PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2941, 29 August 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, August 28. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. FIRST BEADING. The Native Reserves Bill was read a first time. BILLS PASSED. The Mines Act, 1877,' Amendment Bill; Lyttleton Harbor Board Bill, Employers Liability Bill; a nd Protection of Telegrams Bill, were read a third|time andjpassed. SECOND HEADINGS. The Native Land Division Bill, Native Land Act Amendment Bill, and Otago Harbor Board Bill were read a second time. TELEPHONES, The following resolution was moved by Mr Chamberlain, who pressed the Government to assent to it“ That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that telephonic apparatus be utilised in the public gaols, prisons, hospitals, and lunatic asylums of the colony.” PAPEES. On the motion of Mr Reynolds, all further papers connected with the case of E. Ff. Ward, jun., were ordered to be laid on the table. ADJOURNMENT. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m., and resumed at 7.30 p,m. SECOND HEADINGS. The following Bills were read a second time Public Health Act 1876 Amendment Bill, Patients Act Amendment Bill, Gold Duties Amendment Bill, Gold Duties Act Amendment Bill, RabbitjNuisance Bill. THIED EEADINGS. The Imprest Supply Bill (No. 4) and the High School Bill were road a third time. FIEST READING. The Land Act Amendment Bill, Mining on Reserves Bill, and Resumption of Land for Mining Purposes Bill were received from the Lower House and read a first time. adjournment. The Council rose at 9.50 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. p.m. to-day. SECOND READING. The Special Powers and Contracts Bill was read a second time. AMENDMENTS AGREED TO. . The Legislative Council’s amendmeats in the Gas Companies and Consumers Liability Bill were agreed to. BILLS PASSED, The Private Bills of Costs Bill was committed, reported, read a third time, and passed. the land bill. On the motion of the third reading of tho _Land Act Amendment Bill, Mr McKenzie moved its recommittal for tho purpose of moving tho following new clause“ No original transferee or other person occupying any pastoral lands either by himself or jointly with

any other person under license or lease from the Crosvn-capable of carrying on the whole forty thousand sheep or more, or four thousand head of cattle or more shall be entitled to become the purchaser or transferee of any pastoral license or lease after the coming into operation of this Act, and should any original holder, tranferee, or other person so occupying any pastoral land as aforesaid become the purchaser of any run hereafter exposed at auction, all payments of rent made in accordance with the conditions of sale shall be forfeited to the Crown, and any license or lease issued shall be deemed to have been void and of no effect from the time of issue.”

The motion for the third reading was then put —Ayes 29, Noes 50. The motion for the recommittal was then put and carried.,.

In Committee the motion for the addition of the above new clause was put and carried. The Bill was then reported, read a third time and passed, STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH ENGIAND.

In Committee of the whole House, the Hon Mr Johnston moved the following :—“ (1) That it is not expedient that an attempt should be made for the present to establish a direct steam postal service between England and New Zealand, as the large subsidy which would necessarily be required would more than counterbalance the advantages (2) That the San Francisco mail service now in operation should be extended for two or three years if the coat of the extensions does not exceed the present cost to the colony. (3) That it is of importance that there should be a monthly passenger and mercantile steam service established between England and New Zealand by suitable steam vessels. (4) That the length of the voyage each way should not exceed fifty days. (5) That any contract should hot be for more than three years. (6) That the cost of such service to the colony should not exceed £40,000 per annum. (7) The Government are hereby authorised to take the necessary steps to give effect to these resolutions. He said it was shown that to establish a' mail service that would be at all suitable to the colony would require £160,000 per annum. That was deemed too much for the colony, and he had no doubt the House would confirm that opinion. With regard to the recommendation asking power to continue the San Francisco service, he explained that it would be done subject to any arrangement that could be made with New South Wales to contribute a part of $6 subsidy. With regard to the power asked to establish a mercantile service, he explained that" with a monopoly of the New Zealand trade there was good reason to suppose that in a few years the trade would be sufficient to warrant the subsidy being dispensed .with. After some discussion motions 1 and 2 were put and agreed to. On No. 3 motion, the Hon. Mr Johnston said, in reply to a question put, that if passed, tenders for the service would be called for. Mr Levestam moved as an addition, that districts deriving advantage from the service should be specially taxed for its maintenance.

Sir John Hall moved as a further amendment that instead of a monthly service it he made a two-monthly one. He believed that nothing would do more to promote the prosperity of the colony than a direct steam service, running regularly, and conducted by means of vessels of an established character. To obtain that they would have to offer liberal encouragements. If established on a proper basis, he believed a large stream of the present immigration from Great Britain would be diverted to New Zealand. If trade would not in the first instance be sufficient for the monthly service, it would, so to speak, have to grow, and if found sufficient, they could easily double the service.

A long irregular discussion followed, and on. the question being put that the monthly service remain as printed,there were, Ayes, 52; Noes, 22. The question was then put that the subsidy be defrayed by taxation imposed on districts deriving benefit from the service’ Ayes, 4; Noes, 64. Resolution No. 4 was put and carried on the voices. Resolutions Nos. 5 and 6. Mr Shrimski moved that they be struck out.

The Committee divided —Ayes, 44 ; Noes, 23. Clause 5 was then passed. In reply to a question put by Mr Stevens, the Hon. Mr Johnston said that the Government would take care that every vessel employed in the service should have a freezing chamber. Clause 3 was then passed. On Resolution No.' 6 being put, Mr Shrimski proposed that the subsidy be reduced from £40,000 to £20,000. Replying to a question put by Mr Weston, the Hon Mr Johnston said that the Government proposed to call for tenders. It was true they bad received a proposal from the New Zealand Shipping Company for £30,000, but that was accompanied by conditions and stipulations the Government were not disposed to agree to. They therefore thought it better to take authority to pay £40,000 if necessary, rather than undertake such conditions. The vessels would come to such port or ports where they could get the best inducements in the way of cargo. Mr Holmes supported the proposal to reduce the amount to £20,000. Mr Rutherford moved that the subsidy for the three years be £BO,OOO, to be distributed as follows :—First year, £35,000; second year, £25,000 ; and third year, £20,000, after which all subsidies should cease. After considerable discussion, the words “£40,000” were struck out by 46 to 30. Mr Shrimski’s amendment to reduce the amount to £20,000 was carried by 58 to 18. Mr DeLautour then moved an addendum, “unless it bo a 45 days service, the amount bo £30,000.” The amendment was lost by 44 to 31. Clausa 6 was then carried as amended, [Left sitting at 1.45 a.xn.]