PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 20, 18 October 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

iPBB FBBSB ABBOOUTIOX. I LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, October 17. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Railways Authorisation, Westport Ngakawau Railway, and Egmont ! National Park Bills were read a first time. The Egmont National Park Bill wan read a second time, and referred to the M aste Lands Committee. Hon W. C. Walker moved the committal of the Grown Tenants Butt Rebate BUI. Hon. Bowen protested against euob an important measure coming down at so late a stage of the session. The Premier had announced he hoped the session would close on Monday, and this Bill was brought down after that announcement. He thought the Council would be justified in refusing to consider it, aB a protest. Hon, Bolt considered the Bill would bring land administration into ridicule. Hon. W. C. Smith supported the Bill, and make a vigorous attack on the deferred payment system. Hons. Twomey and T. Kelly supported the measure, and Hon. Montgomery opposed it. Hon. W. 0. Walker said if it was desired to promote the accumulation of land, by all means go back to the freehold system, but the present Bill assisted the leasing system, which, he maintained, was the best thing for the country. The committal was agreed to by 19 votes to 8. Hon. Montgomery moved to amend clause 3 so as to extend the benefit of the rebate te Crown tenants in arrears. The matter was questioned as a money provision. Progress was reported to refer the question to the Speaker, who reserved his decision to 7.30 p.m. It was decided not to insist on the amendments in the Maori Lands Administration Bill, aod, by 15 votes to 10, to waive the amendments in the Private Industrial School Bill. The Impounding Act Amendment Bill was read a first time. The Land for Settlement Consolidation Bill was committed without amendment, read a third time and passed. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Railways Authorisation Bill and Westport Ngakawau Railway Bill were read a second time, committed without amendment, and passed. Tho Speaker ruled that the Council <iould deal with the proposed amendment in the Crown Tenants Rent Rebate Bill and the clause was amended by extending tho benefits of rebate for prompt payment to tenants in arrears. Clause 4 was amended, by entitling only Croivu tenants to a remission of rent by the Minister, in cases of suffering loss by natural causes. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 8 30 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, October 17. The House met at 2.30 p.m. On the motion that the report of the Oommittee on the Impounding Act Amendment Bill be agreed to, Mr. liolce opposed the provision on the ground that it was unfair, and that an owner of land should not be allowed to Itslroy pigs straying on that land, unless the laud had pig-proof fences. I'ho matter was an important one as far as the natives were concerned, and he hoped the House would protect them from such an injustice. Mr. Houston said European settlers suffered great loss through native pigs straying on their land. Mr. Carroll said the Bill would ' materially affect the natives, who de- ' pended greatly upon pigs for their ' support. He urged the House net to I agree to the Bill. ' The motion that the amendments be ' agreed to was carried by 36 to 21. ' Oa the motion that the Bill be read ' a third time, Messrs. Napier and Wi Pere said it would cause great friction and hardship. The Bill was read a third time and passed by 30 votes to 21. The report of the conference on the amendments by the Council on the Maori Lands Administration Bill was agreed to. Mr. Saddon resumed the debate on ' the consideration of the amendments ' from the Qovernor to the Repre- ' sentation Bill, reducing the num- ' ber of new members from ten ! to six. He explained that when he proposed to make the increase In the ' number of members ten, instead of six ' as originally proposed, he was under a ' misapprehension as to the population ' of the colony. By making the increase six it brought the quota to about the ! same number as at present, 10,000, and made the total number of the House ' eighty. _ ' Captain Russell urged that seeing < the number of Ministers bad been increased, it was necessary that there . should also be a substantial increase in . the number of members. The Act of 1887 reducing the number ot members i had proved a failure. He opposed the proposal to reduce the number of new ' members from 10 to 6. J Mr. Lfturenson objec'ed to any increase at all, believing that tho * present number was quite sufficient. Mr. Ward eaid the present size of the ? electorates was too large, and demanded {, too much time and attention on the part of a member. By making tho increase six, tho boundaries of the I( present electorates would not bo raa'eri- it ally disturbed, while thoy would be in oi sorao cases advantageously contracted. ol Tho debate was interrupted by Mr. Piruiii reading tho reasons drawn by tin managers disagreeing with the |/ ( atuendmont made by the Council in the Hi Industrial Schools Bill. The reasons m were agreed to by 35 to 19. w ' Mr. Ell continued tho debate on the to Representation Bill. y/ Mr. Meredith sid the Bill was Si neither necessany nor desirable. c Tho amendment was agreed to on the w voices. In committee on the Manawatu Railway Purchasing Bill, Oiptain itussdl asktd why tho principles tf the of Railway Act of 1881 had been dj. u

vernm.nt to take at cost, plus five pur cent., and leu allowanee for depreciation and for wear and tear, ' Mr. Ward said that all the BUI did L was to authorise the Government to r negotiate for the purchase of the UnejH-' The Government could, under the existing agreement, possess the line, but they objected te do eo on the terms herein stated. If the Government oould not get the line upon fair tern* it would not tcuoh it. Whatever wet done would be reported to the Hmk, and if an agreement oould not be ootM to a fresh least would be given to the company. The House adjourned at 5.30. SVBJIStt §IXIIIIO. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. In committee on the Manewata Purchase Bill, Captain Russell mil he was afraid that although the BUI provided for the terms ef being eubjeet to the approval el Parliament, the House would be eo torn* promised by what the Govenueent and done that the action of the GevemtMut would have to be approved of, Mr. Ward replied that the Gevtmment would not commit the colony te anything by negotiating for the parchase of the line before the Houes wm consulted, much lest to a bad bargain. Captain Rutsell moved a new etauee to the effect that an Mtimate ef the value ef the railway be made bj valuers under the Railways Construction Aotu 1888, and planed before the Heuee within fourteen days after oeuTeaing the next session. The motion wao loot on the voices. The BUI was repertod without amendment, On the motion for the third reading, Captain Russell contended that It would pay the colony better to eoquii* the railway under the Act of 1881 than under the proposal of the shareholders. He also believed that the line would not pay so well under ton political control of the .Government as it did under private management. Mr. McQ uire looked upon the Manawatu line as the key to the North Island, and thought the promoters were entitled te every consideration, Mr. Ward said it was premature te go into details in regard & the purchase of the line, and, while be believed it would thingfortheoolony to acquire the line, it would be unwise to do so at an exorbitant price. If it were found that the line ootid be acquired under the Act of 1681 on more favourable terms than under the proposals of the shareholders, then that would be done, if it waa found that it would be for the good of the State that it should become colonial property. The Bill was read a thud time and passed on the voices, Mr. Seddon moved that the Knee go into Oommittee on the Public Revenues Bill. The Public Account! Committee had agreed with the Bill except Clause 3. Experience had proved that from time to time Aete required to be altered as defects were diecovered, and that applied te this Bill, The statement that the Bill took from the Audit Department the proper con« trolof the finances of the colony was not correet. He explained that he bed given instructions to have the Bfll brought down early in the eeanen, but pressure of work had delayed its earlier consideration. One defect of tho present audit system waa that after the House bad passed money to be paid, if the amount required to be paid exceeded the sum named in the Act, the Audit Department would not pay the amount. The Houst should not be phced in the position of requiringtopass an Act before money oould be paidin such cases. Provision was also made for extending the amount of unauthorised expenditure from £IOO,OOO to £150,000. The BUI further provided that where an unstamped voucher was presented, the Audit Department should accept the voucher on an authority for payment noth withstanding that defect, leaving it te the Btamp Department to take notion for evasion of the Stamps Aot. He enumerated ' other minor amendments whieh wen in the direction of faoiuUting payment* of money. The House adjourned at 10 o'clock.