Friday, July 6. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1912, 13 July 1888, Page 15

Friday, July 6. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

PETITIONS

Petitions were presented from Otago praying that the Government would not give State aid to Roman Cathoh'c schools, and in favour of Bible reading in schools, and the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act.

The Tramway Act 1872 Amendment Bill was road a third time, and passed.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE POINT RESOLUTION AFFAIR.

The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON moved— "That a select committee be appointed to inquire what were the terms upon which certain property at Point Resolution was purchased by the Government from S. S. Kissling and others, and whether such terms were reasonable and were given effect to with fairness to each of the vendors ; and also whether, if such terms were unreasonable or unfair, what steps, if any, can be taken to remedy the same." He said that having gone through the papers connected with this matter, he had come to the conclusion that further inquiry wat> necessary. Mr ROSS asked whether the Premier would include in that inquiry the terms on which the torpedo site at Devonport was purchased. The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON said that was quite a different case, and be was not desirous of mixing up two matters. He was unable to say whether the purchase of the torpedo site had been completed, but he would make inquiries.

JtEPI/IES TO QUESTIONS,

Questions were replied to as follows : — No report has been received from Sir F. D. Bell as to his visit to Paris regarding certain reciprocal trade advantages. — The rates for the carriage of fish and game on our railways are so low that there is no necessity for any change. — The question of the representation of the colony at the Paris Exhibition is under consideration. — Volunteer uniforms were excluded from the free list as there is a large quantity of cloth made

in the Colony "dtiffcaW for" «Bte f«tfj*»e.— The Government do not" ?ee their way to feflticethe railway charges on fliilk sentf tff. btfttef and cheese factories.— The special tram put on to enable the Hon. Mr Oliver to catch the Te Anaa at the Bluff cost £20.— The volunteers of ths colony can be mobilised largely in five or ai# hours.— The old Snider rifle is considered a good eflotfgh weapon for the present requirements of vdlanteers.— The Land Act Amendment Bill will rtidiie provision for carrying on the work at present performed by hud boards, lflo Premier will support a proposal to give- the franchise? to women, but he is afraid a majority of the Cabinet are opposed to it.— The Government ate still making enquiries tpga'rding a railway c'offlmfeskmerf btifc the latest information was that the Agetrt'gene* ral did not think a suitable man could be secured for less than £3500 a year —No redu6tions have been ma J e in salaries below £150 a year except in the case of gardeners at the Ministerial residences. — The Government will not put ti Bum* on the Supplementary Estimates for the pur* chase of white mulberry seed to encourage Bericulture.

THE GOVEBNOR.

The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON, replying to Mr SSamtfel, said the Government did not intend to Intfoduc'e a bift this session to reduce the Governor's salary and allowances, so framed as to apply af fcer the expiry of the pr esent term of office. His Excellency had recreated him to state that he did hot wish considerations personal to himself to be taken into 1 account at aM, If the present Governor were re-uppomted, as he hoptfd would be the case, it wotila be at the reduced salary, b^ut he would at'cji&iint thfe House before any action was taken. THK PUBLIC WORKS STATBSIENT.

Roplying to Mr J. M'Konzie, The Hon. E. MITCHELSON said he proposed to bring down the Public Works Statement on Tuesday week.

THE CHINESE BILL,

The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON moved— " That the House Insist on disagreeing with the Legislative Council's amendments in the Chinese Immigrants Bill." Sir GEORGE GttEY suggested that the bill should be dropped, since it would not meet the object aimed at. They cottld $hen either bring in a new bill or let matters stand for a time in order to see what people would say to it recalcitrant Council which refused to assist hi the exclusion of Chinese from the colony. The consequence of a large influx of Chinese would be most unjust. Dr HODGKINSON advocated insisting on this bill being amended and put through. The Hon. Mr BALLANCE considered the Council's reasons for insisting on their amendments most insulting in their nature.

The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON said what the Government proposed to do was to restrict the arrival of Chinese in the colony as far as they could. He hoped the House would agree to a conference, and he had hopes of getting the Council to agree to it. He agreed with Mr Ballance that the tone of tho reasons &ent down by the Council were not altogether such as should have been sent, but the House was quite able to guard ils own privileges. The Government had put in a reasonable form what they wanted the Home Government to do. He had reason to believe that this bill would bo assented to at once, and he thought they wero taking a great step in advanco in protecting their own people from the influx of Chinese.

The motion was agreed to. The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON moved— " That a free conference be appointed to confer with the Council." — Agreed to by 52 to 8, and managers were appointed, consisting of Sir H. A. Atkinson,- Messrs Ballance, Hislop, Seddon, and Guinness.

MINING ACT.

Mr GRIMMOND resumed the debate on the Mining Act 1886 Amendment Bill, and supported the second reading, as, if it became law, it would be a great benefit both to miners and settlers.

The motion for the second reading was agreed to after some discussion.

DISTBICT BAILWAYS PURCHASING.

Mr .VALENTINE resumed tho debate on the District Railways Purchasing Act Amendment Bill. Ho said a great injustice would be perpetrated if this bill were allowed to become law by imposing rates on people who were quite unable to pay them. He referred especially to the Waimea railway, and said the accounts were undoubtedly wrong, and failed to take into account certain items. Thiß railway was also charged at the rate of f>\ per cent, while all other railways were only 4 per cent. H« would move in committee that those who paic rates under £5 should be exempt from taxation. He objected to the pernicious retrospective element in the bill.

The Hon. G. F. RICHARDSON said the hon. gentleman should, have stated that when the Government took over thoa<s railways they reduced the charge from 5 per cent, to 2. Most of the objections he made to the bill were committee objections, and he thought the better plan would be to pass the second reading and amend the bill in' the direction of affording some relief to people who had bought land ignorant of the fact that rates were due on it.

Mr WHYTE said if those rates were enfefrced they would have to be enforced by distress warrants all over the colony. He would be compelled to vote against the bill. Mr STEWARD also opposed the bill, and

Mr KELLY supported it.

Mr DOWNIE STEWART hoped the bill would pass, and that the House would disregard the appeals made by those members who opposed it. He knew of cases where every effort had been made to get out of just liabilities incurred by those railways, and people should bo made to discharge their liabilities in a fair and manly way.

Mr BEETHAM said if they were to relieve those landholders from their liabilities under this bill, they should extend the same privilege to all parts of the colony. He suggested that the bill be referred to the Waste Lands Committee, so as to ascertain whether any anomalies existed under it.

The Hon. T. W. HISLOP said the objections that had been raised to this bill should have been made when the original bill was passed. The present bill imposed no new liabilities on settlers. As to the statement made that people in the Duntroon district would not pay their rates, he asserted that there was not a more wealthy class of settlers in the colony, and they were all able to pay their rates. He pointed out that it was in those districts where there were the largest settlers that most complaints were made against the bill, and very few settlers in the" Rakaia and Ashburton Forks districts objected to it.

IN COMMIITKE.

to. The House went into Oommitfcee on the Naval and Military Settlers and. Volunteers Land Bill.

Clause 9. — Claims may be satisfied in cash, was amended by striking out the words " not exceeding 50 per cent, of the nominal value" of remission certificate, providing that the claimant may receive the nominal value of the remission certificate iustead. Mr FRASER4hankeJ the Defence Minister

for the liberal spirit in tffcwb he had framed-tha bill and hoped it would pa&tibe other Chamber. The Hon. Mr FERGUS saidf «he greater part of the credit was due to the late fteSence Minister for his efforts to settle the question. , The Bill was reported wifcb Mnendinentß» read a third time and passed. The Bouse rose at 10.50 p.m.

Satukda*, Jury 7. BI&LE-IN-SCHOOLS. A meeting of legislative Councillors and members interested in the introduction of the Bible into State schools, was held this forenoon. Mt Fulton occupied tho chair*, and the following genlifimen wore present >.HcO>, Mej-sra Brett, Baillie, Reynolds, Menzies, and holmes, and Messrs Allen, Baxton, Thos. Mackenzie, Joyce, Fist, sad Bhodeß.- Apologies were" jrecewed from a number of members who were unavoidably absent. After some discussion, Mr F.Tiwn moVed the Mowing resolution :--" That .Ju aider to' keep the matter before the public sva to endufrse our protest against the exclusion of the Bible from our public schools,, it is advisable that a motion & tabled in the House advocatiog the introduction at the Scriptures iuto the curriculum, with a time taWe and oonst-it>iie<? dbusu. This was carried unaokfxmsly. The Kou. Mr Reynolds then moved the folJowingresolotion - — •' That it is expedient that a bill I>» introdncetlhUo the Council this session providing Jor the introduction of Bible-reading in schools, with a time table and conscience clause." The Hon. Mr Hcltues moved as an amendment-*-" That the word ' resolution ' be inserted instead of ' bill.' '* The amendment was carried. Messrs Thomas M'Keuzie, fultoD, Joyce, Reynolde.Dr Hodgkf oson,and Coloaesl Brett spoke strongly in sup-, pott of the resolutions, aud the meeting was adjouTfred. Mr Downia Stewart was unable to attend, Us he had other important; business on hand. He i« frr sympathy with the resolutions passed.

DE"F&NCE.

Mr Valentine's question Relative to the defences of the colony excited ti warm discussion this afternoon, flfr Hutchison moved the adjournment of tho House in order to ventilate his. id^as on military matters. He was particularly critical on the administration of tho Defence department, and uttered a firm protest againsc the appointment of Captain Hume to fche couarnaud of volunteer?, nud objected to the twodepartments — Prisons and Defence — being* amalgamated. Mr Fergus made a vigorous speech hi reply, warmly defending Captain Hume's appointment. i.ll the afternoon was occupied with the discussion.

THE CATI/INS RAILWAY. Mr T. Browuis here lot the purpose of bringing under the notice of the Government the iuadvisability of prosecuting the Catlin's River railway in tho direction which certain hon. members have recommended. Next to the Bank of New Zealand, Mr Brown is the most extensive landed proprietor in the Catliu's River district, an<? he is of opinion that the river steamers nan carry on the trade between the districb and Duuedfnor Invercargill much better than the work could 'be conducted by tho railway. Although ho only speaks for himself, it is understood that tho great majority of settlors in the Catliu's River district aro opposed to the construction of tho railway. The river steamers are quite capable of undertaking «U the work for Home yeard to come.

RETRENCHMENT IN THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT.

The number of Government officers who have been dismissed in the Railway department within the last few months, and whost? place it is not intended to fill, was 44. Of these?, 23 were employed in Auckland, 11 in Canterbury 5 in Wauganui, 4 in Wellington, and 1 in Napier..

THE-AGNEWS

Although MrGuinnessbas been induced to take up the case of the Agnews, in tho meantime a constable has been told off for the special duty of watching the movements of the couple, aud preventing them importuning ministers or members.

THE END APPROACHING.

The fact of tho Government having given notice of their intention to take Wednesdays for their own is a pretty sure indication that the session will soon corn© to an pnd. T expect that the House will begin to fiit on Monday next week. The Public Works Statement will be brought down on Tuesday wec'k. In about a fortnight afterwards the business will be wound up.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL".

Many members entertain the opinion tbatin case any more appointments to the Legislative Council are made Mr V. Pyke should be ask«d to accept the honour. The membtr tor Dunptan's long political career in New Zealand aud Australia, extending over 35 yeaas, ratifies him, it is argued, to some recognition at the hands of the State. Apart from politics his services in the cause of literature have been very groat, and although it has hot; been customary in New Zealand to reward literary talent, it is thought that the time has arrived when some tribute should be paid to men who distinguish themselves in the. republic of letter's. In New South Wales and Victoria authors have received from time to time solid recognition from the Governments of these colonies, and there is no reason in the world why a similar course should not be adopted in New Zealand. So far 'as the members of both chambers are concerned the election of Mr Pyke to the Council would be a popular move. ,

The motion for the second reading was agreed