Saturday, September 14.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 15

Saturday, September 14.

BILL PASSED. In the Legislative Council-, The Naval and Military Settlers and Volunjteers Land Bill passed through Committee, was read a third time, and passed. FBEB CONFBBBNCB. A free conference was appointed to consider the amendments made by the House of Representatives in the Land Transfer Act Bill. ! i^The amendments proposed by the Governor in the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Application Bill were agreed to. i The Property Tax Bill 1389 was read a first time. i The report of the free conference ou the Selectors Revaluation Bill, which recommended the retention of clause 2 and the striking out of clause 8, was agreed to. '

Certain amendments, sent by the Governor, in the Chattels Security Bill were agreed to. The Property Tax Bill was read a second time, committed, reported without amendments, and' passed final stages.

HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID.

In the House of Representatives,

The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill was further considered in committee. The ehorfe title was altered' to " Requisitions Validation Bill," to enable local bodies to make amended requisitions in certain oases. The bill was then read a third time and passed. NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY BILL.

The amendments recommended by the Governor in the North Island Trunk Railway Bill were agreed to.

BATING ACT AMENDMENT 'BILL.

Sir H. A. ATKINSON moved the second reading of the Rating Act Amendment Bill to exempt schools within boroughs from rates. He said he intended moving in ■ committee -to reinsert the clause providing for the exemption of friendly societies' lodge rooms from rates, which was struck out by' the Legislative Council.

Mr FISH opposed the inll at some length, and moved that it be read that day fortnight. After a long discussion the second reading was carried by 33 to 29.

RATING BILL.

The House went into committee on the Rating Acts Amendment Bill. ' ' '

Mr JONES moved — " That progress be reported on the bill."— Agreed to by 29 to 20.

THE PROPERTY TAX.

The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON moved the second reading of the Property Tax Bill, the object of which was simply to provide the annual amount required to supplement the revenue. He thoughfj it was unnecessary .to eajf any thing about the bill, especially as the House had already voted supply necessary for the pur* pose. Mr BARRON referred to the motion he had brought forward early in the session for the gradual redaction of this tax. That motion had been rejected by the ' House, but he now intended to move in committee' that the tax be reduced from Id to |d in the pound, which he thought would effect the same object.

The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON pointed out that if Mr BarroD's proposal was agreed to it would mean that there would be a deficiency of £90,000 at, the end of the year, which would have to be made up by deficiency bills, and he should like to know whether the member for Caversham wanted to bring that about/ It was hardly fair for the hon. gentleman to bring forward such a motion at this stage of the session-— especially as his former proposal had been rejected in a full House by a large majority. He thought the course adopted by the hon. gentleman was simply playing with the question.

The motion for the second reading was agreed

to. Oq the motion for the committal of the bill, Sir G. GREY said he should, .support Mr Barron's amendment. ' He was perfectly certain that a large major it}' of the population of the colony desired to see the property tax done away with. He also complained that the House had not had' an opportunity of discussing the Property Assessment Bill. The Hon. Mr BALLANCE also objected to the Property Assessment Bill being withdrawn without an opportunity being given of discussing it in committee. He could not, however, agree to the, amendment given notice of by Mr Barron as a deficiency of , £90,000 was too serious a question for them to facs, at, present. He thought at.the same, time that a reduction should be made in ihe tax, and, also a, reduction on the taxation on the necessaries of life, such, for instance, as the tea duty. ; Mr MACKENZIE (Clutba)' twitted Mr. Barran' with j posing, as a Freetrader, and yet moving an amendment of this kind which could not fail to increase the taxation on the people of the colony. He protested against 'motions of this , kind being introduced into the Honse at this stage of the session mtnrely;to waste the time of the House. , It was practical legislation they required, and not absurd proposals of this character.

Mr MOSS supported the amendment, and Mr LaWRY opposed it, although he was strongly against the property tax itself. The House went into committee on the Property Tax Bill. Clause 2;^rate of property tax. Mr BARRON moved—" That « one penny ' be struck out, and ' three farthings ' inserted." — The amendment was lost by 36 to 18, and one penny retained. . The bill was reported without amendment, read b third time and passed.

THE LATE ME MACANDBEW.

On the motion that the Souse go into Com* mitWeof Supply, , ' " . .

"Mr LARNACH moved—" That in the opinion of this House the sum of £2000 should be granted to the daughters of the late Mr James Macandrew in recognition of his long and faithful public services to the'colony — namely, £500 for each daughter. He strongly urged on the House the desirability of passing this vote, and said it was not too much to ask the House to place this small sum ob the Estimates for Mr Macandrew's daughters, who were in illhealth, and the money was very necessary for their sustenance.

Mr BRUCE warmly supported the amendment and corroborated Mr Larnach's statement that if Mr Macandrew had devoted his great attainments to the accumulation of wealth he would have been a rich man. Mr MILLS also supported the proposal, and said this sum would be very welcome to the late Mr Macaridrew's daughters. , ' The Hon. Mr BALLANCE also, as an old colleague of Mr Maeandrewte, strongly supported the amendment, and thought the House Bhonl# at once agree to it. He admitted that Mr Macandrew was devoted to Otago, but he could, also assert that, When ia Ministerial office Mr Macandrew had given his best services t<j> the colony. There was a precedent for a grant; of this kind in the case of the late Dr Featherston's family, and he hoped the House would unanimously agree to the proposal. ' "' '.

The amendment was then put and carried on the voices.

A DISSOLUTION.

The Hon. Mr BALLiANCE then moved that in the opinion of this House it is expedient that there should be a dissolution of Parliament after the termination of the present session, and that the new Parliament should meet for despatch of business as soon as possible after the expiration of the present financial year. He said he wished to amend his motion by inserting the words that "dissolution should take placfe as soon as' the districts could be arranged," injstead of " after the termination of the present; session." He explained that he had not brought forward this motion as one of no confidence, but merely to test the feeling of the House. There had now been three sessions of the present Parliament, and it was evident that no useful work could be done till a change was affected by a fresh election. There had been a complete failure to carry any complete measure of policy, and it was his opinion that the country bad lost confidence not; only in the House bat the Government. It was essential that a Government should possess a majority of the House; but if the Middle Ptlrty were taken away there would be no Ministerial majority; and the only remedy for that was a general election. As to the reduction of members to 70, he believed there had been a complete reaction in the country on that question, and it was a most unconstitutional proceeding that such $ reduction should take place in a young country. His opinion was that there had been a deliberate' conspiracy on the part of the wealthy people of the colony to deprive the masses of their representation. Strongly as he fe.lt on the redaction of members, he was prepared to accept it in order to bring about a dissolution. He submitted this matter to the calm judgment of the House, and hoped it would be acceptable to hon. members. The fact of the Registration of Electors Bill not having passed was no reasonable excuse for voting against his amendment, and he contended that if it were 1 such a necessary measure there was no reason' whatever why that bill should not have been passed early in the session. The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON, referring to Me Ballance's amendment, congratulated the leader of the Opposition on the speech he had made when proposing his - resolution. It apf peared to him (the Premier) that Mr Ballance had spoken as if he regarded the whole thing as a huge joke, and no doubt the hon. gentleman had a difficult part to play in proposing a motion which he had neither hope or desire to carry, The hon, gentleman had seen him before prof posing the motion, and he was kind enough to tell him he had no hostile feeling in moving it f He had not, however, brought in supply sooner, as he wished to get on with the business of the session. The amendment itself he regarded as the last dying effort of the Opposition, which had already suffered so much this session. The hon. gentleman was not very hard on the government. All he tried to say was that they had lost the confidence of the country, and that a general election was necessary. ■ He knew, however, that the Government stood exceedingly well with the country ; and Mr Ballance knew it, too, if he would only admit it. ■ The hon. gentleman evidently thought it was not unreasonable to put the country to the expense of a general election in order that be might probably get on the Treasury benches, bat there was no donbt at all that the Opposition were altogether out of touch with the country. The whole duty of the present Opposition seemed to be to kill the Government, but that was not the duty of an Opposition properly organised. Their duty was not to kill the Government, but to check them, and assist them in all useful measures when it was for the good of the country that they should do so. — (Sir G, Gbet : We have had no useful measures.) The member for Auckland Central of course thought no good Government could possibly exist unless he had a finger in the pie. They all knew, however, how Sir G. Grey had come into power with a great flourish of trumpets, and had gone out most disastrously, his influence getting smaller by degrees and beautifully less. The Govern; ment had been blamed for not passing more legislation, but he thought the Statue Bosk was already far too cumbersome, and he thought the time was coming when the legislative functions of a Government would be altogether apart from its executive functions. Referring to the reduction of members, he ventured to say that the country had gauged public opinion better than Mr Ballance, and the conntry was determined to see the reduction given effect to. The present Government had been taunted with having no policy, but he thought no Government had come into office on a clearer policy. They had undertaken to reduce the " expenditure, and reduce . the number of- members; also to limit loan expenditure, and to restrict borrowing for public works. He contended they had done their work fairly, and not only the country ° had recognised this, but the empire also, as was instanced by the price of our bonds at present^ Yet they were told by the leader of the Opposition that they had no policy. What the country "wanted 'was not fresh legislation, but careful administration of its affairs. The country required politicalrest, and it was sick of elections. j[t waited less legislation, and careful and economic government. The hon. gentleman had not advanced a single reason why a dissolution should take place. They were told the House was disorganised ; bat who was responsible for that? It "was certainly Dot the Government side of the House. He should ask the House to treat this. amendment in the way Mr BaUance really wished it to be treated/and show by a large majority that the Government should have unfettered control. It was the business of the Government, who had been selected by the House, to advise his Excellency on questions of this kind, and if they had only thought of their own position such advice would have been .tendered several times this session. His opinion was, however, that » dissolution, would nob benefit

the country in the slightest, degree at the present time, and he hoped the House would not seriously entertain the proposal. Mr WALKER thought the Premier would find the country held a different opinion of his Government .from that he himself entertained. He referred at some length to the quantity of legislation introduced and withdrawn this session, and said if there was one thing more than another which the country had made up its mind on it was that the present Parliament was bo disorganised that an immediate change was necessary.

Colonel FRASER differed from Mr Ballance as to the reduction of members, as he thought that was the best thing the House could do ; in fact he would like to see a much larger reduction. He thoroughly agreed, however, with Mr Ballance's amendment for a dissolution.

Mr SAUNDERS agreed entirely with Mr Ballance's proposal, and he felt that if it had not been brought forward by the Opposition the Premier would have supported it. He agreed with it also from an economic point of view, as in the prdinary state of things a double session would be held next year, aud they knew from experience that no good ever resulted from a double session.

Messrs Moss, Fisher, Reeves, and Goldie supported the amendment.

_ Mr HOBBS opposed it, and said the Opposition had not the slightest desire to carry it. Mr MONK opposed the amendment, and said he had received several telegrams from the North to the effect that no good would result from a dissolution, and that the people were weary of it.

Mr O'CONOR was surprised that nothing had been eaid in the debate about taking a census before a general election, and he thought this was a most necessary step in the interests of thinly populated localities.

The Premier's motion was then put as against Mr Ballance's amendment, and was carried by 35 to 30— the amendment being lost. The following was the division list: —

Ayes: (For the Premier^ motion) 35— Messrs Anderson, Atkinson, Bruce, Buchanan, Carroll, Cowan, Dodßon, Fish, Hall, Hamlin, ilarknebs, Hobbs, Izard, Jackaon, Lawry, Maearthur, Mackenzie (Clutha), M'Gregor, Mills, Mitchelson, Moat, Monk, O'Conor, Rhodes, G F Richardson, Ross, Russell, W D Stewart' (Dunedin West), Taipua', Tanner, Thomson (Auckland North), Wilson.

Noes: (For the amendment) SO — Messrs Ballance, Barron, Blake, Brown, Cadnoan, Duncan, Feltlwick, Fisher, Fitzherbert, Fraser, Goldle, Grimmond, Hutchinson, Joyce, Kelly, Kerr, Larnach, Loughrey, M'Kenzle (Waihemo), Moss, Par at a, Perceval, B Richardson (Kalapoi), Saunders, Seddon, Smith, Taiwhanga, Taylor, Verrall, Walker. PAIRS: For Mr Ballance's amendment— Messrs Turnbull, Grey, Buxton, Ward, Jonea, Guinness, W P Reeves, Samuel, Fitohett, Lance, R Reeves. Against tbe amendment — Messrs Hodgkinaon, Fulton, Marchanb, Valentine, Graham, Allen; Ormond, Seymour, Scobie Mackenzie, Whyte, Pyfce.

THE SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.

The House went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Supplementary Estimates.

Mr MONK moved that the item £1000 to defray the, expenses of the Governor during the Dunedin Exhibition be struck out. — Lost by 43 to 15.

The Hon. Sir H. A. ATKINSON moved to report progress, and the House rose at 11.55, p.m.

THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS.

A second deputation, in addition to the one referred .to in my message last night, waited upon the Railway Commissioners yesterday on the same subjects — namely, differential rates on i goods carried over branch lines, the desirableness I of local coal being more largely used than' at present, and the vexed question of the rate and one-eighth upon overweight sacks. The commissioners said the matters brought under their 'notice' by the deputation would receive 'care. ful consideration. In reference to the use of local ooal, Mr Maxwell said the department; bad always used West Coast, Eaitangata, and Shag Point coal where the tenders were not excessive ; but in some instances brown coal had been condemned as unfit fpr use, as the danger from sparks was very great. MR FISHER'S TRAVELLING EXPENSES!

Somß days ago I sent you some information from a return moved for by Mr Monk showing the various sums paid to Ministers by way of travelling allowances during the period three Ministers — Messrs ,Fergus','Fisher, and Mitchelson— were absent from the colony in Australia. The return, it will be remembered, showed that during a period of about six weeks Mr Fisher had been paid £100 for travelling expenses. There was a little scene in the House over the matter this morning, when Mr Fisher moved the adjournment of the House to explain that the expenditure was incurred while he was in Australia making inquiries into the working of the educational system there. He characterised Mr Monk's actipn in calling for the return as mean, and said that he himself had endeavoured to get a member of the Opposition to move for the return; butnot one of them would do it, there being a spirit among them which would not allow them todescend to such petty meanness. Mr Monk rose to deny that he had meant to injure Mr Fisher in any way in calling for the return, which, however, spoke for itself. He had simply moved for the return because he had been told that a friend of his own, who was at present a member of the Ministry, had been paid large sums for travelling expenses incurred during a visit to Melbourne about the time the Melbourne Cup was run, and he had desired to ascertain if that was true. There was a little nagging between Messrs Fisher and Monk, and then the motion for adjournment was negatived. Immediately afterwards Mr Fergus rose to make a personal explanation, in tbe course of which he said that Mr Mitchelson and himself had also visited Australia on public business, but had paid their own expenses while there. This was rather a facer for Mr Fisher, and he felt the sting of Mr Fergus' statement, but the motion having been disposed of he had no opportunity of replying, and the matter dropped.

THE RATING BILL.

Another bantling in the shape of the Rating Acts Amendment Bill went by the board this afternoon, being sacrificed on a motion for reporting progress, moved by Mr Jones. The bill Was ill fcrbddced' with' the object of exempting public schools and friendly eociety lodge rooms from the operation of the act.

THE PETITION OF IDA PRINCE.

Some time ago a young lady named Ida Prince ma L cie a clumber of serious allegations against the officials of the Postal department and tbe wife of an officer high in the service through the medium of a petition presented to the Hoase by Sir George Grey. The petitioner stated that a letter containing her P.O. Sayings Account book had, been ; forwarded fco her address, that the chief clerk of the post office here had afterwards called for the letter and given it into the custody of Inspector Rose of the Government Post Office. She asserted further that Rose gave the. letter to his wife, and she opened it .and made herself acquainted with its contents. The petition has been several •times before the Public Petitions Committee, and a good deal of interest was taken in the 'matter by member?. Without going into the purely private affairs of the petitioner, I may say that^ there was some relationship between the partfeS| and the Public Petitions Committee have now reported that "tfie petitioner has not proved any of the material allegations in the petition, and bas no

ground of complaint. The committee exonerate the postal authorities from blame, that Mrs Rose's conduct has been of a most commendable nature, that she was actuated by benevolent motives, and acted solely in petitioner's interest. This verdict has not given satisfaction to some members, and there was a good deal of talk this afternoon when the petition was brought up.

THE GOLDFIELDS COMMITTEE.

Mr Cadman brought up to-day the report of the Goldfields and Mines Committee, which stated that the following resolutions had been unanimously adopted :— (1) That a subsidy of pound for pound be given by the Government in aid of prospecting for gold upon moneys expended by county councils, prospecting associations, or private parties, provided that all such parties shall first be approved by the local authorities, and that Ministers be requested to provide for the same in the Supplementary Estimates; {2) that ia the opinion of the Goldfields Committee the granting of more than one application in any one district to any one company for special mineral leases is detrimental to the mining industry, and that the Minister of Mines be requested to instruct wardens accordingly ; (3) that the Government subsidise local bodies in sending a representative from Westland, Ofcago, and the Thames goldfields to take charge of the mineral exhibits at the Dunedin Exhibition, and that these representatives send reports to local bodies on the exhibits and mining machinery at the exhibition. (4) That a work dealing with elementary questions in geology, mining, &c. be issued for use in the public schools in mining districts. (5) That the Government be requested to take into its Eerious consideration during the recess some sybtem of assisting the construction of water races in mining districts. (6) That in order to encourage the introduction of foreign capital, the Government should offer special facilities by way of freedom from rent and taxation for a limited period of time, or in such other way as they may deem advisable. (7) That in the opinion of this committee the Government should undertake the smelting and assaying of gold, purchasing, when required, at their standard value all ingots so melted and assayed. (8) That the Minister of Mines be requested to procure during the recess papers and information dealing with the working and cost of the Melbourne and Sydney Mints. (9) That the time named in section 203 of " The Mining Act 1886 " for managers to obtain certificates of competency should be extended for 12 months, and in the interim the Government should alter and simplify the system of examination in order that managers may be classified in accordance with their proficiency. (10) That the offering of a limited number of scholarships for competition among students at the Schools of Mines would be an incentive to youths in mining districts to qualify for mine managers ; (11) that the evidence given before a committee be Mr Witheford, respecting the development of our goldfields, aud by Mr Luko, respecting the treatment of refractory ores, should receive the serious attention of the Government without delay ; (12) that the system adopted by some companies in demanding such enormous percentages from tributors, in Hhu of fully manning holdings which can be worked without pumping machinery, is detrimental to the mining interest, and should be discouraged by the Government ; (13) that the Government be requested to prepare regulations for mining under foreshores, and make them as liberal as possible, as large capital is required to develop this class of mining.