GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1515, 5 June 1886, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Legislative Council on Wednesday, . Mr Buckley, replying to Mr-Bathgate, said Government did not intend to repeal the Contagious Diseases Act. On the motion of Sir Frederick Whitaker, it was decided to obtain a return showing the expenditure: of loans in each provincial district, of the colony from January 1860 to Mat ch 1886. : The Defence Bill was read a third time and passed. ; .-■■■ v ': - In the Legislative Council on Thursday. Mr Shepherd presented a petition from 650 residents of Christchurch, praying for an alteration in the law re the protection of girls and young women. : Colonel Brett without notice moved that a message be transmitted to -the House of Representatives, asking that MrTole may bo permitted to grte,evidence relative to the reception-of Cardinal Moran.—The motion was agreed to. r Mr Wilson gave notice th mote that it was desirable that membersOftheLafcislature, in the preseut financial state of the colony, should forego this session half their honorariums, and that members of the Council declare their willingness to make this concession. - . The Council then adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p. m. oti Wednesday. -.IReplying to questions, it'was Staled that the route by Arthur Pasa for the Midland Railway had been decided by a Royal Commission and a large majority of the House ; that the compilation of the New Zealand Year Book would entail the employment of a large staff 6f clerks, and be too expensive a work- for the colony to undertake unless‘Parliament voted the necessary funds for it ; that a road was being made from Murlpiota towards Wanganui, the money fpr which was taken out of votes for opening-ap lands for sale, and the sum of £3OOO was voted last year, half of whichli&d spent, and the other half would be;spent this year ; that the Napier lunatic asylum was practically closed ; that Mr and' Mf» Agnew'had no claim whatever on the colony. , .

Dr Newman moved that, in the opinion of the House, it is advisable that reserves in land should now be setapart, for charitable ; aid, higher ‘ technic*! and primary education, and ; harbors ; and that the House requests the Government to give effect to this opinion by ..legislation this session.

Sir Robert Stout su'd if that portion about harbors were omitted from the motion it might be accepted.. Ho considered that the freehold system hiad teen a curse to the colony. He did.not think they could afford to set aside, their agricultural reserves forharbors. H® recognised that the South Island was more careful of its land than the North, j but that was the fault of the North ' Island, '

A lengthy discussion ensued on the motion, which was interrupted by the 5.30 p m. adjournment. l'he House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr W, F. Buck! and continued the financial debate by parody ing the Budget statement at length. He contended that the Treasurer had concealed- the true position from them. The colony bad never paid its yearly liabilities out of the revenue since t e constitution was granted. The Civil Service .Retrenchment Bill was a sham. Great savings might be made in public works, Education, Legislature, and Lands Departments, and a really serious attempt at reductions on a Urge scale ought to bo made.

Mr Montgomery considered that instead of having a surplus they were redly £36,000 to the bad, besides £52,000 on the wrong side of the land fund. He deprecated the borrowing policy of the Government, and insisted that they must ent down expenses. To test the feeling of the House he proposed as an amendment; —“ That Government should be requested to reduce the current Estimates by not less than £75/000.”, He believed they could easily be curtailed by £120,000, but he would not ask that. He characterised the Civil? Service Bill as a Bill to enquire into the price of provisions, which was mere nonsense. They should begin by cutting down Ministers’ salaries and travelling expenses.

Sir Robert Stout said the amendment meact the refusal, of supplies to Government and they would not consider it in any other light. He combated the arguments used against the surplus, and the statement as to. the land fund and.the deficit, and loan money being used for payments which should be made out of, the revenue. He offered.to go into Com-., mildee of Supply, and letdho Estimates, be there cut down if members so chose,. as was done with Captain Russell’s rnot’on. How did they propose to cut off £75,005] It coidd not be got out of the Civil Service. The only way was by inducing people to cast upon the local bodies increased functions, and do without the services they were now accustomed to. If the Civil Service Biff were passed, Government, he reiterated, would be able to save £30,000 or £40,000 a year. He denied that they were a Government Of indiscriminate borrowers, and reprobated the prophecies of evil which certain meinbeis were continually making. ’■

Mr Fisher accused the Government of having stolen the ideas of their oppo* mints. There existed, he said, a system’ of corruption in the country which would take a Hercules to remove. Mr Turnbull said if members, were. sincere they would vote for the repeal of the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act, which would give an ipnpedjate sayingof ' .y £62,000. He believed the Qovmiweojf were right to borrow at least five mil Hans to restore stability yf the ' country. ' Mr Ballance moved the adjournment of - the debate, which was carried, and she . House adjourned at 12.20 a /ra. 4 [ The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Thurs* day.

Sir .Robert Stoat announced that the Hon. Mr Reynolds had been sworn in as % member of the Executive. Reply*°g t 0 Questions, it was stated that it was not intended to bring down ■ny measure dealing with Road Boards. Mr J. W. Thomson moved that a Committee be appointed to enquire into and report whether any member of the Legislature negotiated for, or claimed, or received any commision or other remnneration for promoting the passing of the District Railways Purchasing Act 1886, or for negotiating the sale or purchase of debentures issued or to be issued thereunder by Government.—The motion was agreed to. Mr Bryce resumed the debate on the Financial Statement, and was followed by Mr ßadiance, Mr McArthur, Dr Newman, Mr Richardson, and others.

Mr Richardson gave some figures regarding tha railways to show that they bad been worked with the utmost economy. Though 90 additional miles Jbed been C’|'-"ed last year the expenses were £60,000 loss than the previous year. About half-past eleven the Home divided on the question that the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question Ayes, 44; Does, 28. The amendment was lost. Of the South Canterbury members Messrs Ivese, Steward, end Turnbull voted with the ayes, and Messrs Rolleston and Sutter with the noes. . .-The House then adjourned.