PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 139, 1 November 1895, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. STAMP BILS. Mr Reeves moved the second reading of the Stamp Act Amendment Bill, which he explained was entirely one of departmental detail. The second reading was carried by 31 to 23. INCREASE OF MINISTERS. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Ministers salaries and Allowances Act Amendment Bill. He said the increased work which was now cast upon Ministers made it imperative that there should be an additional Minister if the work of the colony was to be carried out. The railway administration required the exclusive attention of a Minister, and that was the principal reason this bill was brought in. With the large interests at stake it was absolutely necessary that one Minister shouM give his whole attention to the administration of the Railway Department, and the' extra cost entailed was a mere fraction. Other Ministers were overworked, particularly the Minister of Lands, and he should be relieved of some of his duties. The work of Ministers was growing, and circumstances indisputably call for an additional Minister. As matters were at present it was perfect slavery. Captain Russell expressed his highest admiration for the power of work possessed by the Premier, hut thought Ministers need not have been overworked if they arrange their work properly. He recognised that Ministers to a great extent overworked, especially the Premier, but much of the work they did was not necessary. Ministers now-a-days were merely political machines instead of administrators, and they chased each other all over the colony in an extraordinary way and thus allowed their work in Wellington to largely accumulate. He questioned whether it was wise in a House of seventy-four members to increase the number of Ministers. He feared that to do so would tend to increase their autocratic power. Mr Ward defended the amounts incurred by Ministers in travelling expenses and said a correct return of all these had been laid on the table during the seession. Surely the country did not expect that Ministers in carrying out the administration of the Colony should be worked to death. SHOPS AND SHOP HOURS BILL. Mr Reeves explained that the Council Managers so far would not give way on any single fraction or point. Further conference to be asked for. LOCAL AUTHORITIES’ LOANS CONVERSION BILL. This Bill was taken in Committee. In clause 2, on the motion of the Colonial Treasurer, Harbor Boards were included in the bodies entitled to convert loans. At clause 5, Mr Bell moved to add to the clause so as to provide that any sinking funds available should be used for the payment of the premium of conversion. This was with the object of preventing the increase of debt. The amendment was agreed to. Mr Carncross moved to report progress. He did not think any more business would bo done that afternoon. This was lost by 25 to 22. At clause 11, the Colonial Treasurer moved to add a new paragraph, providing that in any case of sinking funds being released by the conversion of a loan, residue after payment of costs shall be applied as the local body thinks fit, either for the purpose of paying off any premium upon the conversion operation or in augmentation of the sinking fund to be established for the purpose of repayment of the converted loan at maturity. This was agreed to. In clause 15, the Colonial Treasurer moved to alter the limit of the term of currency of the converted loan from 80 to 50 years. Sir Robert Stout objected to this. He thought the limit of time should be decreased instead of increased. The Colonial Treasurer said that if the Act was to be of any use it was necessary to have a limit of 50 years. Captain Russell moved that the limit be fixed at 25 years. After further debate Captain Russell moved that the rate of interest upon the conversion loans be 4 instead of 44 per cent, as provided in the clause. This was lost by 25 to 9. The Colonial Treasurer’s motion to fix the limit of the currency of the loans to 50 years was carried by 18 to 15. The Colonial Treasurer moved to strike out clause 17, relating to the transfer of debentures. This was agreed to. A new clause providing for the repayment of converted loans through the Public Trustee was, on the motion of the Colonial Treasurer, added to the Bill. The Colonial Treasurer moved to add a new clause, providing that the Governor-in-Couucil may give power to any local authority to inscribe its conversion debentures in such bank or corporation in the Colony as he approves. Several members contended that this was an attempt to place the inscription of stock in the hands of the Bank of New Zealand no matter what the cost to the local bodies. The Colonial Treasurer denied this. It was merely a permissive clause. The clause was added by 84 to 14.

Mr Button on behalf of the Chairman of Committees, moved to add a new clause, providing that where a loan raised by a local authority for a specific purpose is insufficient for such purpose the Governor-in-Council may authorise the raising of a further loan not exceeding 10 per cent of the original amount, a Gazette notice being sufficient authority for such additional loan. This was lost be 22 to IG. The Bill was then reported with amendments.

The Colonial Treasunr moved i s recommittal for the purpose of adding to the list of local bodies authorised to convert their loans *• water supply districts.” Mr Guinness also moved its recommittal for reconsideration of the clause moved by Mr Button, The Colonial Treasurer pointed out that the Bill was only intended to deal with conversion operations, and not new loans. A great deal more than a single clause was required to give effect to Mr Button’s pioposal. The debate was adjourned.