HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 907, 19 July 1889, Page 15

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17. The House met at 2.30. NAPIER ODDFELLOWS’ LODGE SITE BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. In answer to questions, Ministers said there was no doubt whatever that licenses to prospect on lands held on pastoral lease could be obtained.—ln appointing the Sweating System Commission the Government would consider Mr Joyce’s suggestion that a mem bar of the Wellington Trades and Labour Union should be a member of it. They would not promise that it should be done, but considered the suggestion a very valuable one.—The Premier (remarking that he had profited by hia experience of the previous day) said he was not in a position to say. without further information, whether or not the Government would propose to make the Seaward Bush railway on the same terms as the Otago Central. If the House passed the Otago Central Bill, the Government would have to consider whether the other lines could not be carried on under the same terms. (Hear, hear.) —The Government were at present giving facilities to rifle clubs in districts where there were no rifle corps.'—Some alteration would have to be made in the audit of local bodies’accounts, and a Bdl was now in preparation dealing with the subject. —lt was nob intended to take any steps this session to fill up the vacancy in the Representation Commission. —lb was the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill to continue th« Act of last year for restriction of Chinese immigration. Sit George Grey asked the Premier, Are Ministers responsible for the letter which was written on the 4th instant by the Governor of New Zealand to the Vice-Consul for France at Wellington, which is published in the Parliamentary Papers, relating to the convict Gasparini ? In putting the question Sir George expressed an opinion that the Governor could not have publicly corresponded with the Vice-Consul in a manner which was opposed to his position in the country and his dignity. The Premier asked that the question he postponed till Tuosday, as he had not had time to look into the matter. Sir George Grev agreed to this. BILLS INTRODUCED. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time : The Colonial Secretary— The Wellington School of Design Bill, a Bill to amend the New Plymouth High School Aot ; Mr Guinness—The Westland and Grey Eduoation Aot ISB7 Amendment Bill. LOCAL OPTION. Mr Withy (for Mr Fulton) moved, Whereas the enormous direct expenditure on intoxicating liquors in this Colony--amounting annually lo more than two millions sterling—contributes largely to the existing depression, adds materially to crime and poverty, and reduces the capital available for reproductive industries; and whereas the people under the existing law are powerless to remove the principal cause of these evils ; it is, in the opinion of this House, imperative that the Government should, without delay, introduce a Bill giving power to the people, by direct vote at the ballot-box, periodically taken, to prohibit the sale of such liquors within the district in which they reside. Mr Goldie spoke in favour of the motion, which was carried, on division, by 36 to 26. POINT RESOLUTION PURCHASE. The debate on Sir George Grey’s motion authorising the Government to take a decision of the Supreme Court on this question, was adjourned by 42 to 24. PROPERTY-TAX VALUERS. Mr Verrall moved for a return of the names of all persons who tendered the last time for the office of Property-tax valuers, and the amounts of their tenders. The Premier said this would be a very expensive return to prepare, and would be practically useless. He should be very glad to give the bon member any information of a local character he required. On division the motion was lost by 44 to 21. MR MACKENZIE’S MOTION. The motion of which Mr Scobie Mackenzie had given notice, traversing the ruling of the Speaker on the Private Sohools Bill, was called on during his absence from the House. Subsequently Mr Mackenzie asked whether he could renew it, and the Speaker said he could. Sir George Grey moved that Mr Mackenzie be heard, but the Speaker said that could not be done. The business on the paper must be taken in its order. REDUCTION OF THE PROPERTY-TAX. Mr Guinness moved that Mr Barron’s motion for reduction of the Property-tax be further adjourned for a fortnight. This was lost by 45 to 25. Mr Barron’s motion was then put and lost by 60 to 11. Mr Seddon moved an amendment to the effect that the Property-tax be abolished on and after September, 1890, and a land and income-tax substituted ; and that in the meantime agricultural, mining, and manufacturing machinery'should be exempt. The discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. WELLINGTON AND MANAWATU RAILWAY COMPANY DRAINAGE EMPOWERING BILL. This Bill was introduced and read a first time. SHOP HOURS BILL. Mr Joyce, in moving the second reading of this Bill, expressed the trepidation he felt in bringing before the House a Bill to give effect to the wishes of such a large number of people in the Colony. He referred to the opposition which the Bill had met, and said it came principally from the small shopkeepers. He warmly urged the adoption of this Bill, pointing out how beneficial would be its effect on the people. (Cheers.) Mr Fish said the Bill would not effect

the object aimed at, because it allowed shop employes to be kept at work from 6 in the morning till 8 at night. Further, he contended that it was unjust to close all shops , at seven o’clock. Had the measure provided that employes should not be kept at work after six o’clock it would > have had his hearty support; but he considered it would be highly unfair to make small traders close ac seven. Mr Turnbull opposed the Bill with regret; but felt compelled to do so because the measure really meant nothing. Dr Fitchett supported it, on the ground that it would give much needed recreation to a large cl.i9S of people. A long discussion ensued. Mr Joyce, replying, expressed his willing, ness to adopt a suggestion made by several members to insert an amendment in committee, making it optional for any city or borough council to bring the Bill into force. The second reading was agreed to. criminal evidence bill.

This Bill was committed. A discussion took place on clause 3, providing that an undefended person may give evidence if he- wishes at the conclusion of the case for the prosecution. —This was opposed byseveral members, and Mr Samuel moved an addition to the effect that the husband or wife of the accused person might also give evidence. Eventually, however, he withdrew the amendment, and the clause was agreed to. A new clause was moved by Mr Samuel, to the effect that if tho person charged, or bis or her husband or wife refused to give evideuce, that was not to be considered to the prejudice of the accused, and no comment adverse to him should be allowed. This was agreed to. The Bill was reported, and read a third time aud passed. GOLD DUTX ABOLITION BILL. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of this Bill, which provides that the gold duty shall be abolished at the rate of fid per ounce per year. The Bill is not to apply to the North Island, except in districts where it is petitioned for. The Minister for Justice warmly supported the Bill, considering the gold duty au unjust oue, which the Col my should remove. Messrs Brown, Seddon, Grimmond, R Reeves, T. Mackenzie, and Pyke supported the Bill, and Dr HodgkinsON opposed it. Mr Moss held that the House should not come to a decision on this Bill until they had decided whether or not an ther very heavy impost— the Property-tax—should be removed.

Mr Fish also opposed the Bill. Mr Scobie Mackenzie supported it, holding that the tax was an invidious one, and pointing out that New Zealand was the last Colony to remove it. Mr Hobbs moved the adjournment of the debate, which was lost by 43 to 16. The Minister of Mines said he had to express opinions contrary to those of his colleague, the Minister for Justice. He pointed out that the local bodies concerned would be unable to carry on without it. He admitted that the tax was a class tax, and recognised the great necessity for fostering the mining industry, but he did not see that the miners had any special ground for complaint. This duty was all returned to them, and they had better bridges and roads than would be found in most agricultural districts. It was the case thnt in the South and the North Islands the miners over a considerable area did not want this tax removed. In the present position cf the Colony he should strongly oppose the removal of the gold duty. After further discussion the motion for the second reading was put and. carried by 37 to 21. The House rose at 11.45.