Friday, June 29. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 15

Friday, June 29. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE PROPERTY TA The Hon. B. C. J. STEVENS laid on the table a paper showing the estimate of the increased property tax revenue which would have been receivable during the past financial year if the exemption only excluded from the tax persons owning £100 worth of property. The estimate was £80,000. The estimate of private income for the same period not arising from property already taxed under the property tax, excluding all incomes under £150, was £280,000. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. GOLDFIELDS AFFAIRS. Some discussion arose on a report brought up from the Goldfields Committee, which pas«ed a resolution regretting that the Minister of Mines had not obtained information on mining matters from other countries. The Hou. G. P. RICHARDSON said he ought to have been asked for thiß information when before tho committee. As to getting information from America, he might say that the Government had nothing to do with coining matters there, as they were in the hands of a mining bureau, but steps would be taken to get information from certain sources in America. He held there was no ground for the censure of the Goldflelds Committee. Messrs FRASER, SEDDON, and several other members expressed regret that Mr Richardson did not take more interest in the mining industry, — Mr Seddon stating that although the report of the committee was unanimously adopted, every member of the committee felt grpat regret at having to pass such a resolution reflectiug oh the Minister. The report was then laid on the table. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The Hon. G. F. RICHAEtDSON, in reply to Mr T. Mackenzie, said it was not the intention of the Government to offer any encouragement for the cultivation of tha wattle. The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON, in reply to Mr R. Reevea, said the Government had offered Sir F. D. Bell the appointment of Agent-general for another term, but they had not heard from him on the subject. He would shortly make an announcement to the House on the subject. In reply to Mr Lawry, The Hon. G. FISHER said a clause would be introduced into the Fisheries Bill, which would be brought in next year, compelling oyster gatherers te obtain licenses, there not being time to pass it this session.

The Hon. G. F. RICHARDSON, in reply to Mr Guinness, said that a block of 5000 acres had already been set apart as an endowment for a home for aged and infirm miners and settlers on certain portions of the West Coast.

NEW BILLS. The following bills were introduced : — Statu Forests Act Amendment Bill, Puhoi Settlers Bill, Pablic Bodies Powers Act Amendment Bill, Counties Boundaries Bill, Epsom and Mount Eden Recreation Ground Bill, bill to amend " The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act 1885."

THE ESTIMATES. The Government sustained an unexpected defeat this evening on the motion of Mr Seddon. It was whispered about the lobbies this afternoon that the "inner circle" of the Protectionist party had arranged among themselves that the Government should be forced to pass the Tariff Bill through all its stages before they would be allowed to go on with the Estimates. Accordingly, when the Premier this evening moved to go into Committee of Supply, the principal men amongst the Protectionists held counsel together, and resolved to obstruct as far as possible. Before, however, they had an opportunity of moving in the matter, Mr Monk, one of the "extreme economists " intercepted suppply with a resolution affirming the desirability of further retrenchment. This evoked a rather warm discussion, after which Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of the debate, alleging as his chief reason for- so doing that the majority of the hon. members had not had time to consider the Estimates. Several members ventilated their ideas on the subject, and some smart speeches were made. On the division being taken the result turned out to be a most astonishing one for the Government, as Mr Seddon's motion was carried by a majority of nine, the voting being 43 to 34. On members resuming their seat?, Mr Turnbull arose and made a trenchant attack on those members of his party who had planned and carried out the surprise vote. He saw no reason in the world why the Estimates should not be proceeded with, and he considered the Government were perfectly justified in bringing them on. Dr Fitchett explained that there was no preconcerted plan, and that the voting was purely spontaneous. This statement appeared feasible eaough, considering that the mover, Mr Seddon, is a Freetrader, but those behind the scenes were inclined to imagine that Dt Fitchett's statement should be taken cum yrano salis. Mr W. P. Reeves made a clever speech in which he dressed down Mr Turnbull in a happy manner. The member for St. Albans assured the House that while he was ready tr give the Government an independent support in certain matters he was not going to enact the part of a staunch follower. After some remarks from Mr Taylor, Mr Bruce, and others, the Premier got up and informed hon. members that while his Government occupied the Treasury benches they refused to be dictated to by any section ' of the House. It was the Government's duty to arrange the order of business, and to prove his earnestness in the matter he intended to place the Estimates as the firat order of the day for. Tuesday. From the Premier's manner it could be noticed that his temper was ruffled by the result of Mr Seddon's motion. He then moved the adjournment of the House, which was carried after a brief discussion. The following is the division list : —

Ayes, 43. — Messrs Allen, Anderson, Ballance, Blake, Bruce, Buxton, Gadman, Duncan, Fitchett, Fraser, Goldie. Grey, Grimmond. Guinness, Hobbs, Hutchison, Jones, Joyce, Kellv, Kerr, Lance, Larnach, Macarthur, M. J. S. Mackenzie, Marchant, Monk, Moss, Newman, O'Oallaghan, Perceval, E. Keevos, W. P. Reeves, T. Bichardson, Seddon, Smith, Steward, Taiwhanga, Taylor, J. Thompson, Walker, Waid, Wilson, Withy. Noes, 34.— Sir H. A. Atkinson, Messrs Beetham, Buchanan, Cowan, Dodson, Feldwiek, Fergus, Fisher, Fulton, Graham, Hall, Haralln, His'op, Hodgkinson, Jackion, Lawry, Levestam, T. Mackenzie, M-Gregor, MMi, MitcfcUop, Moat 1 Q'Qonor,

Parata, Peacock, Pyke, G. F. Richardson, Bom, Taipua, T. Thompson, Turnbull, Valentine, Seymour, and Whyte. CARRIAGE OF FRUIT. This forenoon a meeting of members interested in the reduction of railway, freight on fruit was held. Mr Pyke, who occupied the chair, pointed out the great importance.of the question, affecting as it did a large number of persons engaged in the fruit-growing industry. He stated that he had received the signatures of ,61 members iv favour of greatly reduced rates on New Zealand grown fruit. After come discussion a committee was formed to wait on the Minister of Pablic Works with the object of bringing the matter under his notice. The fol lowing gentlemen were appointed to act on the committee : — Messrs Pyke, O'Callaghan, Hobb3, M'Gregor, and Jackson. A meeting of the committee was held this afternoon, Mr Pyke in thb chair. After some discussion it was resolved that the members of the committee should form a deputation to wait on the Minister of Public Works on Monday, at 10 o'clock, to bring the matter under his notice.., It .was decided that the Minister should be requested to place fruit under a specific class at reduced rates as other local produce has been. '■ It was also resolved to point out to the Minister that the minimum weight entitling fruit to be brought under such class should be 561b, also that empty cases should be returned free of charge. PUBLIC BODIES POWERS. Major' Steward has received the following memo, from the Hon. Minister lor Lands :—: — " lie Endowment Reserves Bill, as amended by the Waste Lands Committee. I have incoporated it as an amendment with the Public Bodies Powers Act of which I gave notice yesterday. It will be operative over all primary and secondary education and harbour board endowments taken out of Crown lands, amounting to over one million acres. It is provided that if the Governor is not satisfied as to the disposal of the lands or the fulfilment of the trust, he may demand plans and interpose his veto. The university endowments of Otago and Canterbury are exempt, but the university endowments of Auckland will be subject to the provisions of the measure." SMALL FARMERS. A return of the number of small farmers, with the amount of their capita), who have arrived in the colony to the 17th April 1888, in terms of the regulations of the 28th September 1885, was laid on the table of the House this afternoon. From this it appears that 897 souls (311 of whom were adults) have lauded here up to the date in question. The amount of capital known to the Agent-general as in possession of passengers was £43,785. The amount paid by the colony towards their passage money was £3099 10s. The nationalities of arrivals were as follow :— English, 292 ; Scotch, 93 ; and Irish, 12. GOLDFIELDS REPORT. An interim report from the Ooldfields Committee was brought up this afternoon which contained some rather severe strictures on the Minister of Mines for the inaction of that gentleman in not carry out the instructions of the House, given him last session, to the effect that the Govomment should obtain from America and elsewhere full information as to the best method of dealing with refractory ores. The Hon. Mr Richardson gave a satisfactory explanation of the Government's action, and stated that inquiries were now being instituted in the United States on the subject. THE RABBIT NUISANCE. The Joint Rabbit Nuisance Committee presented an interim report this afternoon. The report says : — •• With regard to the petition of George White t of Lake Hayes, Otago, the petitioner states that he has sustained a loss on his crops equal to £150 from rabbits on land adjoining hiy property, part of which land consists of j an unoccupied Government reserve, &c. After examining into the circumstances of the case, the committee have no recommendation to make. With regard to the petition of W. Waugh and 35 others, in the provincial district of Otago, complaining of too much power being placed in the hands of inspectors, after taking 'the evidence of Mr V. Pyke and others, the committee do not see their way to recommend any relaxation of the law in the direction indicated."