NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8295, 25 September 1903, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS

" LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Th« Council met at 2.30 p.m. ' On the motion for the third wading of he State Fire Insurance Kill, Mr George ntercd a protest against the proposals reitin<* to the division of profits- It would absolutely impossible, lie said, for the Government to effect reinsurances, as a lonus was the same as cutting the_ rates. Vlanv members of the Council and „he ath'f Chamber had not graapsd the position. Thev had been misled in the matters Clause 43 "stated that one-half of the net ■surplus of profits had to be divided as a bonus, which'meant that the amoirnt for distribution as bonuses would be 25 per "nt only, instead of half the proSts. Another important objection was that nothing vras set- aside for reinsurance, whereas companies doing business in the colony to set aside 40 per cent, of •heir net premium income for tlw P' Jr P? &e - Uhe most serious ob ection which he had f o related to the privileges of the Council. He referred to the ruling of the Chairman of Committees on the previous dav n under which an amendment to Clause 30 was forbidden on the ground that 11 decision of the Chairman of Committees cold discussed them. It could be challenged m a constitutional way- , -1 r it,. Mr George moved the re-committal of the Bill to tecocfcider Clause 30 flnd_ other clauses in order to have the Chairman s ruling repeated and brought under re-uew. Mr Risk said that he was willing to have the'ruling tested upon a direct motlo\rr Bowen urged the acceptance of Mr George's proposal, as the Council ought to carefullv consider the position before gi\ ing away their privileges. The motion for the re-committal of the Bill was agreed to. Mr George proposed an amendment to Clause 30. The Chairman said that he saw no reason to depart from his previous ruling. The clause affected moneys raised by a charge on the people. He ruled that there could be no discussion then upon his ruling, which must bs challenged in the proper way bv Sotico 'of motion.

Mr M'Lean moved to report progress in order to have the Chairman's ruling decided. This was agreed to, and the next business was proceeded with. The Commissioners Bill and the Interpretation Act Amendment Bill were committed and reported with the technical amendments suggested by the Statutes Revision Committee.

The City Single {Electorates Bill was committed,* but progress was immediately reported to enable the Attorney-General to further consider the proposed amendments. The Council adjourned at- 4.30 p.m. ■

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p-m. Mr Guinness stated that he had received a cablegram from Mr Chamberlain, in repiy to the resolution passed by the House, savins that he was deeply sensible of the hish honor paid to him by the representatives of New Zealand. The Gaminsr and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill and the Labor Department Bill were introduced and read a first time.

The Public Domains Act Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Lands Commitee. The Hon. Mr Mills moved the second raiding of the C-ook and Other Islands Government Act Amendment Bill, to make better provision for the government of the Cook Group. He explained that a good d=al of feeling existed at Niue Island because the island was administered by Raratonca, when it was nndenstood_that it would be- governed by New Zealand. Niue had no representation on the Federal Council of Raratonga. and the Government had decided to have the administration of the two islands separated. The Bill provided that, in future each would be administered direct from New Zealand. From correspondence which had been received he beloved that- there would be no more dissatisfaction after the. Biii became law. He quoted figures to show the progress of the islands. He thought that the trade and commerce of the islands were certain to

increase, and. so far as he could gather, there were great possibilities ahead after the islands had been better developed. Tiie owners of the land were willing to let it to Europeans at a fair rental, he looked forward to a number of settlers going there and assisting the further development of the resources of the group. The revenue of the group had increased from £825 in 1892-93 to £6584 in 1902-3. He thought that if a fortnightly "service was arranged to the islands, a- great* many people would visit tliem, and he was now contemplating the establishment of a service from Wellington to Raratonga direct. Mr Herries said that it- was nearly four years since the annexation of the islands, and the .Government should by this time liave decided on some form of administration which would place iue islands on a firm and substantial basis. Ihis Bill contained no more than the old make-shift arrangement. As to the 'Federal Council he questioned the advisableness of having a number of separate Parliaments among .the outlying portions of the colony, and he urged that we should liave removed the ordinance which precluded white men from having votes for the election of members. From beginning to end the administration of those islands had not been to the credit of the colony. The whole tendency of the legislation was to place greater power in the'liands of the Executive, and he urged that that was a principle that ought not to be encouraged. Mr Hone Heke considered that until both the European and native residents of the islands had direct representation in the New Zealand House and in the Legislative Council, their grievances, wants, and requirements, would never be properly understood by us. 'Mr Hanan objected to the islands having special representation in the New Zealand Legislature. A better plan would be to tack the C'ook Group on to a New Zealand const-ituencv.

Mr Fowlds said that it- must be the opinion of most of the members who went on the Mapourika trip that it' was very difficult to form anything like a comprehensive policy or system of government that would be suitable for thsse islands. •He did not believe that the islands would ever be of any material benefit to New

Zealand. On the contrary, he thought that their connection wim Xew Zealand would be to the material and moral hurt of the islands.

Mr J. C. Thomson, .Mr J. W. Thomson, and Mr W. Fraser, also epote. Mr Massey said that he had not very much objection to the Bin except that it was another instance of patchwork, piecemeal legislation to wliich they were now becoming accustomed. He admitted that the representation of the people of the islands in the New Zealand Legislature was the logical outcome of annexation of the group, but on grounds of expediency ha thought that the special representation might well be postponed for a very long time.

The debate was interrupted, by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The 'House resumed at 7.30 p.m.

The debate on the motion for the second reading of the Cook and Other Islands Government Act Amendment Bill was resumed. Sir William Russell said that the administration of these islands would not be

all play. If in the future the Empire became embroiled, as she would in all probability be, in war -with some maritime power, the duty would devolve upon New Zealand of defending her dependencies. ■Were we prepared to do that? We should have enough to do to defend our own shores.

Mr Aronld considered that attention to this group was in the best interests of the natives, and he Tioped wiat the Government would bring in a Bill to preserve the ! whole of the land tp.them- One of the firet the Government should do was to send experts to thoroughly train the residents" in cqltiVatibn of the various products grown on the -islands. •Mr Barber>rin^qtoporting■•.the Bill, said that therejwoW n"<r : limit\to the productiveness of these islands if. they were properly cultivated.... Mr M'Lachlan' said they should pass the the Bill by' aIT means, but if it was possible to let the natives alone in the peace, auietness and luxury .that nature had placed them in. for God's sake do so. . , itfr Major urged that the colony should not shirk the responsibility jt hag undertaken. . .

iMr Parata did not consider that the time had arrived for giving the inhabitants of the group representation in the New Zea-

land 'Parliament, but ha suggested that' one of, the leading chiefs shonia be invited to visit the colony and mike mmself familiar with our form of government. Mr Flatoian hoped that the Government would see that no land in the group was sold, and that no alcoholic liquor was imported. He believed that t-ne islands will in the near future prove an acquisition to the colony. ' The Hon. Mr Mills, in replying, said that the time had "not yet come for special' representation of the islands in the New Zealand Parliament, but it might come in> time. - He believed that the islands would be able to maintain themselves, bat it would be for the Bouse to consider whether the colony should not assist the group to open up roads nrd construct other necessarypublic works, "i was his opinion that all islands in the South (Pacific should be part of New Zealand territory, and he believed that some of the members m the House would live to see that take place. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. ■ . .

The Midland Railway Petitions Settlement Act Amendment Bill, Sea Fisheries Act Amendment Bill, and a Bill for the creation of a Department of" Labor and to define the powers and duties 'thereof were, introduced by Governors message and read a first time.

The Hon. W. Hall-Jones moved the second reading of the Water Power Bill, to provide for the vesting in the Crown of waters for electrical purposes, and for utilising such waters for those purposes. He said that members would have realised that great strides had taken place of late in the development of water power for electrical purposes, and no country in the southern hemisphere was so favorably situated in this regard as New Zealand. In the north the colony had the Huka and Wairoa Falls, and in the south enormous power was lying unused in the lakes districts. The Bill provided for the State having control of the enormous water the colony possessed. .He explained that it was not intended to interfere with the' supply of water for domestic purposes; ij was not intended that- the power should be used by the 'State itself, but it would be dedicated to local authorities who' might require to use it. An electrical expert was at present on his way from San Francisco to New Zealand, and it was the duty of Parliament to see that proper provision was made for the control by the State of the water power of the colony. Mr M'Nab said the Bill would have to be considerably altered in Committee. It went far beyond the intention of the Minister. In its present form it would prevent a Ginall farmer who had a stream' running through his property using it for the purpose of driving a chaffcutter. Tlis Hon. Mr Hall-Jones: That is not my intention. Mr Massey said that he did not - object to the principle of the Bill, but he did not like it in its present form. It went much too far; much further . than the Minister intended.

ilr Buddo objected to the curtailment of the rights of water 6upply boards and county councils involved in tEe Bill, and would use every effort to retard its passage in its present form. Mr Taylor congratulated the Government on the introduction of the Bill, and hoped that ail earnest effort would be made toutilise the wealth underlying the water power possessed by the colony. Mr Buchanan did nob think that the water of smaller streams should be interfered with by tlia Government. Mr Witty pointed out that there was no provision in the Bill for carrying on the existing irrigation works. He would oppose, the Biil unless the rights of country settlers were preserved Sir W. J. Steward, would have to oppose the Bill unless it was amended in the direction of .safeguarding irrigation schemes. Sir William Russell thought it a wrong principle that the whole water power of the colony should be v£6te3 in the Government- ; it would lead to maladministration and unnecessary expense. He complained that the Bill contained no provision for syndicates or private* capitalists to deal with the electrical energy of the colony. If capitalist were prepared to embark on schemes like these, what harm could ensue ? After further debate the Hon. W. HallJones replied. He said that he would _ba the last- man to stand by and see the- interests of fanners jeopardised, and he pointed out that tlis vesting in the Crown of water power for electrical purposes was subject to any rights now lawfully held. He could see that- the Biii would have to be amended in Committee to prevent hardships being inflicted in certain cases. He did not believe that there was a member in the House who desired to dedicate to a private syndicate the enormous power contained in the Huka Falls. He wished to make it clear that there was not the slightest intention to interfere with_ existing or anv future schemes of irrigation. The second reading was carried on the voices. The House rose at 12.30 a.m.