HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6239, 16 May 1888, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, Mat 15. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Speaker informed the House that he waited on His Excellency the Governor, •with the mover and seconder of the Address, for the purpose of presenting the Address-in-Keply to His Excellency, DISTEICT RAILWAYS. A message was received from His Excellency the Governor transmitting the District Railways Purchasing Act Amendment Bill, which was read a first time. CONGRATULATORY. The Hon B. Richardson said, as an old member of the House, he thought he might be allowed to offer his sincere congratulations to Sir E. Atkinson on the high honour which bad recently been conferred on him by Her Majesty. In doing so he paid a high tribute to Sh 1 H. Atkinson's qualities as a soldier and statesman, and said that however much they might differ from him on political grounds, they must all admire his personal good qualities and worth. He (Sir H. Atkinson) had no doubt seen many younger men than himself honoured in a similar manner, but he was quite sure the House would now join in offering the Premier hearty congratulations on his knighthood. Sir John Hall said, as an old colleague of Sir H. Atkinson, and also as an old member of the House, perhaps he might be allowed to say a few words. It was very gratifying to him (Sir John Hall) that the first congratulations offered to the Premier should come from the Opposition benches, and it showed that whatever their political differences, they were always ready to pay a tribute to tbeir public men on personal groundg. Mr Richardson had referred to the Premier's services in the fiold, bub the younger members of the House had no idea of the real value of those services. Sir H. Atkinson had occupied a most distinguished position as leader of his fellow-colonists in the troublous times of the Colony, and the services he had rendered would never be forgotten. The Premier had also brought the same qualities which distinguished hitn in the iield into the service of the State, and had applied the Fame energy to the management of the finances of the Colony. They might not all concur in the Premier's views, but all must admit that the hon gentlemen had used his great talents for the good of the country, and had worked most industriously for the Colony. He (Sir John Hall) thought all would agree in tho hope that Sir H. Atkinson might live long to enjoy the honour conferred on him by Her Majesty. Mr Pike, as an independent member, and almost the senior member of the House, also congratulated ths Premier on the honour conferred on him, and said he was surprised it had not been conferred on him long since. He considered Sir H. Atkinson, by his services in the field and to the State, had done more tD deserve recognition than many others who had received it. Sir H. Atkinson said that when a man had given the best of his public services to the Colony, whatever difference of opinion there might lie as to the manner in which these services should be recognised by the Sovereign, there was one thing which he valued more than the distinction itself, and that was tho universal goodwill which had been expressed by hi 3 fellow-colonists on Iho honour conferred upon him. He also valued very deeply • the expression of opinion by the House, as it showed they recognised that the good of the Colony could only be worked out by honest diversity of opinion. Whether the distinction were a suitable one or nob was open to question. In the circumstances of the Colony, he thought it was not. In his opinion the time had arrived when tlje services of public men should be recognised, not by their distinction, but by their being made Privy Councillors of the Empire. That, he thoiight, would be very appropriate, as it would draw them still closer to the Mother Country. He thanked the House most sincerely for its congratulations, and he also wished to thank his friends who had spoken on the Bubject. QUESTIONS. Mr Stewart asked the. Minister for Lands whether the Government will early in the se33ion submit any legislative proposal to '. secure that educational and other reserves shall bo so administered as to afford facilities for settlement, instead of proving a barrier thereto. Sir H. Atkinson said the matter was under the consideration of th« Government, but he was not in a position to give a definite reply at present. Mr Taylor asked the Minister for Justice whether he will take steps to prevent* the^demoralising . exhibitions -of boxing^hie^eeaxjto^bejanother.-iiame;

for' prize fighting, which, are becoming so prevalent throughout the Colony. The Hon T. Fergus said the attention of the Government had frequently been drawn to this matter, but as far as they were informed, there were no disgraceful exhibitions connected therewith. If the Government-found that any nuisaoce^rere caused bythem, thosefightswould be put down. Mr Izaed. -asked the Premier whether the Government are prepared to deal with the question of payment to common jurors, so that they may receive a reasonable remuneration for the time they are necessarily absent from their business. The Hon T. Fergus eaid the present state of the finances would not permit of such remuneration, but he should consider the matter further. Jlr Izabd asked th,e Government if it is the intention of the Government to introduce any general measure for the closing of cemeteries in the larger towns of the Colony, and if they are not prepared to introduce any general measure, whether they will introduce a measure enforcing the closing of the Wellington Cemetery. Sir H. Atkinson said the Government thought it inadvisable to interfere with local bodies in matters of this kind. There wan already a general Act relating to it. Mr O'Cailaghan asked the Minister for Justice whether it is his intention to bring in a Criminal Code Bill this ees3ion P The Hon T. Fergus replied in the negative. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. Replying to Mr Seddon, Sir H. Atkinson said the Government received a communication a few days ago from the Agent-General with reference to the Midland Eailway contract. They were'now in further communiaation with the Company on the matter. CHINESK IMMIQEATION. Sir H. Atkinson moved the second reading of the Chinese Immigration Act Amendment Bill. In doing so, ho said the Government had been in communication with the other Colonies over the question. A Conference had been proposed for the settlement of the matter, but Government had proposed that, instead of holding a Conference, they should endeavour to get the Imperial Government to adopt a similar Treaty to that entered into between America and China, He did not think they need fear a large Chinese immigration, but if the Chinese were shut out of other" places, this Colony might get a larger amount than was desirable. The Government, looking at the circumstances which surrounded the question, had decided to enforce the law as it existed at the present time. He hoped the House would pass the Bill, and would not do any injustice to Chinamen. He assured the House that the Government would endeavour to get the other Colonies to join them in appealing to the Imperial Government for a Treaty on the whole question. Mr Ballancb asked why they should want a Treaty, when they had at present the power of excluding Chinese? Great Britain was under great obligations to China, whereas America had no such obligations, neither had it a great Powcv like Russia threatening it on all sides. His opinion was that Great Britain wonld nob consent to a Treaty on the basis of that [of the United States. There was another weakness in the Bill which had been overlooked, the Victorian Government were not satisfied with the law v which at present existed in that ColoDy, and were prepared to go further than they at present could do. He thought, therefore, that this Colony should wait and see what Victoria would do in the matter. The Bill did not go far enough, in nob raising the capitation to be paid by Chinese to .£SO. That would force a better class of Chinamen than at present came to the Colony. Mr Bruce was surprised that such a large question had not received more attention at the hands of older members of the House. He thought the present Bill was neither wise nor expedient, as the Imperial Government was now considering the whole question. He did not believe they were about to suffer from any undue influx of Chinese at present. They should be very careful not to do anything which would estrange a country like' China, which was at present watching with great interest the treatment of her people by other countries. He saw no necessity whatever for this Bill. Mr Beeves (St Albans) failed to draw from the last speaker any counsel as to how he should vote on this Bill. He thought they had grave cause to fear that if they did nob take prompt steps to prevent it, they might have in the future a large influx of Chinese. The Russian aspect of the question did not concern them. They had to concern themselves with New Zealand, not Asia, and if this Bill tended to keep the Chinese out of the Colony they should support it. He could not see why any complication should result from it. There wa3 one very simple way of keeping the Chinese out of the Colony, and that was to raise the Poll tax to .£SO or J2ICO, which would prove very effectual in dealing with the question. Mr Cadman supported the Bill. Mr Seddon strongly approved of the measure, but he thought it did not go far enough. Mr Hodgkinson thought a better way of dealing with the difficulty would be to increase the Poll tax. Mr Loughrtey supported the Bill. He thought the Chinese should be excluded from the country as far as possible. He considered the difficulty would be met by putting such a heavy Poll tax on the Chinese as would prohibit them from coming to the Colony. Mr O'Callaghan thought an increased Poll tax on the' Chinese would not be sufficient to keep them out. They should also limit tlje number of thoEo who arrived in the Colony, and he would be pleased in Committee to move in that direction. Sir H. Atkinson cautioned the House not to alter the Bill, but to pass it as it stood. Let them advance as far as possible, but not do anything that would involve the Imperial Government in a difficulty. The motion for the second reading was carried on the voices. The House adjourned till 2.30 next day.