HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Southland Times, Issue 15074, 19 October 1901, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. p.m. THE AGB CABIiS. Mr A. L. D, Fraser asked the PostmasterGeneral whether his : attention had beiin called to the cable from Melbourne whic b nad appeared in that morning's papers, giving extracts from an article in the A|;e on the attitude of N.Z. in regard to tlio Australian-N.Z. section of the Pacific cable. —Sir J. Ward stated that the article generally was incorrect. He pointed out tbat the Queensland telegraphs now were Commonwealth telegraphs, and were not controlled by the Queensland Government; that there was no necessity for New Zealand to have anotlier cable from Sydney to Auckland, the Pacific cable section, Nevr Zealand-Norfolk Island and Norfolk Island-Queensland, gave an alternative route and a more efficient cable circuit between New Zealand and Anatralia than the one from* New Zealand to Sydney, the sections being shorter and capable Of doing more work ; the New Zealand Government wonld have no control over i«he Pacific cable except throngh its representative on the Board; ahd, generally it ito* absurd to suggest that cable business from any part of Australia for the Pacific cable should ever pass over a cable to N»w Zealand even if there were half a dozen cables available. Such a ronte would only be taken in the event ofthe Qaeehaland-Noriolk Island one being interrupted or overloaded. The paragraph about New Zealand, at her own expense, providing the staff for tihe Pacific cable and the landing place in K'ew Zealand was equally absurd and incorrect. He hoped the Pacific cable would be working within twelve months from date. ansoEULAXSons. The Land Tax and Income Tax Bill ;iQd the Government Railways Classification Amendment Bill were brought down by Governor's message, and read a. firat time. NOT BETSOSPECTIVE. Mr Seddon informed the House thair: if the Payment of Members Bill passed ifc would como into operation at once. PATEA. •■• '*-■■ On the motion of Mr Seddon, the Spanker was directed to issue his warrant fco 'the Clerk of Writs so make out a new wrfe tor the election of a member of the Houso for Patea. LEAVE OF ABSENCE > for a week was granted to Mr Hanari on account of ill-health, and for a similar term to Mr Stevens on account of urgent private business. , * , ' THE 08IXBY BILL, - v- " . The amendments made by the Legislative Couucil in the Moneylenders Bui were agreed to. THIS MAIL SERVICES At 3.40 p.m. the debate on thß nail >proposals was resumed by Mr Wilford, who said he world oppose, in future, any pay- . ment to Spreckels and would vote against the proposals of the Postmaster-General my regard to the ' Frisco service. There could y be no objection to a subsidy to the Union :{ S.S. Co. for carrying the maiia, between y here and Australia and thought perhaps we might not get our letters so quickly us by the 'Frisco service we Bhould have nn absolutely regular service and a weekly oue, — Mr TSogg considered the TPrisco service , was incom arably the best we could hevve. — Mr Berrien supported the 'Frisoo aanioe as being the best the colony conld. get although he greatly regretted thau the , Union Co. 's steamera were excluded.—Mr Palmer in supporting the 'Frisco tervice ; said ho did not think Australia wonld allow : us to enter the Federal service except by paying the full price, especially as thoy had refused to allow our letters to enter at the penny rate.— -iir McLachlan said he would vote for the discontinuance of aflervnje that was totally alien to us. If these' steamers only asked 5a a year he would not wye itDebate interrupted by th© 5.30 ao journment. * Evening Sitting. EvEStNG SITKNG. The Honse resumed at 7-30 and the debate on the mail proposals was continued. Mr W. Frasor said that a contract With the Vaucover , service at the present time being impossible of arrangement it was a question betweeu the 'Frisco aud federal services, und he considered the former much. . superior end would vote for it.— Mr I^aurenson said up to the previous evening he had been moro in favour of the 'Frisco iiervice, but by the arguments during the dcibate ifc was not the service ho should support. He expressed a strong preference for the Federal line.— Mr A. L. D. Fraser 'iid not regard the question of aneed as the only consideration to be taken into account; a reduction of cable rates \yv& of eqiial importance to the mercantile community. He would vote against the 'Frisco proposals. — Mr Pirani spoke in support, of the ' Frisco service, and Mr E. Q. Allen against ii. Tto latter advocated tJie Federal servi ue, and said the surest way of getting the TZJwten States shipping laws altered WftS by fc*W

Zealand showing its independence by refusing to subsidise the Spreckels Company.— Mr Jas. Allen said the action of the opponents of the 'Frisco aer ice was agaiust the federation of the English- speaking races which was so much talked about and desired. He strongly supported the 'Frisco proposals. — Messrs McNab and Ell spoke against the 'Frisco service. At 10.50 a motion to go into Committee of the Whole for consideration of the mail proposal waa agreed to on the voices. In committee Mr Millar move to strike ont the first portion of the first paragraph of the proposal, authorising the Government to enter into a contract with the Oceanic Steamship Co. for a renewal of the present 'Frisco service. He said the House would thus have a direct issue before it — Sir J. Ward imp i eased on the House the necessity for this colony taking united action with the Commonwealth and Imperial Government in order to secure an amendment of the U.S. shipping laws.-— Mr Bollard made a strong appeal for the continuance of th© 'Frißco service. — Mr Seddon said the trouble in connection with the present service had bran the cntting out of the Union Co.'s ships. The colony could not improve on the 'Frisco service. Some members had asked why the Government had not given better terms. Personally he was prepared to go further, but he and his colleagues had to carefully consider what they could carry through the Houee. He must admit he was not pleased at the attitude taken up by the United States Government when New Zealand asked for a modification of their shipping laws, but it was ridiculous to talk about reprisals with a country like America. If the North Island Trunk Railway were completed the House would unanimously have agreed to the 'Frisco proposals. Through trains would be running between Auckland and Wellington before it would be necessary to renew the contract and what, he asked, would be tne result if they now drove the service away. — Mr McGnire considered the Frisco mail proposals were the best in the meantime, but the position should be again reviewed next session. He preferred to see ships subsidised that would call at the Cape. On a division Mr Millar's amendment was negatived by 36 to 28, following being the division list ; — For motion : (36) E. G. Allen, J. Allen, Arnold, Atkinson, Barclay, Buddo, Collins, Colvin, Ell, Field, Fisher, b latnian, A. JL. D. Fraser, W. Fraser, Gilfedder, Graham, Hardy, Hornsby, Hutchison, Laurenson, T. Mackenzie, R. McKenzie, McLachlan, McNab, Meredith, Millar. O'Meara, Parata, Pirani, ; Rhodes, G. W. Rnssell, Smith, Symes, Tanner, Thomson, Wilford. Against the motion (28): Bennet, Bollard, Carncross, Carroll, Duncan, Fowlds, Hall, Hall-Jones, Heke, Herries, Hogg, Houston, Kaihau, Lang, Lawry, Lethbridge, Massey, McGowan, Mills, Monk, Palmer, Pere, W. R. Rnssell, Seddon, Thompson, Ward, Witheford. ~Mr Millar then moved that the specified term on the 'Frisco contract (three years) be struck ont. Thia was put and carried without discussion byr36* votes to 28. Mr Millar then moved that the term be one year.— Sir J. Ward strongly opposed this proposal. He said it would be almost impossible to enter into a contract for one year. He suggested two years. — Capt. Russell urged that at least a two year's contract be granted. — Mr Millar's motion to make the contract for one year was carried by 33 to 30. Sir J. Ward then moved to extend the term to eighteen months. — Mr Seddon said there were good reasons why this extension ehonld be made and he asked the Houre to . assent to it. -rlhe division on Sir J. Ward's ; motion resulted in a tie : Ayes, 32 ; Noes, 32. Mr Steward gave his casting vote for - the Ayes, and declared the motion parried ; the term of contract ib therefore-fixed at 18 months. ! Mr G. J. Smith moved a new condition of ' the contract — that the rates of freight from ' 'Frisco to Auckland shall not exceed the rates fromr'J'riaco to Sydney.— Sir J. Ward said tho Government would make strong representations to the company in this direction; whereupon Mr Smith withdrew his motion. Sir J. Ward then moved an addition to the paragraph specifying the rates, to provide that the minimum amount payable be £15,000, and the maximum £20,000.— Thia was carried by 38 to 26, and the whole of ( the resolutions regarding the 'Frisco service passed without further amendment. Oa the second proposal re a Vancouver J service, the committee struck out the words providing that negotiations shonld only be entered into in the event of its being fonnd ( impracticable to arrange a 'Frisco service, whioh words were, of coarse, unnecessary. The Federal mail service resolutions were agreed to on the voices, with a verbal amendment. The whole of the resolutions passed at 12.45 a,m and were reported to the House. As an amendment pn the motion that the resolutions be agreed to Mr Fisher paid tribute to Mr Massey for the valuable assistance he had given in passing the resolutions; but for his assistance they would not have been carried.-sMr G. W. Rnssell said they must not forget the Maori vote, which on this occasion, as on previous occasions, had altered the destinies of this country.— Mr McNab deprecated tne introduction -of what w&b a note of discord.— Messrs Herries, Seddon, Carroll and others urged that the Maori members had a perfect right to vote as they liked, and pointed out that thres of the Maoris were Anckland members aud voted in the same direction as other representatives of that dietrict.— Mr B. McKenzie remarked that the majority of the people were against the Spreckels Co. and yet the Opposition had nelped the Government to perpetuate this service. — Mr Meredith also said it was clear that the voice of the country was against a continuance of the 'Frisco service. — Mr G.J. Smith said no one had any personal feeling against the Maori members, but they had not a fnll knowledge of questions affecting the welfare.of English -speaking people. —Several other members also spoke.— Mr G. W. Russell, in a personal explanation, said he intended no personal reflection on the Maori members. His objection was that the votes of Maori members were .brought in in connection with matters almost exclusively of interest to Europeans when it suited the Government that they should be bronght in.— Sir J. Ward said that would imply that Europeans should not vote on matters of interest solely to the natives. He thought the votes on the mail question -had been cast in a manner that save the best solution of a very difficult problem.— -The resolutions were then agreed to. on the voices. MONEY BOLS. The Government Railways Superannuation Fund Bill was introduced and read a first time. Sir J. Ward said that it was not intended to go further with the bill this session, and it was only introduced in order 'that it might be circulated.— Mr Seddon said he intended to proceed with the School Teachers' Salaries Bfll at *n early date. The House rose at 1.3-5 a.m.

[BY ITHLB6EAPH.] (FBOM OUB SPECIAL BEPORTEB.) THE LICEXSEiG AOTS AMEKDMEKT BILK Proposes that the quorum of a licensing committee shall be four ; magistrates axe Siven discretionary power as to the enorsemeut of licenses, anyone who falsely represents himself as a bona fide traveller is to be liable to a penalty of £10 and not less than £1 j a now license is not to be granted more than a quarter a mile from the premises formerly liecensed. With regaid to wholesale lloesses the two gallons which ibay be sbld must be "^f the same description of liqtiar.* The Governor is empowered to declare any ingredient or material to be injurious to nealth and also any liquor with which such material is deemed to be adulterated. Salicylic acid or other anti-ferment must not be used in the manufacture of New Zealand wine. Prosecutions for breaches of the law must be commenced within 21 days after the date of the breach ; no transfer of a license must be granted unless the transferee is entitled to hold premises under a good and subsisting lease, granted for a term of four Ese, H consideration is given for the dlord's-consent to a transfer the amount CO paid may be recovered aeadebt. The Cd«sal Secretary is empowered to grant licenses for the convenience bf the tourist traffic, btttveqfc.in the King Country. A penalty of £10 is provided for sending ohildren under 13 years of age to a licensed house for liquor. Chartered dubs are brought Under tbe operations of the law. Conviotions for breaches of the law may be upheld irrespective of the amount of the penalty imposed. The Colonial Secretary maj pay, bn behalf of the local bodies, the cost of licensing elections, and recover the amount as a debt due to the Crown. Provision is sjlbo inserted against "tied housjss." The bin is not likely to be gone on with this .jessios/ THE LOCAL BODIES LOA> BILL lea measure of over (100 clauses. It em* cowers a local authority to raise a special

loan for any public work and it alao proposes that snch special loan may be raised for the benefit of soaie defined part of a district and that a local authority may unite with one or more other local authorities (including borough councils) in raising a joint special loan for any othor authorised purpose which is declared by resolution of j each of the local authorities concerned as to !be of benefit to their respective districts. Before a special loan is raised the consent ol the ratepayers of the district must be obtained and is to be carried by three-fifths of the valid votea recorded. Special loans may be raised without a poll in oertain cases, such aa for repaying an overdraft, paying of or consolidating a special loan, and so on. The loan 8 must be raised by the issue of debentures at not more than 5 per cent., and for a term of not more than 50 years. Provision is to be made for repayment at a stated period, and sinking funds are to be vested in commissioners. Part 2of the Act deals with Government loans to local bodies and empowers the Government to lend money to any local authority for certain public works. It also provides that out of the moneys authorised to be borrowed for the purpose of making loans to local authorities the Colonial Treasurer may' apply £5000 for opening up land for settlement, bnt this is not to apply to land acquired under the Land for Settlement Act, 1900. THE BATTLE OP THE MAILS. There was an unusual scene of excitement in the Chamber this evening, reminiscent of old times when a close division was anticipated on a no-confidence motion. The test division was taken at 11.20 p.m., and resulted in the renewal of the San Francisco service by 36 to 28. Wi Pere, who had only arrived that evening, voted with Kaihau and Heke with the Government. Though the Postmaster-Genpral scored first blood, the next honours went to the opponents of the service. Mr Millar moved to strike out the term "three years" with a view to reducing the period of contract, and this waa affirmed by 36 to 28. Then Mr Millar proposed to make the term one year, and was again successful, winning to the tune of 34 to 30. Both these results were received with much cheering. The Postmaster General, who appeared to be very sore at the turn of events, moved to make the period one year and six months, declaring that a twelve months' contract was impossible, and a tie resulted, the Government being saved by the chairman's casting vote. JOTTINGS. Mr Gilfedder is asking the Minister of Publio Works to defer taking action again 3t Sonthland sawmill engine drivers who are not in possession of first class certificates until the Inspection of .Machinery Act Amendment Bill has been passed. The Unclaimed Moneys Act Amendment Bill provides that-the definition of "unclaimed moneys " in the Act of 1898 shall include all moneys owing to any person which at the passing of the Act have been in the possession of any company tor a period of six years or upwards and in respect whereof no claim has been made by the owner against the company. A return presented to Parliament shows the number of leases in perpetuity surrendered or forfeited, the total numbers being 648 and 1609— altogether 2257. The totals for the land districts were : Auckland 247, Hawkes Bay 54, Taranaki 330, Wellington 913, Marlborough 11, Nelson 12, Westland 5, Canterbury 174, Otago 281, Southland 230. A number of the leases were reselected, the favourite form of I occupation being occupation with right of purchase. Mr Hanan, who has been granted a week's leave of absence on account of ill health, intended to go sout^h to-day in order to be present at the reception of Sir Hector ' Macdonald, but his medical adviser does j nnt approve of this course. However, if sufficiently recovered, he will accompany Sir J. Ward in the Tutanekai, which leaves on Baturday night.