GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3413, 4 September 1885, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(By Telegraph.) i Wellington, Sept. 3. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. KEI'LY TO QUESTION. lii answer to Mr Meiuies the Colonial ! Secretary said tho Government would, during '. the recess, consider the matter of making ! arrangements for printing an index of tho j despatches which havo passed between the : Governor of the colony, and the Secretary lof State for the Colonial Department, from I the establishment of the colony to the close of the year 1884. CIIAKITABI.E AID. The adjourned debate was resumed on the question that the following resolution be ■agreed to: — " That in establishing a system of relief for t!ie aged and indigent poor it is expedient that it should be conducted by Boards elected by the contributors ; that the j funds to bo administered should be derived j from endowments, voluntary contribution?, ■legacies and subsidies from tho State, but that no special rates shall be leviable for this purpose." Sir F. Whitaker moved that all the words of tho resolution after the word " that " be omitted with a view to insert the following words:— " (1) In establishing a e.vstem of charitable aid a clearly defined distinction should be drawn between involuntary and voluntary pauperism, and with that object provision should be made for relieving the aged, helpless, and destitute, chiefly in kind ; (2) no relief should be given to those able to work, but i» cases of necessity work should be found for them, the rate of wages not to exceed one half tho ordinary rate of wages of the district j (3) one half tho funds necessary, after deducting voluntary contributions, ic, should bo provided by a rate, nnd the other half for the present by a contribution from tho consolidated fund ; (4) the funds should be administered by local Boards, who should also levy the rates." After a lengthy discussion, the debate, was interrupted by tho 5 o'clock adjournment. \ On resuming the debate on the question of charitable uid was contincd. Both the resolutions of the Committee and Sir Frederick ; Whitaker were rejected by 21 to 8. ! FIH3T READINGS. i The following Bills were received from the | House of Representatives and read a first | time:— The Mortgage Debentures Bill; I Bating Bill and Auckland Railway Land ! Compensation Bill. lIIK IIOSFITAL BILL. The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill was committed, reported with amendments, and the Bill was ordered to be recommitted. LAND BILL. Mr Wilson moved the second reading of the Land Bill, which was agreed to on the voices. The Council adjourned at 11.5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THH FEDEHATION QUKSTION. The Hon. Mr Stout gave notice to more that the House at its rising to-morrow adjourn till Saturday at 2.30 p.m. for consideration of tho Federation resolutions. Mr Stout also gave notice to move on Saturday, " That it is inadvisable that this colony should join the Federal Council of Australasia under the existing Federal Council Bill." Major Atkinson suggested that Monday should be devoted to the consideration of the federal resolutions, as it was inexpedient to hurry on the discussion on such an important question. Sir George Grey moved the adjournment of the House. He deprecated the Premier hurrying on the resolutions as proposed, and contended that the House should have more time to consider them. The Hon. Mr Stout said he had promised the House that Saturday should be devoted to the consideration of the federal resolutions, and it was in fulfilment of that promiso that he had proposed sitting on Saturday. A lengthy discussion followed, several members protesting against sitting on SaturI day owing to the late sittings of the week. The Hon. Mr Stout said he would consider the question, and inform the House of his decision next day. EEPUE3 TO QUESTIONS. | Replying to Mr Locke, who naked the Government whether they have any information regarding what is known as " Dawson's water gas," or any reports on the results I of analyses of the' various kinds of coal in the j colony suitable for making that gns, the Hon. Mr Richardson said a report bad been received, which would be laid on the Table. Replying to Mr Garrick, if the Minister of Justice during the recess will reprint the Municipal Corporations Bill, with nil the amendments of which notice has been given (in italics) and will caueo the said Bill to be circulated at as early a date as possible amongst members of this House and the various local bodies interested, the Hon. Mr Tole said the various local bodies had now in their possession copies of the Bill as it was brought before tho House. Tho Government intended without any delay to forward to those bodies the supplementary order papers, with the various amendments proposed by membors on the Bill. AUCELAND HAIIBOE BOARD BILL. The House went into Committee on the Auckland Harbor Board (No. 2) BilL Several members opposed the Bill, which was for the purpose of reconstituting tho Auckland Harbor Board. Tho debate was interrupted by tho 5.30 p.m. adjournment. Tho House resumed at 7.30. IN COMMITTEE. The House went into Committee for the further consideration of the Property Assessment Bill. In clause 2, the Hon. Mr Stout moved that " property" shall include all real and personal property, and extend to and include every interest of any kind whatever, and all property which may be estimated or valued as an asset of any company. —Agreed to. In clause 13 — property subject to taxation —Mr Slitter moved to reduce the £500 exemption to £200. The Chairman ruled that tho amendment could not bo put without tho consent of tho Crown being obtained, as it interfered with the revenues. Mr Sutler then moved that the clause he struck out. The Chairman said that by the rules of t]te House he could not put such a motion from the Chair. Mr Barren thought the exemption had better bo left ns it was, although ho considered the property tax altogether wrong. ColoDel Trimble moved that the clause be postponed to cnablo tho Government to consider whether a reduction of tho exemption could be made. Major Atkinson asked if it were postponed would the Government be prepared to take that as a direction for the Committeo that the exemption should be reduced ? Tho Hon. Mr Stout said ho was not prepared to reply to that question at onco. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel said it wus very undesirable in the present Bill to bring in a largo numbor of taxpayers. Ho thought tho Committeo would be taking the prerogative of the Crown into their own bunds if they were to reduce tho exemption, and it would be very unj"st if they were to do so. After soino discussion tho Hon. Mr Stout said ho was willing to postpone clauses 13 and 14, but ho earnestly hoped the Committee would not reduce the exemp' ion from £500. He might t«Il the author of the tax (Major Atkinson) that nothing would tend moro to destroy it. I linn tho adoption of tlmt courao. He then moved that clauses 13, 14 mid lfi bo postponed, which was agreed to. In clause 18 — property exempt from taxation — Mr Donald Reid moved to strike off £3000 as tho amount of exemption of agricultural improvomenU, and to insert £10,000. Tlio Hon. Sir Julius Vogel considered the proposal in tho Bill was a very reasonable compromise. He reminded tho Committee that tho present Bill abolished many exemptions,

Major Atkinson regretted that in a Consolidation Bill the Government should bring in what they culled a compromise between a property t:n nnd an income lax. He thought the state of the finances would not warrant them making so many exemptions. He submitted thai the Government should not. forco siu-h a clause upon them, and felt, certain (hat if the Hon. Treasurei- remained in ollieo till next session, he would be compelled to repeal Ire Bill they were- now discussing. He hoped those clauses would be struck out, and iu the absence of any information as to the result on the revenue of the colony he moved that sub-section 2 be nlso struck out. After several other members hud spoken on tho clause, Mr W. White moved that the word "agricultural" be struck out. A long discussion ensued, after which tlio word " all," preceding agricultural improvements, was struck out by 29 to 20. The Hon. Mr Stout said that as the Committee had by this voto affirmed tho amendment of the Member for Egnioiit, ho would move that sub-sections 2 and 3— agricultural improvements and engines and machinery exemptions— be struck out.— Agreed to. Clause 27 providing that parties to a moit gage may agree as to tho payment of a tax on a mortgage was struck out on the voices. In clause 13, regarding property to be subject to taxation, tho Hon. Mr Stout snid that after the discussion that had taken place, he hoped the Committee would puss the £500 exemption without alteration. Major Atkinson said he was not prepared to tako thercsponsibily of moving any reduction in the exemption as the Government hud not made any recommendation in that direction. The clause providing for the exemption of £500 was then passed without, further discussion. The schedule of the Bill wns then ogrectl to. The House wnntinlo Committee for the further consideration of the Counties Act Amendment Bill, and several new clauses were added to the Bill. Mr Guinness proposed a now clause providing for the election of deputy chairmen of County Councils in the absence of tho chair Dion, but (lie c'ause was negatived on a division by 27 to 22. Mr Guinness moved a new clause allowing Licensing Committee clerks to be paid out of County funds.— Lost by 31 to 16. The Bill was then reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The Property Assessment Bill was reported from Committee, read a third time, and passed. GOLD DUTY ABOLITION BILL. Mr Sutler resumed the debate on the Gold Duty Abolition Bill. He read several returns to show the expenditure on goldfields on the West Coast. Ue asked the Premier to give tho House some information as to the effect of the abolition of the gold duty on the revenue. Mr Pyke said the gold duty was the most iniquitous tax ever imposed on a community. It was absolutely crushing in its effect on a most important industry. Either the House must continue to insist on the abolition of this duty, or the mining industry would be completely crushed. The second reading of tho Bill was carried on a division by 21 to 21, and the HouEe rose at 12 30 a m.