HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3411, 2 September 1885, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tho Houso met at 2.30 p.m. KEPLIE9 TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr O'Conor whether the Government will make provision for tho erection of a suitable Court-house at Westport, to take tho plaeo of the dilapidated and unsuitable building which is now used thero for the purpose, the Hon. Mr Tolo said he would mako enquiries on the subject, as it had not been brought to his notice previously. Replying to Mr Vincent Pyko why tho recommendalion of the Goldfields and Mines Committee made last session and repeated this session m regard to tho periodical removal df all wardens has not been given effect to, tho Hon. Mr Tole suid all removals had taken place that could be done with convenience to the wardens and also m the interests of the Replying to Mr Macandrew if the Government will take steps to prevent further spoliation of the Hands m Ota^o Harbor, the Hon. Mr Ballance said ho would make enquiries into the matter and if ho found the picturesqucness of these islands was being interfered with, ho would take steps to prevent it. Replying to Mr Locke whether the Government had any information regarding what is known as " Dowson's water gas," or any reports on the results of the analyses of the various kinds of coal m the colony suitable for making that gos, tho Hon. Mr Richardson said he had not been ablo to obtain a. report ou tho matter. Replying to Mr Gore whether the Government had obtained a report from the Engineer m Chief as to tho alleged defects m tt» Seacliffe Lunatic Asylum Buildings, the Hon. Mr Richardson saul ho had laid a report on the question on the Tablo. Replying to Mr White whether the Government arc prepared to supply Volunteers with ammunition for practice beyond the regulation allowance at cost price, tho Hon. Mr Ballance said there would be no difficulty m supplying Volunteers with ammunition at cost price. Replying to Mr Barren if the Minister for Public Works will reconsider his reply to a question asked m the House on the" 19th August with reference to railway rates charged to the Cavereham station, the Hon. Mr Richardson said he would give instructions for a further report ou this question. Replying to Mr Barron whether the Government have yet determined to make a public railway siding at Kensington, the Hon. Mr Richardson said if arrangements could be made with the owners of private sidings the request would be complied with. Replying to Dr Newman if the portions of the North Island Main Trunk Railway now being made by Maoris wero offered by public tender to Europeans, tho Hon. Mr Richardson replied m the negative. Ho said a small part of the contracts had been put up for competition amongst tho Maoris, and tho work had been done m a satisfactory manner. Replying to Colonel Trimble whether tho Government will take steps for clearing the Mokau River m accordance with Mr Garlick's report laid beforo this House and dated the sth August, 1885, tho Hon. Mr Larnach said a vote was on the Estimates for this purpose. Replying to Mr W. F. Buckland, what action the Government will tako on tbo report of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Samuel Bradley, whose house at Papakikiwa was recently burnt down by fire, caused by sparks from a railway engine, the Hon. Mr Richardson said the question was one for a Court of law to decide. NEW BILLS. The following Bills wero introduced :—A Bill to reduce the number of votes which may bo given by any county elector at any election for a member of a County Council (Sir George Grey) ; Public Revenues Bill (tho Hon. Sir Julius Yogel). BETtTBNS. Mr Holmes moved for a return of tho several liabilities on tho 31st August, 1885, m respect of tho several railway lines of tho colony.—Agreed to. Mr Guinness moved for a return showing the number of documents which have been stamped at the Stamp Office at Hokitika during tho years 1883 and 1884, such returns to show m what Counties such documents were executed and tho amount of duties paid m respect of such documents.—Agreed to. SECOND HEADING. Tho Hon. Mr Richardson moved tho second reading of the Auckland Railway Land Compensation Bill, which was agreed to. IK COMMITTEE. The House went into Committee for tho further consideration of the Mortgage Dobentures Bill. In the interpretation clause, " AgontGeneral" was struck out and "English Agent" inserted. Tho Bill was then reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. CRIMINAL CODH BILL. The Hon. Mr Tole moved the second reading of the Criminal Codo Bill. He explained its provisions at eomo length, stating that it was a consolidation measure which had passed tho other branch of tho Legislature several times, and that its main features had been drafted by tho most eminent lawyers m England. He said that from tho nature of tho Bill it must be tuken largely on trust, and he woidd ask the House to sanction it without debate, so that it could be considered moro carefully m the recess. Mr Downio Stewart said the Minister for Justice was to congratulated for tho manner m which ho had treated tho Bill, but he thought tho Government wero to blame for bringing down an important Bill of this kind at such a late stage of tho session. He contended it was impossible to deal with a subject of magnitude at the timo now at tlieir disposal. Thero was ono provision ho should liko to havo seen introduced m tho Bill, nnmclv, whether privuto prosecutions wero to be continued or not. Ho was glad to see. that a provision was inserted which would enable prisoners to givo evidence m their own defence, a course which ho had advocated for years past. Ho thought, however, tho Bill might fairly bo held over till next session to givo moro timo for its consideration. Ho said the Bill had boon practically on tho Tablo of the House, for threo years, and it was now brought down suddenly. The only practical way of dealing with it was as. suggested by tho Minister of Justice As it had been prepared by the most eminent lawyers m England ho submilled tho Houso should not interfere with its details. Jf tho Bill woro put off till next session, not only this Houbo but tho Council would havo to go through it again. Ho suggested that thoy should pass tho Bill without any amondmont, but defer its coming into oporation till noil session. Mr Fulton supported the eocond reading. Mr Moss thought the Bill did not concern lawyers alone, but tho whole body of Iho people Ho was sorry to sco Iho obnoxious law as to Hogging perpetrated by tho Bill. In fact, thero scorned to bo many now police provisions introduced into it. He would vote for tho second reading, hut ho would gladly see it stop at that Btago I'll noxt year. Mr Garrick regretted that ho was unable to consider as prudent tho coursa proposed by tho Minister to pass tho Bill m globo. Ho thought if was utterly impossible for tho Houeo at this lato stage, when members were tired out, to givo tho necessary attention to such a very important measure Tho Bill also advanced somo important problems, which should have tho earnest consideration of the Houso. Ho thought thoro had bcon no reason shown why the Bill should bo trcatod m suoh an unusual ninnnor as was proponed by tho Minister for Justiro. Ho could not understand why a Bill liko tho Municipal Corporations Hill, which wan urged us being very frequently required should bo dropped and tho present Bill brought on at Hiich a lalo period of tho session. Ho would voto for tho second reading, but only on Iho condition that tho Bill should not bo proceeded with furthor this year. If the

Minister could not give him this assurance, he should move the Bill be read that day six months. Mr Samuel also hoped the Bill would not be pressed this session. The dehato was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. Tho House resumed at 7.30 p.m., when tho debate on the Criminal Code Bill was postponed to enable another Order of tho Day to be brought on. BMPLOTMBNT OP FEMALES BILE. Mr Levestam moved that tho amendment made by tho Legislative Council m tho Employment of Females and Others Act Amendment Bill, be agreed to. Ho pointed out that tho principal alteration was one to the effect that females and young persons should ba allowed to work m newepaper offices till 7 o'clock at night on Saturday. Mr Bmdslmw moved that tho amendment be not agreed to, and that " half-past four" bo substituted for " seven." Mr Pyke intonded voting for the amendment, disapproving of the Legislative Council placing restrictions on the employment of men and women. Tho Hon. Mr Stout thought Mr Brndshaw'a amendment was not an Junfair thing to ask. It had been explained thttt certain newspapers could not be ablo to conduct their work unless young persons were allowed to work till 4.30 p.m., and the Houso having given relief to that extent, tho Council had gone further and made the hour seven- o'clock. He bclioved it was not necessary to keep young persons till that hour. Mr Bradt-haw's amendment was carried on a division by 43 to 42, and a Committee was appointed to draw up the reasons for disagreeing with tho Council's amendment. CHIMIXAL CODE DILL. Mr Pyko resumed the debate on the Criminal Code Bill. Ho said the Bill was perfect m its drawing, and stood m this respect unrivalled m the annals of legislation. Tho Bill was a great improvement, on the present penal code, and he held there was no means of altering a single clause without imperilling the usefulness of tl.e whole Bill Ho trusted the Bill would pass its second reading without further debate, and go through Committee, without any amend The Bill was read a second time on the voices. EATING ACT AMKNDMENT BILL. The House went into Committee for the further consideration of tho Eating Act Amendment (No. 2) Bill, which passed with some additional clauses. The Bill was recommitted for tho purpose of considering the third clause. Mr White moved to strike out tho words " the said Act," and to insert " Hating Act 1876." — Agreed to. The Bill wus then read a third time and passed. LAND TRANSFER BILL. The Hon. Mr Stout moved that the Land Transfer Bill bo recommitted for consideration of clauso 191 relating to a case where any sum of money has been lawfully paid out of the Assurance Fund as compensation for loss occasioned by fraud or error, neglect, omission or misrepresentation on tho port of any proprietor bringing land under this Act. Mr Downie Stewart moved an amendment m the first clause lo strike out the words " has been," and to insert " shall be," so as to abolish the retrospective character of the The amendment was carried by 29 to 28. 'Ihe Hon. Mr Stout moved to strike out the words " negligence or error." — Agreed to. Mr Garrick moved to strike out all works before the word " fraudulent."— Agreed to by 45 to 18. Soveral other amendments were inserted m the clauso, and the Bill was then reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. Maj^r Atkinson asked tho Premier what business ho intonded proceeding with this session. Tho Hon. Mr Stout said ho hoped to be able to go through all tho Bills on tho Order Paper by the end of noxt week. He proposed that tho House should sit on Saturday for the consideration of the Federation resolutions. PROPERTY ASSESSMENT BILL. Tho Hon. Mr Stout mov«d the second reading of the Property Assessment Bill. The Bill, he said, was a consolidation measure relating to the assessment of property for tho property tax. He explained the naturo of the amendments, and anid that -whatever opinions might be held by members on tho property tax as against a land tox, they must all agr'co that tho present law required amending. Mr Wakefield said he had always been an opponent of tho laud tax, and still opposed it. He contended that it was most unfair for tho Premier, under tho guise of of supporting tho property tax, lo bring down such a Bill as tho present measure He referred at length to tho property lax, and said tho present Bill was a fraud, as it was an attempt to impose a land tax under the guiso of the property tax. He was always of opinion that there should bo no exemptions m the property Act, and thero was no reason why this should not bo abolished. Mr Suitor pointed out several objections m tho Bill. IJc objected altogether to the clauso which exempted the property of natives from the operation of the Bill. Mr Pyke objected to small property owners paying nothing to the State. Ho said the clause which exempted Maoris from taxation must be struck out, and they should bo made to pay for Iho benclit of civilisation. He would move, if no one else did so, that Maoris should be made to pay under tho Bill, and also that thero should bo no exemptions. Mr Downie Stewart said that when the Property Tax Bill was parsed every niomber gave expression to his particular views on it, and if tho same course were followed now it would take a fortnight or three woeks to get. the Bill through. Thero wore several debatable, questions m the Bill, and he should not be prepared to say thero should bo no exemptions, but ho should advocate the exemption should be £300. Mr Buchanan Baid ho had always opposed a land tux, because ho thought a property tax was about tho fairest system of direct taxation lhat could be imposed. He had also been m favor of £500 oxcniption, but he thought it might well bo considered now whether tho exemption might not be roducod. Mr W. F. Buckland would voto against tho second reading of the Bill. Ho said every clauso of this Bill bristled with fresh taxation, and tho Bill did away with tho secrecy that was preserved by the original one as to proparty of individuals. Ho was altogether opposed to a land tax as against a property tax. If tho Bill got into Committee, ho should vote for a small reduction m agricultural imploments. Major Atkinson said tho Bill might bo looked on as a useful consolidating Bill or as a bastard land tax. He hoped to bo ablo m Committee to strike out the objectionable features of the Bill, and ho would therefore support tho second reading. Ho had felt somowhat disappointed that tho Premier hud shown no reason for tho extraordinary oxomptions ho proposed m tho Bill. Ho thought tho House ought to be told how much tho revenue would suffer by exemptions under tho Bill. Dr Nowman said tho Bill seemed a very extraordinary ono, when they remembered tho speeches they heard last year. They wcro thon told they would not have either a property tax or a land tax. He suggested that tho Bill should bo called a " Land and Property Tax Bill." Colonel Trimblo protested against tho proposed system of exemptions. Mr Samuel disagreed with tho clauso which proposed to tax lifo assuranco companies. Captain Russell protested against tho principlo of bringing down a consolidated measure when tho principlo involved something moro than was apparent m tho Bill. Ho objected to tho oxomption on agricultural improvements. Tho Hon. Mr Stout said tho main objection to tho Bill was m respect to oxomptions, but he contended that the pastoral and agricultural interests should bo placed on an equality. Ho pointed out that mortgages wero not cxcinpl, and that .CSOO was not 100 largo for general exemption. In reply to Mr Kerr, tho Hon. Mr Stout said that to tax Maori property would bo to diacourngo settlement, becauso tho Maoris would not individualise their titles. It would be impoßtiblu to estimate the loos to the

revenue by the BUI, but the amount of taxable property would not be decreased by it, because other things were brought under the tax. The second reading was carried on the voices, and the House rose at 1 a.m.