THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1188, 5 September 1874, Page 9

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wednesday, 26th August. In the House of Representatives, Mr Murray proceeded to move, " That in the opinion of the House the nomination of tenants of the Crown to seats in the Legislative Council is highly objectionable, and inconsistent with the independence of Parliament." The hon. member was reflecting seriously upon the motives actuating members of the other branch of the Legislature, when he was interrupted by the Speaker. Mr Atkinson asked if the motion was proper and in order. The Speaker said he would have struck the motion off the Order Paper had not his brother Speaker said that he had no objection to see it discussed if the House wished. He considered it exceedingly impertinent on the part of any member of that House to limit by motion the prerogative of the Crown. But he left it to the Government to express its wishes in regard to the motion. Sir Donald M'Lean considered the motion in very bad taste, and if the honourable mover had reflected for a moment he would not have acted so as to bring about an altercation between the two branches of the Legislature in forcing his arguments by attributing personal motives. He trusted the honourable member would withdraw the motion, which ought never to have been put upon the Paper. Mr Murray defended the resolution, and only regretted it did not emanate from the Government. He was afraid their leanings were too much toward the tenants of the Crown. He declined to withdraw the motion. Mr Reid supported the motion warmly, as one upon which the House should express Jan opinion. * Mr Fox said there were other ways of dealing with all these constitutional questions without being guilty of a piece of I'ool- j ish impertinence and unnecessary insult to the other Houee. If there was an objection to any particular class of members of the other House, why not bring down a Bill disqualifying them ? MrT. L. Shepherd supported the principle of the motion, though it was awkwardly drawn up. Out of 45 members in the other House there were 14 tenants of the Crown who were consistent opponents of all liberal land laws. He .was confident that 1 h policy j of tihe country could never be a success until the land was allowed to be settled upon by the people. Mr J. L. Gillies hoped the motion would be pressed to a division, as he agreed with all that had fallen from the two preceding Otago members. Nine men out of ten in Otago would support any such proposal. Mr Sheehan thought he would not vote for the motion. He deprecated the ruling of the Speaker, which would, in fact, burke the discussion in the House upon a question of that nature. Still, he hoped the honourable j member would withdraw the motion. The question would very fitly be discussed next session, with other considerable changes. Mr Mervyn and Mr Tribe hoped the motion would be withdrawn. Mr O'Conor thought the motion had a good intention, but was misleading, though he sympathised greatly with the object in view. He must oppose the motion. The j question was so important that the country would insist upon its ventilation soon. j Mr Thomson proposed that the debate would be adjourned.

Thursday, 27th August.

In the Legislative Council, Mr Buckley moved that the Railways Bill should be read a second time that day six months. After a long debate the Bill was thrown out. Mr Mantell's motion that the Ward Chapman correspondence should be remitted to the custody of the Speaker, the Government to have access to it if they think necessary, was carried. (5a the Wellington Land Payment Bill, Mr Pollen carried a clause to the effect that particulars of all transactions under the Act should be published in the Gazette before Crown grants were issued. The following Bills were thrown out on the second reading : — The Goldfields Act Amendment Bill, and the Clyde Waterworks Borrowing Bill. The following Bills were passed :—Canterbury Marriage Bill, New Zealand Extradition Bill, Excise Duties Bill, Native Lands Amendment Bill, Volunteer Act Amendment Bill, "Wellington Lands Bill, Payments Walsh and other Pensioners Bill, Wilson Gray Pension Bill, Invercargill Gas Loan Bill, Harbour Board Act Amendment Bill, Taranaki Waste Lands Bill, Angus River Foreshore Bill, Poverty Bay Lands Titles Outlying Districts Bill, Sales of Spirits Bill, Lewis*! Retiring Allowances Bill. j In the House of Representatives, Mr Richardson said, in reply to Mr J. C. Brown, that the Government would inquire into the recommendation made by the residents of Tuapeka regarding the Blue Spur, Gabriel's Gully, so as to be enabled to bring down proposals on the matter next session. Mr Fox asked whether the Government intended to give effect to the recommenda tion contained in the interim report of the Ward- Chapman Committee for an interchanging of Judicial Circuits ? The Premier thought it a desirable thing to do, and had no doubt that changes would be made after this. Mr O'Neill asked whether during the recess the Government would cause inquiries to be made relating to the working of the Royal Mint in Melbourne, and report at the commencement of next session ? The Premier promised to endeavour to Erocure all information on the subject calcukted to be useful to New Zealand. He had no doubt the Victorian Government would readily furnish the information aaked for. Mr M urray asked if the Government would do anything to obtain cheapness, simplicity, and uniformity in the patent laws throughout the Colonies ? The Premier did not think New Zealand could have much influence in determining what was really an Imperial question. Mr Murray asked the Government what course they proposed to take to induce the Imperial Government to take measures to protect and encourage British commerce in

[ Polynesia ; or, without involving any pecuniary liability on the Imperial Government, to permit New Zealand alone, or in conjunction with one or more of the Australian Co< lonies, to deal with the question. The Premier said that the New Zealand Government had done all that rested with them at the present time. He did not think the other Australian Colonies looked upon the Polynesian trade with the same interest as New Zealand. He would assure the honourable member that the Government would continue to carefully watch the question in future, so as to be prepared to act in conjunction with the Australian Colonies or otherwise. Iv reply to Mr Reader Wood, the Premier said he did not know whether the prorogation would take place on Saturday or Monday. Even if postponed till Monday there would be sufficient members to form a House. The Appropriation Act was passed through all its stages. The Premier made a statement regarding the Railways Bill, and regretted exceedingly that the Bill had been thrown out in the other House. He regretted that Otago would have to go away from the Assembly, almost the only Province which had not been recognised specially by the Assembly. While regretting that anything should be done to prevent the purchase of these lines and the construction of branch lines, he could not see any legitimate course by which to remedy the matter this session. All he could say was that the Government were prepared to proceed with the valuation of the railways, to be purchased at a given date, and submit similar proposals to the Assembly next session. They proposed to leave out the objectionable clauses, so as not to prejudice the Bill, as they understood there would be no objection to the Bill if these clauses were left out. Other portions of the Bill were of very great importance. Mr Reid was sorry to hear what the Premier had said, and thought the Government ought to be prepared to go a little further, in order to enable Otago to carry out her branch railways. It was absolutely necessary for the success of the great policy that Otago should be afforded some oppor tunity of proceeding with these works during the present year. If they choose to sell their lands at a sacrifice, they could easily construct the works ; but, in the interest of the Colony, they were adverse to such a course. He proposed to move a resolution, in effect the satn6 as the clauses in the Railways Bill, referring to the purchase of railways in Canterbury and Otago, so as to enable the Government to proceed as if the Bill had been passed, and the House pledging itself to indemnify the Government for any action taken in the matter during the recess. Mr Macandrew entirely concurred with what fell v from the previous speaker, and regretted exceedingly that the Government would not stand or fall by the Bill as a whole, and throw upon the shoulders of the Council the responsibility of throwing out such an important measure. Nothing could be more unfair or unjust than the way in which the South Island was being treated in this matter. There could not be a greater damper upon the efforts of Otago and Canterbury to carry out the Public Works policy. Mr Richardson said if there had been the faintest hope of getting the Bill passed in its present shape, they would have used every effort. He knew if the Hill went up I again in the same shape, a still larger ma- j jority would be against it. Mr Bradshaw said that Otago was placed | in such a difficulty by this Bill being thrown out, that her only way out of it was in selling large blocks of land at a sacrifice. Mr Montgomery also greatly regretted that the Government could not see their way to send the Bill back. Should 'the resolution of the honourable member for Taieri not be carried, he would move that the House, believing that the policy of purchasing Provincial lines of railway belonging at present to Otago and Canterbury, as stated in the j Treasurer's Statement, is sound in principle, and should be carried out, Government is j therefore requested to negotiate the purchase of those lipes during the recess, and bring the matter before Parliament next session. Mr J. L. Gillies hoped the Government would reconsider their decision, as they were about to drive Otago into selling land which it was desired to settle the people upon. On the recommendation of the Speaker, the Bill was amended by the Government, and passed through committee. Mr Reid then proceeded to put his motion. Mr Richardson thought the resolution of the hon. member for Akaroa much preferable. Messrs. Macandrew and Creighton again urged the Government to adhere to the engagement they had made with Otago. The Premier said he could not accept the resolution. If they did so, they might as well do away with the other House altogether. However inconvenient it might be to have the purchasing clause in the Railway Bill thrown out, to act upon the resolution would be a most unconstitutional proceeding. Mr Macandrew said if anything could justify the insinuations thrown out as to bnna fides of the Government in the matter it was the course now proposed. The Premier treated all such inainuations with contempt. He had gone out of his way to secure the passing of this Bill, and did not consider this an opportunity to read the other branch of the Legislature a lesson. He would endeavour to carry the Bill through next session by some more legitimate manner. He had no objection to act upon the resolution of the honourable member for Akaroa. Mr Reid did not like to remind the Premier of the very different tone he assumed last year when speaking of the other House. Etiquette between the two Houses was very good, but, the importance of this matter to Ot;igo was of infinitely more account. The Premier pointed out that if the Government acted upon the resolution, it would make the members of the Government personally liable. He was willing enough to give the other House an opportunity of reconsidering their decision, but they could nob send that Bill up again. It was perfectly impossible that the Government could assent to any proposal to spend money in an illegitimate manner.

Mr Creighton asked if it would not be possible for the Government to make some advances to Otago, as they had done to Nelson and Auckland. Otherwise Otago must inflict a public calamity upon the whole Colony by being obliged to sell her best lands in order to keep faith with the contractors she had employed. The Premier said in order to test the matter again he was prepared to bring down a Bill at the evening sitting, proposing to give authority to pay £60,000 on account of the purchase of the railway in question, j Mr Curtis wanted the Premier to include in the Bill the Nelson Loan Bill, which was also thrown out. This raised a rather sharp discussion. The Premier deprecated the request, but promised to bring down a separate Bill for the purpose. In the Legislative Council, in answer to Mr Waterhouse, Dr Pollen said that a proposition had been made for the maintenance of a temporary Californian service. The break- down was so sudden that there was no time for anything else but telegraphic communication. The Government had been invited to concur with New South Wales to establish a temporary service, but the arrangements were so imperfect that it was better for the Government to 6tand aside for the present, to allow the complication between the contractors to clear itself. It was the intention of the Government, at the ear liest opportunity, to make arrangements for a permanent service. In the meantime care would be taken no interruption of postal communication would take place. The mails would be forwarded by Suez. The Appropriation Bill passed the second reading. On the Otago Public Works Advances Bill, Mr Waterhouse expressed his surprise at seeing Otago going in for the general scramble for crumbs from the rich man's table. The Governmentwould soon have to assume charge of that Province. Captain Fraser said the people of Otago would repudiate the receiving of elemosynary aid. The second reading was passed. Messrs Fraser and Chamberlain were the only dissentients. In the House of Representative?, Upon resuming, Mr J. L. Gillies moved — "That a return be laid on the table showing the distribution of the million and a half loan, stated by the Premier to have gone in concessions to Provinces in support of the public works and immigration policy." Mr Vogel thought this an attempt at joking on the part of the hon. member. Mr J. L. Gillies. — No, no. I Mr Vogel said that year after year propositions had been made by private members or representatives of Provinces, which compelled the Minister of Works to deviate from his proposals so as to meet the immediate views of the Provinces and agree to construct works not originally contemplated. It had originally been intended also that certain blocks of land sbould be taken, and made security for certain loans or advances, but that scheme had to be abandoned and other plans acted upon. It was also found that some gentlemen, after securing railways to their own districts, ceased to think that any others were required, and the consequence was that concessions were unavoidable. When they had nine Provinces they had a large pres- j sure ; when they had only four Pro- ] vinces there would be less than one-half the pressure. The honourable member (J. L. Gillies) when he considered those things, would be able easily to ascertain how the i million and a half went. Did not the honourable member for Avon aid the expenditure of £500,000 for land in the North for the express purpose of saving the Land Fund of the South from being made security for the railway loan. — (Hear, hear.) The combination nine Provinces were able to make was too many for the General Government to contend against, and the proof was contained in the Provincial Loans Bill. If the honourable gentleman examined the whole of the accounts of the ten million for himself, he would find no difficulty in find- , ing $ out how the million and a half had gone. He thanked the honourable member for the opportunity of adning another chapter to the history of those Colonial matters which justified the recent policy of the Government with reference to the l J ro vinces. Mr Rolleston remarked that this last touch of the Premier's revealed the whole policy of the Government, and explained its shifting. It was merely one of concessions to Provinces. The "arguments of the honourable member would be appreciated by the independent members for the South Island, who had been domineered over by a majority whom the Premier had cajoled, and who had felt that domination with indignation. The honourable member now adopted a policy that was not his own. The voice was the voice of Jacob, but the hand was the hand they had seen in Colonial affairs for the past few years. These changes in the views of the Premier had occurred at the very moment when three leading items of his policy were under crucial test ; his Native policy, his toy railways that would have to be made over again, and his Immigration Scheme. Mr J. E. Brown had risen to express his wonder as to what had occasioned the excitement of the honourable member for Avon. The Premier, in fact, had raised the red rag of centralism, and the honourable member for Avon had rushed at it like an excited bull. He defended those who had voted with the Premier as having acted in an independent manner. Mr Reid considered the admission of the Premier damaging to him and amounting to a confession that the Government had done that which they should not have done, with the sole object of retaining their seats. He wondered how such an admission could be made before the House. Sir Cracroffc Wilson denounced in vehe- , ment terms the practice of the House rating 1 the Premier and the Ministry for doing that which the House forced them to do, and said, that no Governmeut that did not to some extent accommodate the House in that waj could exist a week against the pressure which would come upon them from all quarters. He asked them, to recollect when Judge Richmond, the clearest headed man politically in the Colony, had voluntarily resigned office sooner than bribe sup-

port by giving some members £300 a year. Before the House attempted to read lessons on purity to the Government, they should first act with purity and justice, and set a good example. Although opposed to the present policy at first, he would help to carry out what the House and the country chose to santion ; and if it was to be a failure, he hoped it would not fail through unjustifiable obstructions. He wanted it to stand or fall .upon its merits. — {Loud applause. ) The Premier brought down a Bill to authorise the advance of £60,000 to Otago, to assist in the construction of light lines of railway. Mr Vogel said that if the House next session should agree to the scheme proposed in the Bill, the £60,000 now proposed would go towards the purpose of Provincial railways in Otago. If the House did not agree, the money would go as an advance to that Province in the same way as advances to other Provinces. He pointed out that it was proposed this year to advance not less than £381,000 to the Provinces from the. Consolidated Revenue, in addition to £60,000 to the Province of Wellington, £50,000 to the Goldfields of the Thames, £56,000 for immigration purposes, and £60,000 for roads in the North Island. The Colony providentially had been prosperous enough this year to enable the Government to make these advances. Mr Macandrew thanked the Government for it? anxiety to assist Otago, but desired it to be understood that it was not the fault of that Proviuce, but of the legislation of the General Assembly, that Otago was in the humiliating position of having to ask for assist nice. The Otago Public Works Allowance Bill waa then brought in, and passed through all its stages. Mr vogel (at five minutes past ten) moved adjournment till half-past 12 o'clock on Saturday. THE PROROGA.TIGN. The General Assembly was prorogned yesterday, at half-past 2 o'clock in the afternoon, by His Excellency Sir James Fergusson. Twenty- four members attended, and there were very few of the general public present, owing to the bad weather. The Speaker of the House of Representatives said that he regretted to learn that His Excellency had resigned. Mr Vogel announced that Mr Russell would proceed to Sydney to re- arrange for the Californian Mail Contract. In reply to Mr Harris n, Mr Vogel said that the Government did not intend to hold a Colonial Exhibition. If the matter were taken up as a private speculation, the Government might, perhaps, grant some subsidy. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. In proroguing the General Assembly, His Excellency Sir James Fergusson spoke as follows :—: — Honourable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Re- : presentatives — I have to thank you for the attention which you have paid to the discharge of your various duties during the short but very arduous session which I am now about to terminate. This is the last occasion upon which I shall have the honour of addressing you from this place. I desire to assure you that in resigning the high office which I have held but for a s-iort term, I am deeply sensible of the constant courtesy and consideration which has been showu by all with whom I have been brought into contact, whether officially, or in my private relations, and that in returning to a private station at home I shall retain a deep interest in the welfare of this most promising community ; that I shall deem it not less a privilege than a duty to serve its interests in so far as my humble means and opportunities may enable me. I anticipate great benefit to the Colony from the State Forests Act which you passed — providing, as it does, for setting apart forests which will not only be of use in maintain ng the future industries ot the Colony, but which may be expected to have a beneficial effect upon the climate and upon the productiveness of its lands. Providing, as the Aft does, machinery for the establishment of State forests, I am not disposed to regret the short delay in determining the actual positions of forests. You have unmistakeably committed the Colony to the establishment of State forests, and it will bo your duty to see that adequate lands are provided for thorn, fvovn which sufficient revenue will be attainable to do justice to your iutentiona. You have passed many measures this session which will materially aid in carrying on the public services of the Colony, and iv remedying the defects which . experiences have proved to exist. I regret that the length of the session did not enable you to deal with the question of promoting commercial intercourse with Polynesia. It is one which I hope will have your careful consideration, and it will be the duty of my advisers to bear iv iniud the larc;e interest which New Zealand has in this subject, with a view of bringing it before you on a future occasion. The attention of my advisers will be earnestly given to further continuing public works, promoting immigration, the ve-establishinent of the Californian mail packet service in conjunction with New South Wales, and giving effect to the provisions already agreed to fur the establishment of cable communication with other parts of the world, will also have the zealous attention of my advisers. Gentlemen ov the House of Representatives — I acknowledge with pleasure the provisions you have made for the public service, and it will be the care of my advisers to administer them with the utmost economy consistent with efficiency. Honourable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen ov tub House of Kepiik .sentativjss — This session will be memorable for the decisive steps which have been taken in the direction of abolishing the form of Provincial Government in the North Island. Thr* opinion of the House of Representatives has been expressed by a large majority which voted iv favour of the resolutions, whilst the debates in the Legislative Council have left no room to doubt that that Chamber is also favourable to the proposed policy. For some years past there has

grown up a belief that the Provincial sys« tern of this Island does not really afford that amount of local government people desire. The decision arrived at is memorable also, for a desire which the Legislature manifests, that the land fund of the Colony should be applied to suitable purposes, and as far aa possible be localised. That decision must effectually do away with apprehensions in any part of the country, that a change in the Provincial system w»uld mean absorption of the land fund in opposition to opinions upon the subject which nave been confirmed during a lung course of years. I hope the Provincial Governments of the North It-land, loyally recognising the decision of the House of .Representatives, will, during the recess, exert themselves to their utmost to so manage the affairs of the Provinces as to enable the projected change to be effected next year with the least possible incon venience. I am glad to be able to continue to remind you of the increasing prosperity o f the Colony, and hope that the success which has attended your past efforts will, under the blessing of Divine providence, continue to make itself manifest in the future, and that you will live to see the result — in New Zealand becoming the home of a large, prosperous, and contented population.