THE ABOLITION BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1241, 11 September 1875, Page 8

THE ABOLITION BILL.

On the House resuming at 7.30 this evening,

Major Atkinson said — Sir: Before the order of the day ia read for considering the report of the Committee of the whole House on the appropriation clanses of this Bill, I desire, with the permission of the House, to take the first opportunity which the Government have had of stating to the House the course they intend to pursue with regard to the amendments which have been proposed by the honourable member for Port Chalmers. The Government have from the first, invited honourable members opposite to join with them in the endeavour to render the Bill not only effective, but satisfactory to the people at large, and I desire, on behalf of the Government, to thank the honourable member for Port Chalmers for the frank and ready way in which he has met that invitation. Anyone wh© reads the resolutions moved by the honourable gentleman must see at a glance that he not only accepts the situation, but has determined to bring the' weight of his great influence and ability to bear, with a view to rendering tbi3 Bill as' perfect as possible. The Government regret that they are unable to accept the propositions which he has made, but if I understand the principle contained in them they are in entire accord with the Bill now considering. We shall, therefore, be prepared to go a little farther than the honourable gentleman proposes upon the same road The principle of the Government Bill with which the resolutions . are in entire accord' is that local revenue should be locally appropriated and spent. Therefore, if the people will be more satisfied that that is really the intention of the Government by having Boards in the different districts having community of interest, we shall be yery

glad to meet them*ih that, respect.. J ,,Wje shall, therefore, be " prepared" to introduce"* Bill dividing the various Provinces into large and suitable districts, in which Boards of Works elected by the people will be appointed, and to which the balance of the land fund will be appropriated. With, regard to education also, we have declared that we desire that the large reserves which, have been made in the various Provinces should be secnred for educational purposes in. those Provinces. We shall, therefore, be prepared to introduce a Bill to constitute or confirm the various Boards of Education in t!ic several Provinces, and to convey to those Boards, or rather to vest in them all the reserves that now vest in the Superintendent, fur educational purposes. That is Ehortly the way in which the Government propose to meet the resolutions of the honourable member for Port Chalmera. We f,hall not, of course, accept them, but we shall introduce measures to give effect to what I have now stated.

September 3rd. la the Legislative Council to-day, on the motion of Dr Menzies, a Select Committee was appointed to inquire into certain allega- ! tions which had been made respecting mem- [ bers of the Legislature during the term of j the present Parliament being interested in certain transactions with the Government, involving the payment of money and granting of pecuniary advantage to such members. Mr Bowen moved the second reading of the Goldfields Amendment Bill, and said tbe object of the Bill was to provide just and equitable law regulations for the use of •streams in Goldfields. That £300,000 had been spent by tho General Government in constructing water races, the whole of which, as well as many works constructed by private enterprise, would be perfectly useless, and the whole mining interest be destroyed, if some such Act as this were not passed. Dr Pollen supported the second reading, but the Government would take exception to some of the clauses. Mr Holmes opposed the Bill, and moved that it be rsad in six months. Dr Menzies supported the Bill. Mr Miller urged that the matter stand over till next session. Ths second reading waa ultimately carried by a majority of five. The debate on the second reading of the Otago Waste Lands Bill was resumed by Dr Pollen, who said he would endeavour to improve the Bill in Committee. Messrs Buckley and Waterhouse supported the Bill. Colonel Brett opposed it. Mr Hart would reserve the right of proposing amendments in Committee. After a reply by Dr Menzies, the Bill was read a second time, and the Council then adjourned.