THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3367, 20 November 1872, Page 6

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wo continue our risurn& of the proceedings of the General Ajsuembly since the date of our last Summary:— TcK-stuy, Octoubh 22nj>. The Legislative Council, after several hours' debate, passed the second reading of the Railways Bill by 15 to 12. The Bill afterwards paused through Committee, but notice was given of several new clauses. The Otago Waste Lands Bill \rm finally pa.HHcd. In the Jlouse of Representatives, the Native Council Bill was withdrawn after debate. Wkunkkoay, OctoflKit 23ki». On the second reading of the Appropriation Bill being proposed, Mr Stafford, in a brief speech, recorded his emphatic protest against the unconstitutional policy of the Ministry in depriving the representatives of the people of the power of from year to year determining what may be expended. This, ho contended, was done by entering into contracts in excess of appropriations. Of the two millions supposed to be applicable to railways, nearly half a million waa already spent on other purposes ; and to complete the works already authorised, at least two millions more than was yet authorised to be raised would be required. The House, he said, had become a mere machine for registering the edicts of the Minietry.

Mr Bath gate replied, contending that it would be quite impossible ever to have railways, if the contracts were to be limited to a single year's appropriations. He thought Mr Stafford's speech was quite unworthy of him, and that the public works policy was likely to be more successful in the hands (if the present Government than in Mr Stafford's.

Mr Vogel also replied to Mr Stufford at some length. He said that the Railways Bill was the authority of Parliament for the works proposed to be constructed; yet Mr Stafford blamed them for obtaining what he blamed them for doing without. He thought Mr Stafford's conduct was very inconsistent, which arose from a. mental conflict between approval of the policy and discontent at the Government by whom it was administered. The iiill then passed through all its remaining stages. The Railways Bill passed the Council, with some Blight additions, which were not opposed by the Government. In the Council, the Immigration and Public Works Bill waa read a second time, and considered in Committee. TiICII.SIMV, OCTOHKR 24T11. Tiie Council passed the Immigration and Public Works Bill. It also insisted on its amendment in the Maori Representation Bill, striking out the clause giving an additional member to the Western District In the House, Mr Vogel intimated that Mr J. E. Brown wished to retire from the candidature for tho office of Chairman of Committees, and that consequently the election of a Chairman would bo jjostponed to next session.

Mr O'Rorke was sworn in as Minister of Lands and Immigration.

Mr 'Vogel said that he was unable to announce any further Ministerial arrangements, except that Mr Bathgate, by personally attending to the duties of the Stamp Department, would obviate tho necessity for the proposed Deputy-Com-missioner of Stamps, and so save tho expenditure of £500 a year.

Friday, October 25th.

Parliament was prorogued to-day by His Excellency the Governor, in person, who delivered the following speech :—

Honourable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen of this Houhe ok RkI'IIKSBN'TATIVEH—

In bringing to a close this session of Parliament, 1 have to thank you for the care and attention you have devoted to tho public business. lam glad you have been able to pass ao many large and important measureH, calculated to promote the social welfare, commerce, and good government of the Colony.

By the Public Health Act, you have greatly strengthened the hands of the Government, by enabling it to take needful precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases ; while you have in the Municipal Corporations Waterwoi'ktt Act passed a measure calculated to beneficially promote the health and comfort of the inhabitants of the large towns. Tho Drawbacks Act will afford considerable relief to the mercantile community, and remove tho obstacle to increasing that commerce with the islands of the South Pacific which this Colony, from its geographical position, ought to be able to command.

I congratulate you on having passed the Public Trustee Act. Although somewhat novel in its features, it will supply a great public requirement, and will, I trust, prove of advantage to the Colony. Its initiation, during the recess, will engage the careful attention of the Ministry.

The Public Works Amendment Act, in which you make further provision for carrying out the beneficent policy of colonisation, shows that you were determined to promote to the utmost of your ability the progress of the Colony. The provision you have made for the benefit of the West Coast of the Middle Island is a proof that you fully recognise the wants of that important district.

Tjie Railways Act makes provision for carrying out works previously determined upon by Parliament, and although the additional cost now sanctioned appears considerable, it is explained by including the expense of engineering and departmental work not before included, and the purchase of land, together with the extra cost of iron, and the estimated additional cost arising from the increased price of labour. It is especially gratifying to notice that when all these amounts are added together, the average cost of the railways will be only about £5090 a mile, or £'90 more than was originally estimated when the Public Works and Immigration proposals were first submitted to Parliament. The 7(54 miles of railway which you have authorised at this rato must largely develope the resources of the country. It will now be the duty, as it will, I believe, be the aim of Ministers to construct these works with all tho speed that tho state of the labour market and other considerations will probably permit. Tho Tramways Act is an important supplementary measure to your railway legislation, and will, while opening up tho country, at the same time provide railways with network feeders to their traffic. I regret that tho measure introduced by the Government with a view to providing greater security to Lifo Assurance has not passed into law. I hope, however, that eventually this or some similar measure may receive the sanction of Parliament.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives—-

I thank you for the supplies you have granted for the Public Service, which shall be aijninisiered with all due care and economy. I am pleased to notice the increased attention which is being devoted to administrative and financial

questions. By the Public Revenues Act you have provided a much more efficient system of control over the public moneys than previously existed, and I have little doubt that the measure will prove extremely beneficial. During the recess it i« the intention of the Ministry to investigate the condition of the Civil Service, in order to decide when to extend administrative economical reforms that may be practicable. Honourable Lkgislativk Councillokh, and gk.vtlkmen of tkk houßk ok hwkk-sbntativkh — The abundance of employment which existed, and the readiness with which the recently introduced immigrants have been absorbed by the labour market, prove the wisdom of Parliament in recommending active measures of colonisation. It will be the earnest endeavour of my Government to continue to carry out the conciliatory policy towards the Natives which has been so successful during the last few years. I have felt great pleasure in summoning in Her Majesty's name to the Legislative Council two Maori Chiefs —Mokene Kohere, of the Bast Coast, and Wiremu Tako Ngatata, of the West Coast.

In bidding you farewell, I desire to congratulate you on the general and growing prosperity of the Colony. The official statistics recently published by th Imperial Government show that New Zealand, although only thirty-two years have elapsed since the beginning of colonisation here, is already the fourth in rank and importance on the long list oBritish Colonies. In its public revemief in its trade (including imports and ex, ports), and in other elements of material progress, it is now surpassed only by the Dominion of Canada, by Victoria, and by New South Wales. It may be confidently expected that through the blessing of Providence on the energy and industry of its population, in developing the vast and varied metallic resources or this country. New Zealand will soon rise to a still higher place among the Provinces of the Empire.