HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2154, 22 September 1875, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

' Wellington, Tuesday. IHPBEST SUPPLY.

At 3 p.m. .the House went into Committee on the Imprest Supply Bill, and' passed a resolution granting £180,000 on imprest, the Treasurer having explained to an inquiry by Mr Wood that the money was particularly requested for. immigration and public works. The resolution, was reported to tho House, and ordered to bo considered to-morrow, the Treasurer saying ho would then ask the House to pass it through all its stages. I ABOLITION'DILI, Tho House then went, into Committee on the Abolition Bill, to consider clauso 15. An amendment in tho first section of the clause was moved'by the Treasurer' to provide that the funds accruing from tho sales of land, &c., from agricultural leases in goldfields districts aro not to be considered as goldfields revenue, but go to land fund, was agreed to. Tho last clause'was struck out, and the following amendment moved by Mr O'Connor, and accepted by the Government, was inserted in lieu thereof: —lt provides that, "After making the deduction therein provided, the balance shall be held for the purposes of this Act, to be a general rate, and shall be paid to the publio account, and a separate account thereof Kept, and such balance shall be paid over to the governing body or board of the district from which such revenue has been received, together with any proportionate endowment which may accrue from tho land fund and from the consolidated rovenuo, to be computed in the manner provided in tho nineteenth and twentieth sections thereof." " 1 : " V

• - Mr Bradshaw then moved the following addition to the clause as an amendment Tho governing body to be elected solely by miners whohavo held miners' rights or business licenses for not less than three months proviou3 to such election." . •

After discussion, a division was called for, resulting in : a majority of. 22 against tho amendment; the ayes being i 3, noes 35. ,

Sir Goorgo Grey then moved, ag a further addition to tho amendment of tho clauso: Provided that one month after passing this Act, the Goldfields Act, 1870, an'd tho Amendment Act, 1872, shall bo deemed to be repealed, and thereupon the export duty on gold shall abso? lutely ceaso and determine, The hon. member moved this amendment becauso be thought it-unfair to impose an export duty on mineral which was obtained nitli great toil and difficulty. Ho thought an export duty on wool would be far more fair. ■

Tho Treasurer stated the Government would oppose tho amendment. He thought Sir Georgo Grey should withdraw his amendment, and the Government would give him an opportunity to bring in and discuss a bill for repealing tho goldfields' Acts which imposo an export duty. '

Sir George Grey declined to withdraw ho amendment.

. Mr Macandrew supported the amendment. The goldfield revenue was so small (only £12,000) that it was not worth any longer bothering about. Mr Stafford said ho was not sure lie would not support the amendment, but he thought the carrying of it would be no advantage to the goldfields, for by the addition to the clause just passed the governing bodies of the goldfields districts would receive £2 to every £1 raised by the gold duty. Mr Shepherd, of Otago, proposed, in the place of one month after the passing of this Aot, tho word should be " after the coming intb operation of this Adt." The Treasurer said the repeal of the gold duty would be a great injustice to the goldfields. It might help a few large communities, but the miner would gain nothing. _ His wages would-not be one penny higher. Where, lie asked, would the monejr' come from for roads, bush tracks, bridges, &p., 'in the goldfields.? If the two amendments: were withdrawn, he would givo Sir G. Grey an opportunity of bringing down a bill to-morrow repressing the. duty on gold, when tho question could be discussed on its merits. He considered the present time inopportune for doing so. Tho House rose for refreshment at 6 30.