LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4682, 28 June 1893, Page 1

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

I Tubsday, June 27. J The Council met at 2.30, . 1 The Hons W. M'Gregor and J. Kerr were introduced and took the usual obligations CHAIRMAN OP COMMITTEES. The Hon W. D. H. Bailwe was appointed Chairman of. Committees on the motion of the Colonial Snoretary. naval disaster. The Coloniai. Secretary mentioned the disastrous collision between the Victoria and Camperdown. He desired to move a respectful address to the Governor requesting him to convey to the Queen the deep regret of the Legislative Council at the late accident in the Mediterranean Sea to the ship Victoria, which involved the death of Rear-Admiral Try on and so many of hiß gallant officers and men. Tho Colonial Secretary paid a high tribute to the valour and gallant conduct; of Admiral Tryon, who was so well and favourably known in these Colonies. , ■ Sir G. S. Whitmork seconded the-' motion. He referred to the long and gallant services the late Admiral had rendered not only in these Colonies,, but also in the Crimea as well as- in other parts of her Majesty's dominions. Motion agreed to. ADDRHBS-IN-KEELY. The Hon W. M'Gbkqoe, who was warmly received, moved the Address in-Reply. Be Baid the features which struck him in the Speech as being most remarkable were those aa to the limits of the State and of individuals. He referred especially to the fact that recently people had acquired' greater power io State Government:. The question was not that the State should protect life and property, but that the State should make life tolerable to the labouring man, and also endeavour to' make work a ble3Bing to the State. And not only thjs, but he thought the duty o? the State was likewise to endeavour to redistribute property. ' Ho felt convinced that the views he propounded were somewhat of a revolutionary character, but he did not think anything he propounded partook of. Socialism. He was not: a .Socialist, but what he desired to see was a more complete development of Individual-; ism instead of Socialism. What-modern society needed was more completeness of State' interference. He considered it was the duty of the State to direct, and in some instances to restrain competition within healthy limits. He ventured to aay that his opinions'were not -those of Socialism, but were thoßo of emancipated Liberalism. He regretted to see there was a growing idea that the Civil Service of the Colony ;was being mistrusted. It was necessary" that the legislation of the country should recognise the fact that unless our Civil Service was based on some satisfactory; footing, the State would suffer. The subject he had referred to had, he believed, oocupied the attention of the late Premier, and he trusted that the Government would, give attention to the reform of the Civil Service, which should attract and not repel good officers. The hon gentleman'referred to the present system of cooperative work, and congratulated the Government upon the experiment, which, he believed, had proved eminently satisfactory to the country as well as to the operatives. If the system were entrusted to men of probity it would prove a L great boon to the community, but he warned the Government that there were great risks attending the experiment of carrying on public.works. L The ey&tem, he thought, might lead to great abuse and corruption, and in addition might prove oppressive to the taxpayers. "The preaent system of cooperative works could not be regarded in the same light as the old relief works, but was merely affording an opportunity to workmen of obtaining work at fair wages, in contradistinction to the sweating systems of relief works adopted by previous Governments. The hon gentleman paid a high tribute of praise to the Government for the introduction of the Labour Bureau. Referring to the proposition of the Government to resume control of the State railways, Mr M'Gregor, said he felt disposed to favour the proposition, because he thought New Zealand had blindly followed the example of Victoria in giving over the control of its railways to CommissionersThe experiment had egregioualy failed in the sister Colony, and the experiment would, he felt cure, fail in this Colony. Holding this view, he should support any scheme for the Government assuming re-control of the State railways* He contended that an expert should not he placed at the top, but that this position should be held by the head of the Government. Alluding to the settlement of the lands o! the Colony, he expressed the opinion that the Department had been conducted with .the utmost vigour, with a view to the better colonisation of the people on the State lands. It behoved the Legislature to support the Minister for Labour in his efforts to push on the Labour Bills which were to occupy the attention of the Council. He expressed the hope that the Council would make the Saturday halfholiday a statutory one. The hon gentleman briefly alluded to other Bills which were likely to engage the attention of Parliament. The Hon Mr Jbnnings seconded the motion, and expressed the opinion that the recent appointments of his labour colleagues was unique in the legislative history of the world. The honourable gentleman referred with great feeling to the loss the country had sustained in the deaths of Sir P. Whitaker, Sir H. Atkinson, Mr Ballance and Sir W. Fox. Eeferring to Native land laws, he expreßsed the. opinion that the aboriginal natives were entitled to the utmost consideration of Parliament. With regard to labour measures, he hoped that he and hiß colleagues would be able to prove satisfactorily to the older members of the Council that they had sufficient grounds for stating the faith that was in them. He congratulated the country upon its increasing prosperity, and in referring to the existing labour troubles he expressed the hope that these would be overcome by liberal land laws. In conclusion he desired to assure the Council that the deliberations of the Chamber would have the earnest consideration of himself and those hon members who had lately been called to the Council. Sir G. S. Whitmobb, having paid a generous tribute to the memory of the late Premier, expressed the hope that the hon gentlemen recently called to the Council would not refer to themselves as Labout. members. The Council hitherto had known no class or party, but they were there to do their best for the country at large. He complained of the overvaluation of landed property, and expressed the belief that the purchase of the Cheviot estate would lead to excessive valuation of large landed properties. Sir George congratulated the Council on the infusion of new blood, and welcomed them one and all aa friends and co-legislators. The Hon Dr Pollen congratulated the proposer and seconder of the Addreas-in-Beply, and also congratulated the Council upon the fact that the " colour " of the Council had not been perceptibly changed by the introduction or new blood. In no Legislative Chamber in the world could moderation and good sense experience greater consideration than it would obtain in the Legislative Council of this country. The hon gentleman paid a high tribute to the memory o? the late Premier, who was struck down in the very vigour of his manhood. He went on to discnes various paragraphs contained in the Speech from the Throne, and took exception to the

paragraph roferriog to the need which had I caused the Government to call the newly- | appointed members to the Council, He • thought that paragraph fright hate been omitted. I The Hon R. Oliver; also congratulated the mover and seconder of the Address on the admirable speeches they had made, 1 . but reminded the new mecabera that the i Council war an adviaory Chamber, tfhftjb { possessed the confidence of the country, ! and recognised no class or party. The hon gentleman briefly reviewed the Speech, and expressed the opinion that th<*Governmenfc, havittg a largo surplus, should reduce taxation. Having expressed the opinion that the price paid for the Cheviot Estate was excesaire, the hon gentleman moved the adjournment of the debate^ This was agreed to, and the Council »t 5 p.m. adjourned to the following day.