PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 4121, 23 December 1887, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

.»- (By Tbxegraph.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 22. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met atll a.m. FISHERIES BILL. Hie Fisheries Conservation Bill was received back from the House of Representative* with a elight amendment, which was concurred m. GOTEBNOa'3 SAIABY BILL. A message was received from the Governor informing the Council that Hl9 Excellency had reserved the Governor's Salary Bill, Trhich had passed both branches of Legislature, for Her Majesty's assent. FIRST BEADISGS. The following Bills were received from the House of Representatives, and redd a first time. The second readings were ordered to be taken at 2.30 p.m. : — Public Revenues Bill, Midland Eailway Bill, and Property Tax Bill. The Council at 11.15 a.m. adjourned to .2.30 p.m. The Council resumed at 2.30 p.m. THE SH2BP BILL. The amendment m the Sheep Bill, agreed to by the House of Representatives, was concurred m. BHX3 PASSES. The following Bills were read a second j time, and passed all their stages : — Public Revenues Bill, Midland Railway Bill, and froperty Tax Bill. BAIIWATB BELL. The Governor's message (re Government "Bail ways Bill) fixing the chief commissioner's ■ssdiry at not more than £2500, was received, and the amendment agreed to. PUBLIC BODIES BILS. A slight amendment m the Public Bodies Ball made by the House of Representatives ■mts received from the House and agreed to. The Council adjonrned to 7.30 p.m. The Council resumed at 7.30. p.m. HAVAL DB7BHCB BELL. The,- Attorney-General moved the second readiog of the Australasian Naval Defence Bill. He thought the Council would be wise to pass the measure through as early as possible. Mr Bonar and Mr Pharazyn supported the BUI. Mr Shephard moved that the debate be adjourned. The amendment was lost on the voices. The second reading was carried. The Bill wss then committed and reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed. TIIE LOAN BUI. The New Zealand Loan Bill was received from the^House of Reprejonlativea, reported, .and passed all its stages. The Council adjourned till 11.30 p.m. •JThe Legislative Council further adjourned Vrom 11.30 p.m. awaiting business from the Honad of Representatives. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [The following is the remainder of the report of Wednesday's proceedings m the House.] BILLS PASSED. The Home went into Committee on the Fisheries' Conservation Aufc Amendment Bill, which waa passed through with verbal amendments. It was reported, read a third time, and passed. The Property Tax Amendment Bill, sad Public Revenues Bill, were also read a third time and passed. MIDLAND BAH.WAT. The Midland Railway Contract was considered. The Premier stated that the company had accepted the proposals pasted by the House, with the exception of those relating to running powers. Alternative proposals had now been mode respecting Government undertaking the running on the four small detached sections. He intended now that Government should undertake such running, giving tho company 40 per cent of the gross proceeds. There might be a small loss, probably, from £1000 to £1800. The resolution was agreed to, and waa ordered to be rtfad m a portion of the draft contract presented i» the Midland Railway Committee's report. A Bill granting power to «oter into the contract was then introduced, and Hi» House at once went into Commiv'*e on th« Bill, which was reported without .'UnendmenU, read a third time, and passed. The Housorose at 2.15 a.m., and adjourned until noon. Thursday's SiirrKd. The House met at noon. GOVEBKMBST BAIT. WAYS BIMi. Th* Government Railways Bill was read by Mee»/i<?e from the Governor with an amendment makin? the salary of His chief commis«iccier of tho Railways Board £2500 a year instead of £1 500 as passed by tho House. Mr Dowui» Stewart thought £3500 an excessive amouaL Mr Mitchelson slid Government hod no intention of paying Mi/-h a largo salary as £2500 if they could get t competent man for ilets.

Mr E. Beeves (Inanpahua) thought it an anomaly that tho commissioner should receive threo times more salary than his chief, the Minister for Public Works. I)r Fitchet moved to substitute £1750 for £2500. „ Mr O'Conor hoped the amondment would be withdrawn, as the commissioner 3 duties would be of the most important ehuracter. Mr Peacock thought tho hands of the Government should nor. be hampered m the wav of sulnry, especially as ™eu m the position of chief commissioner of railways somotitnea received double the Balary now proposed by Government. Mr Moes opposed the increase. Mr Buchanan supported the increase. After a long discussion tho Premier said ho hoped the House would agree to the proposal of "Government. The appointment was of great importance, and the whole success of the scheme would depend on getting a competent man for the office. He assured the House that, no appointment would be made until it had received most careful consideration The House went into Committee of Supply to consider the Governor's messngo on the Government Railways Bill. In reply to Sir Julius Yogel the Premier said that the Bill could not come into force till Government had made all the necessary arrangements. They proposed to make enquiries for a suitable chief commissioner m England, America, and the colonies. New Zealand included. Sir George Grey urged at 1.15 p.m. that the usual lunch adjournment should be taken. '1 he Premier hoped the Committee would settle tho matter beforo the lunch adjournment as a long discussion had already taken place on it. Ho hoped the division would be taken at once as this was the last day of the session, and there was other business to be brought on. Sir George Grey still urged the Committee to adjourn till 2.30. Mr J. O. Brown moved to report progress. The motion was lo?t by 29 to 11. Sir George Grey then moved an amendment to the effect that no alteration be made m the salary of £1500 passed by the House. Tho Committee continued on the Government Railways Bill, and after some discussion the resolution increasing the Balary of tho chief commissioner to £2500 was agreed to by 22 to 10, and reported to the House. XA.TAL DBJENCB BUI. The Premier moved the second reading of the Australasian Naval Defence Bill. In doing so he said it wa3 the first step to binding the colony m closer snion with the Mother Country. He trusted the House would pass the Bill. He had for some time past favoured the colonies contributing towards the cost of the Empire, as they would then have some voice m questions involving peace or war. He referred to the class of vessels to be employed. The seven to be used were first class of their kind. The Imperial Government would find the cost of the fleet. (£700,000), and the colonies were to pay 5 per cent on the the cost for ten yeara. Two ships were to be stationed m Nevr Zealand waters, and our cootnbution of £20,000 he thought was very reasonable. These vessels would expend a large amount m the colony m purchasing coals, provisions, etc. The proportion of cost was allowed on a population basis, which he thought was a fair one. Unless the House agreed to the Bill this session, there would be a delay of twelve months m the contraction of the vessels, as the Imperial Government wished to lay tho whole scheme before Parliament m February next. He intended to move a new clause to the effect that New Zealand's contribution should be on the basi* of all the colonies contributing. Referring to land defences the Premier said Government -were considering the advisability of concentrating their attention upon fortif jing one port only m which these ships could run for coals and ti refit. Mr Julius Yogel supported the Bill, but failed to see how it would affect the federation desired by ths Premier. He thought that Great Britain was not far distant from a system of Protection, and when that was arrived at the question would arise whether preference would be given to the colonies m the matter of duties. That would be more likely to affect federation than anything else. He thought all parts of the Empire should contribute towards ita defences, nor should Crown colonies be exempted. He hoped the Bill would be passed as qnickly as possible. Mr Hutchison thought it waa not complimentary to the Parliament of Great Britain or of the colony that the Bill should be hurried through m this manner. He spoke at great length m opposition to the Bill, and contended that it wob futile to expect that all the ports of the colony could be successfully defended by seven or even a dozen worships. Sir George Grey wished to know the names of the members who had paired on the Bill. The Speaker ruled that pairs could not be produced until used. Sir George Grey -moved the adjournment of the debato for a week. The motion was lost by 31 to 5. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. The House went into Committeo on the Bill. The new clause referred to by the Premier m moving the second reading was added to the Bill. The House rose at 5.50 p.m. Tho Houte resumed at 7-30 p.m. On the motion for the third reading of the Naval Defence Bill, Bir George Grey protested against the Bill being passed with so many members absent from the House, and all information as to how honourable gentlemen had paired on the Bill being kept from them. Mr Hutchison and Mr Fitzhßrbert protested against the Bill passing m a thin House. The Bill was then passed on the voices. THE LOAN BILL. The Loan Bill was received by message from the Governor with alterations as follows :— Part 1, insert '• immigration £70,000, unallotted " ; part 3, insert " Blenheim Awatere— £9ooo." The Bill was then committed. A new clauie wai mored by the Premier providing that no money should be borrowed beyond present engagements for three years. Sir Juliua Yogel strongly opposed the clause. A long discussion ensued. Mr Perceval asked the Premier's opinion of this clause The Premier said that his opinion of this clause was known by his proposing it. He thought it was necessary that our full position should be known at Home. There was no doubt the credit of tho colony waa at rather a low ebb at present, but he had every confidence it would be greatly improved before next session. An amendment to insert m the clause the Westportand Greymouth Harbour Act oa among present engagements (under which money could be bo rowed) waa agreed to. The clause passed by 27 to 17. Mr Joyce raised a point of order as to whether the vote for immigration and the Blenheim-Awatero lino having been struck out by the Committeo at a previous sitting, they could now bo proposed m the Governor s message as subaktutionn, Ho contended that they should be brought down at additions not a» substitutions. The Chairman said that ho waa not responsible for tho Governor's message. Sir Juliua Yogel said ho should tale the Speaker's ruling on the matter. The Bill wag 1 then Mportod with amendments. Sir Julius Yogel asked tho Speaker*» ruling as to the point of order ho had previously raised. The Speaker said it appeared to him the proceedings wero quite regular. Si* Julius Yogel said he objected to the Speaker 1 * rulipg. He announced his intention of taking uiviat on the point ho had raised, and if lie found that bi» contention was correct ho should teat'ih* MftUar m the Sujrfwmo Court. The Bill was rend a tliird time ("id passed' on tho voice*. On the titlo hcing .yjached, Mr Hutcnuoi: moved that it bo altered to Ufa New Zealand Immigration and Loan Bill, inatead of Loan Bill. The motion was lost by 2.1 to 12. Sir Juliui Yogel movixl to add to tho^ title " and for stopping borrowing m future." The amendment not being seconded, lapsed. Tho ttllo '-ben passed without alteration.

On the motion for going into Committee of Supply for consideration of the supplementary estimates, Sir Julius Voeel Baid he had gone through those estimates," and found that they were simply a reversal of the retrenchment policy promised by the Government. That retrenchment was merely a Bham. He referred to several of the items on the estimates, nnd commented on them. The Proinier m replying pointed out that the late Government had spent £13,000 on arms and ammunition when only £5000 was authorised, and that was a specimen of their whole administration. Yet now the honourable gentleman hurled charges at the present Government for having to meet liabilities incurrod by his own Government. Ho charged the honourable gentliian with having at this late stage of the session wasted the whole evening, and by his action prevented many members from reaching their homes for Christmas. The Houao went into Committee of Snpply. Immigration — £10,000. Carried. Colonial Secretary's office — £7723. Sir Julius Yogel asked what arrangements were proposed to be made with respect to the vote of £3500 for the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition. The Premier said that Government proposed to apply for space at the exhibition, and had already appointed ft local commission. They intended making as good a show as possible. Mr Monk moved to strike out £1009 contribution m aid of the Imperial Institute. Sir Julius Yogel asked whether if this vote were struck out, the Premier would propose it to the House next session. Tho Premier could not make that promise. If ho thought it sensible to do so he Bhould propose it. The voto was struck out on the voices. The total vote as reduced was passed. Colonial Treasurer— £3o6s. Carried. Minister of Justice — £1716. Carried. Compensation to J. H: Atkinson for loss of otlice oa mail agent — £250. Carried. Marine— £2Bß. Carried. G. M. Park, for funds expended, oxtra Berviccs as telegraphist at Tapo— £2oo. Carried. Minister of Mines— £4fi6o. Carried. Working railways — £1117. Carried. General Post-office, Wellington, £20,000. Sir Julius Yogel asked how it was possible to spend this sum, and whether a tower would be erected. Mr Mitchelson said he had not had time to go f idly into the matter. Ho considered that the present specifications would not insure the safety of the building. He had giveu instructions to have a fresh one prepared. He could not cay as yet whether a tower would be erected or not. The sum of £20,000 would bo ample for all that was required. ."ir Julius Yogel moved that the vote be reduced by £9000. It was not necessary to erect a clock tower, but to put up a substantial building which would be suitable for the pnrpose, and he was informed that £ : 3,000 was ample for this. Mr Mitchelson pointed out that the lowest tender received when Bir Julius Yogel himeelf was m office was £13,500. Sir Julius Yogel then proposed to reduce it by.£6500. The amendment was lost by 29 to 9. Sir Julius Yogel said that the vote just given showed that the retrenchment sham had burst. If he had been ten years youDger he should have stonewalled this vote, and also the clause inserted m the Loan Bill for limiting borrowing for three years. The £20,000 then carried. Minister of Defence — £7886. Carried. Minister of Lands— £l7,Boo. Mr G. P. Richardson moved to reduce this item by £5000. Carried. Public Works Department— £J32. Carried. Public Trust Office— £s33o. Carried. Government insurance account— £4B,4lß. Carried. Consolidated Fund for services m oxcess of votes— £s3,6Bs 15s Bd. Carried. Public Works Fund for services not pro»ided f0r— £28,633 10s Bd. Carried. Government Insurance Department for services m excess of item — £4982 13s lid. Carried. The Premier moved a resolution respecting the San Francisco mail service. Ho said Government hod como to the conclusion to ask bhe House to grant authority to renew the service for |one year by the present contractor. By that meanß there would bo time to consider the matter next scsuon, lad to make fresh arrangements. Ec moved—" That m view of the contract of the *-'an Francisco mail si- trice terminating m November next, and of tho impossibility of giving the qupstion consideration this session, Government be authorised to arrange with the present contractor for an extension of the contract for 12 months, and to submit to the House next session definite proposals for the continuance of the service. Sir Julius Yogel aiked whether Government would pay more for the service than at present. The Premier replied that the cost would be the same. The motion wai agreed to after some discussion. [Left Sitting.]