PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2952, 11 September 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

Wellington, Sept. 7,

After the mid-day adjournment, Mr Stevens, continningthe debate on the Loan Bills deprecated the loan being being divided into two parts. He failed to understand why a country with such a fine climate and abounding with rich resonrees should borrow at a higher rate of interest than other British colonies.

The Hon Mr Oliver was surprised at so much opposition being given to the loans, and assured the Council the colony could not got along without borrowing. Mr Miller, while upholding the present Government for their honest manageagement of public affairs, said he could not conscientiously vote for the three million Bill, Messrs Wilson, Holmes, Eraser, Reynolds and Peacock also spoke against the second reading. Mr Eobinson spoke at considerable length in favor of the Bill. Mr Diguan supported both Bills. Mr Menzies expressed regret that borrowing could not be dispensed with for another year. Mr Bonar strongly supported further borrowing. Mr Mantell did not: approve! of increased loans, but was prepared to yield his conviction to the strongly expressed opinion of the representative members. The Hon. Mr Whittaker, in replying, said he did not think the amount proposed to be borrowed was at all unreasonable. The Council divided on the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Bill —Ayes 24, noes 9. On the How Zealand Loan Bill the Council divided—Ayes 19, noes 13, , Both . Bills were then committed, reported without amendments, and passed. The Hon. Mr ‘ Oliver " moved the second reading of the Inscribed Stock Loan Bill, which was agreed to,

BOADB AND BRIDGES,

The Hon, Mr Whittaker moved the second reading of the Roads and Bridges Construction Bill.

Mr Reynolds said if'was absurd to think that gentlemen could study Bills as they were being rushed upon them. He hoped such au agitation would take place shortly as would be the means of doing away with the Legislative Council altogether. For himself he wiped bis hands of all business, and so let the blame rest on tbe beads of the Government.

The second reading was then agreed

ADJODBHMBNT.The Council rose at 5.30 and resumed at 7.30. LAND BILL. The Hon. the Premier moved that' the Council do not insist on their amendment in the Land Bill. Sir G. S. Whitmore moved, and it was carried, that Messrs Holmes, Beynolds, Miller, Stevens, and the mover be a Committee to draw up a report to show the reasons why the Council should not agree to give way on the amendment.

adjournment. The Council rose at 12.30 p.m. till II am. on Monday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.80 p.m NATIVE RESERVES.

The Orakei Native Reserves Bill was ported with amendments by the Legislative Council, which wore approved of.

MB PHABAZYN’s CASE.

In reply to a question, by Mr Taiaroa. the Hon. Mr Dick said the alleged! disqualification of Mr Pharazyn, convicted of corrupt practices, was a matter for the attention of the Legislative Assembly and not for Government. THE COUNCIL’S AMENDMENTS.!

Amendments made by the Legislative Council on the Special Powers and: Contracts Bill were not agreed to, and a Committee was appointed to frame reasons of dissent. On the motion of the Hon. Mr Rolleston, a Committee was appointed to frame reasons of dissent from the amendments proposed by the Legislative Council in the Land Bill. BILLS PASSED. The following Bills were reported, read a third time and passed :—Eegistra. tion of Births and Deaths Amendment, Tauranga East Coast and Hot Lakes District Bail way, Public Revenues,Banka and Bankers Act Amendment Bill. The following was received from' the Legislative Council with amendments, which were agreed to:—Road Board Bill; and the following without amend* mentAmnesty and North Island Loan Bill. SALAEIBB OF MINISTERS. The Hon. Major Atkinson said that before proceeding with the business he desired to make an explanation some* what personal to Ministers. It would be remembered that two years ago they had consented to reduce their own salaries 20 per cent. This was at the time of the general reduction. They did 80 because they, thought that action on their part would leave them free to deal with the salaries of others. They now proposed to draw the full salaries and before doing so they desired to get an expjjßsssion from the House. He asked tie House to express its candid opinion on the point, and to do so apart altogether from any party consideration, and with that view he would afford them an opportunity on the motion for going into Committee of Supply on the Sup* plementary Estimates. Mr Montgomery asked that the Treasurer should explain where the extra amount proposed to be charged to the Consolidated Revenue was to come from.

The Hon. Major Atkinson said that Government did not intend, as at one time proposed, to reduce the property tax to a halfpenny. Government did not anticipate any deficit} but if there was it was bettor that there should be,’ than that any extra money should be taken oat of the pockets of the tax* payers." - ■ •• “ •

BUPPLEMBNTABY ESTIMATES. The motion for going into Committee was put and carried. Class I—Legislative, £3608. Item —Introduction of* the electric light, £3OOO. Mr Barron said that no attempt should be made to introduce it into the old buildings, seeing provision was asked for new building. “ Item—Bellamy’s, £133. Mr Shepherd moved it be struck ont. These votes were extending discreditably.- ' Mr Hurst objected to the 'item Chief Librarian, £SOO additional. He thought £3OO was quite sufficient. He moved it be struck out. Item Clerk Assistant House of Representatives, £50.. Sir Maurice O’Borke said it should be £2OO.

The Hon. Major Atkinson protested that the larger amount should be agreed to, and paid out of the contingent'expenditure. Sir Maurice O’Rorke urged that the Sergeant-at-Arms should be increased £SO. •.

The question was put that the item £SO additional to librarian, be omitted— Ayes, 31, Noes ;14, and the item was omitted.

Item—Bellamy’s £133. On the question that it be omitted, the Hon. Mr Dick said it was an old account, put on the estimates last year by mistake. t , Mr Shephard said such a vote was disgraceful. If members in their hilarity broke the glasses the country should not be expected to pay for the fun.

Mr George said that he did defend the vote,-bat he hoped this would be the last that-would be asked. Sic John Hall called attention to an item under Miscellaneous—Cutlery and Electroplate for Bellamy’s, £9B 8s Bd. Captain McKenzie thought it would be better, if the establishment were, closed up altogether. He gave it as his experience that it was very badly managed. Tbe practice was to order these things and pay three times their value.

Mr Smith gave it as bis experience, in contradiction to the last speaker, that the living was too good. -That was the only mistake. The establishment lacked one item of food, namely oatmeal. Had that been provided he bad no doubt some members would have been better pleased. Question pat that the item be omitted. Ayes, 9; Noes 40; and the item was retained.

Item—lntroduction of electric light, £3OO. Carried on the voices. ; Item Parliamentary lawn tennis ground, £4O. Omitted on the voices.

The Hon Major Atkinson said he understood the Sergeant.at.Arms was to be paid £SO additional out of the unauthorised expenditure. This was assented to, and the vote as amended was passed. The following were also passed with, out challenge. • Government statist, £SO ; charitable, £30,000; Lunatic Asylums, £ll6O ; printing and stationery, £3500. Vote—Miscellaneous, £11,463. Captain McKenzie moved that the item Christchurch International Exbibi. tion, £2OO be struck put. Lost 'on the voices. ,

Mr Turnbull moved the item—t London International Fisheries Exbibi. tion, £SOO, be struck out. Ayes, 16; Noes, 26. Item retained and the vote passed as printed. Property Tax Department, £18,040. ■ Miscellaneous, £27.. Supreme Court, £575. Resident Magistrates’ and Wardens’ Courts; £576. ; » ■■ \. Miscellaneous, £1270. " ■ ’ General Ppst-pfilce, £SO. .... Chief-office and Bub.offices, £3BO. Maintenance, £250., ‘ .Customs office and service, £514. Marine and harbors, £4674. Miscellaneous, £l5B. Education Department, £16,750. Miscellaneous; £9170. , Minister of. jialive. affairs,., miscel. laneous, £629, ~ , .. ■ Native Lands Court, establishment of district office, £ISOO. Minister of Mines, £625. 1 T ' Miscellaneous, £1835. Minister 1 for Public'Works; working railways, £33,696. Public buildings, r £loisoo. 1

Miscellaneous, £385. . Minister of Defence, Militia and Volunteers, £16,198. Item—Harbor defence, £50,000. The Hon Mr Bryce said he tboaght they should adopt a moderate means for the defence of the* colony. Sir John Hall spoke strongly in favor of the Bill. The item was passed as printed. Miscellaneous, £4258. ‘ltem—Pay of Thames Volunteers recommended by Public Petitions Committee. V /, , In the course of ‘ a discussion on the item the Hon Mr Bryce said the claim Was a scandalous shame to the Volunteers. The mercenary spirit which the Thames men bad- displayed brought con. tempt on the whole Volunteer system. Mr Macandrew moved to report pro-gress,'which'-was agreed to, and the House adjourned at 11.55 p.m, till Monday. . . '