HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3798, 17 June 1880, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, June 16. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. PETITION AGAINST THB BBBE TAI. Mr button presented a petition from 31 publicans and brewers in Napier protesting againsfc the Beer tax. Sir William Fox gave notice of a question relative to the payment of £300 to Mr W. L. Bees by tl c late Government. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Turnbull, Major Atkinson said that the money advanced to the Waimea Kailway Company on March 17 last will be re- paid by the Annuities Department to the Public Works Account in the courae of a day or two. In addition to the £40,000 of guaranteed debentures at 7 per cent, a mortgage w as taken over the Company's line. Replying to Mr Pyke, The Hon J. Hall said that in view of the state of the Treasury he thought the extension of the telegraph lino from Cromwell to Lake Wanaka, which had been repeatedly: authorised by this House, could stand over in the meantime. Replying to Mr Seddon, The Hon R. Olivbe promised to produce a copy of the correspondence between them and the Waimea Railway Company relative to the advance of the £40,000 ; also the terms and conditions on which the said Bum is advanced to be included in this return. Replying to Mr Seddon, Mr Hall said that he hoped next week to be able to introduce a Representation Bill. Replying to Mr Bowen, The Hon W. Kolleston said that the percentage of female over male teachers was rapidly increasing, and in the natural course of events ifc was bound to increase. In these circumstances he did nofc think it necessary to give any extra encouragement for the more frequent employment of fomales in that way. Mr Bowen asked whefcher a Teachers' Pension Act has been under fche consideration of Govornment, and what course they intend to take in tke matter. Mr Rolleston replied that a Bill of thiß kind had been prepared and was under the consideration of Government. The Bill as it stood would not be satisfactory to tho teachers as a whole. The six per cent deduction would not be fair to all. There was a large preponderance of females over males, and as the former did not take to teaching as a lifelong employment it would not be fair to have them all placed on the one footing as regards these deductions. The subject was, however, under consideration. Replying to Mr Wood, Major Atkinson promised to furnish a statement in detail of tho reductions in the proceeds from the Property tax (estimated last year to realise £470,0C0) in consequence of the extension of tho exemptions from £300 to £500, of the exemption of agricultural implements, insurance policies, furniture, or from further causes. Mr Wood asked if he would state, the amount demanded and collected on account of the duty of sixpence on colonial beer during the first four days of the existence of, the tax, that is to say up to Saturday lasfc. Major Atkinson replied that if the object was fco ascertain the bosiß of his calculation as to the amount that would be raised from the tax, the return woiiki be useless. He explained thut the calculai >n was based on the amount of tax collected c uring the lime it was in force in 1878. Mr Bahbon aslyd if all land tax defaulters, throughout the Colony, as shown by the return to June llaid before this House, havebeen summoned for the tax, and if not, why not? Major A' EXNSON replied that the department had acted most leniently in the matter. When thoy found no other course left, they would issue siunm mi.cj, commencing with the letter A and going right through the lisfc alphabeticully. He hoped, however, thafc ifc would nofc be necessary to go right through the alphabetical lisfc. Replying fco Mr Reeves, Mr Olives said thafc the cosfc of fche survey of a railway from Bellgrove towards Roundell on the Nelson-Groymouth line was not known,, and that the survey towards Tophouse is ia progress with the view of deciding upon the best route for the line. Sir W. Fox asked who was the chief for whose marble bust £70 was paid to Mr Thomas Miller in August, 1879, and who was the ohiof for whose marble bust £60 was paid on account to Mr Thomas Miller in July, 1879 ; also for what Native a headstone costing £35 was paid for in Sept., 1879 ; where Buch busts and headßfcono now are and to whom thoy belong. Also, where aro the five volumes of " Bancroft's races," for which £6 10s was paid in August, 1879, and by what officer of Government were such charges respectively authorised, us stated in the return of contingent expenditure of the Native Department laid beforo this House. Tho Hon J. Brycb replied that £200 was authorised by tho late Government for a bust of Hapuka, which was s^ntto tho Sydnoy Exhibition ; and from Sydnoy it would go to the Melbourno Exhibition. The tombstone was authorised by tho late Native Minister, for tho grave of a distinguished ohiof. Tho volumes of "Bancroft's races" were got for Mr White, who was preparing a work on tho . subject of tho Maori raco. The bu9t was tho property of tho Government. Replying to Mr Hutchison, Ti.e Hon P. Dick said Govornment was aware that an auctioneer in Blenheim named Grifliths was receiving £50 a year for acting as clerk to the Sheep Department there. When the Sheep Act came into forco his services were continued by the late Government. Hie had held the appointment previously. It was thought that they would soon be ablo to dispense with his services. All correspondence on tbo subject would bo produced. NEW SILI9. Leave was granted to Sir Georgo Grey to introduce a Bill entitlod " A Bill to Repeal tiie Property Assessment Act, 1879, and tho Property Tax Act, 1879." Sir Gkouok Gkby moved — "Thafc ib ho read a second time to., morrow week." Tho Hon J. Hall submitted that tlio "Bill was tantamount to a voto of Want of Confidence, and should be brought on for second reading at once. He moved as at\ amendment — "That it be road a sccooa time tomorrow." Sir d. Giiey said that h.a thought ho was consulting tho convenience of Governmonfc by making ifc to-morro,W wee k. H 8 would,

however, be prepared to go on with ifc tomoi row night. Ihe amendment was agreed to. ■ The following were i troduced and read a first time :— Otago Rivers Bill (Mr ITulttn) ; •Sydenham B rough (Vuncil, Empowering Bill (Mr Stevens) ; Taranaki Iron Smelting Works, Land Act, 1874, Amendment Bill (Mr Stewart). STANDING ORDERS. Mr Seymour moved the adaption of the report of the Standing Orders Committee, recommending as a sessional ordor. that tho House rise at 12 30 a.m. every night, and other alterations in the Standing Orders. Mr llall supported the motion generally, but opposed the proposal for the adjournment of the House not later than 12.30. Ifc would be a hindrance to the work of the session, and ho moved that ifc be struck oufc of the motion. Mr Macandrkw supported the reporfc. He argued that ifc was physically impossible to go on as they had been going for some sessions, sitting up to all houra of the morning. He would prefer remaining a month longer in sfssion than remaining up all night, and seeing the work hurried through in the small hours. On being put the original mofcion was carried on the voices. return. Mr Hamlin moved— "That a return be laid before the House of all the correspondence and telegrams that have passed between fche Defence and Public Works Departments and their officials in Taranaki, relative to the construction of that parfc of the road lying between the Werekino and Waiweranui rivers. The Hon J. Bryce hoped he would not be called upon to produce confidential correspondence passing between him and the head of the Defence Force, now on the Weat I Coast. The motion was put and negatived. . > SPECIAL SETTLEMENTS. - " Mr Hutchison moved— "That a Select Committee, consisting of Meßsrs Russell, Macandrew, Colbeck, Shepherd, Masters, Montgomery, Kemp, Reeves, and the mover he appointed to consider the beat means of encouraging the settlement of the industrial classes upon the waste lands of tho Colony, and further, what help and encouragement may be properly extended, by Government to those who are desirous of taking up small sections of land ; to reporfc in four weeks." The Hon W. Rolleston said; that, as Minister of Lands, ho was quite alive. to his duty in regard to bond fide settlement on the lands. He did nofc think ifc would be wise to create another Committee fco consider this point. The Waste Lands Committee was the proper quarter to refer this queation to. It was a body already in existence, aud the subject of the motion was quite within its functions. Mr Ballance charged the, Government with having shown a feeling of. hostility to the special settlement clauses of the Land Acfc of lasfc session. The Minister for Landß had said that the intention of these olauses was the introduction of foreign capital. He denied that such were the , facts of the case, and quoted from the Minister's own speech on tho occasion of the passing of the Act to show that its primary object wu to afford facilities to working men's clubs and other combinations of fchafc kind. If working, men were bound to show large capital before "Government would enter into negotiations with them, as had been alleged hy.the Minister for Lands during the, recess .in answer to application by working ,. mon's clubs, then the special settlement clauses were a mere delusion. What, he complained of was that these concessions were readily granted to men who, could command . foreign capital, and who did so for .their .own personal aggrandisement ; while working men in fche Colony who could command, a small .amount of capital would not he. treated, with at all. He did nofc think that this Committee would do much good. If they had .pot men afc the head of affairs enthusiastic, in the., matter of settlement, all the. Committees in the world would not be able to promote it. Government had the facilities .for providing the Wellington and other associations with whafc. they require in the way of, land for special settlement purposes. The Hon T. Dick moved as an amendment —"That it be. an instruction to the Waste Lands Committee to consider and make a recommendation on the subject referred to. in the motion." The discussion was interrupted by the 5;30' adjournment.