongaruhe Stratford road in addition to the men now at work at both ends.

Mr. Buckland intends to move "That tho rabbit inspectors should be abolished, and and the whole system of dealing with the rabbit pest question bo re-organised." The Government are to be asked to amend the tariff by removing the duty on timber dressing or planing machinery. The costof the inquiry re J. King, census enumerator, at Auckland, was £17 16s "id.