PARLIAMENT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 3039, 30 August 1870, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. MONDAY, AUGUST 29. The Speaker took tho chair at 1 p.m. PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE. Mr J. C. WILSON brought up the report of this committee on various petitions, which were read. WET/MNG-TON BOTANICAL GARDENS. Mr ROLLESTON asked the Government whether it is proposed to place any sum on tho supplementary estimates for the purpose of muking a. botanical garden and improving the domain in Wellington ? Mr YOGEL said the Government did not proposo to place any grant on the estimates for this purpose, but if ik was brought forward by any member, it would bo an open question, and probably some of the Government would vote for it. RESIGNATION OV THE SPEAKER. The Hon. the SPEAKER said he would wish at this period, when they had arrived at the end of the session, to nnnounco his intention of not again occupying, should he be re-elected to that House, his present position as Speaker of the House. He had occupied that chair for ten years, a period which, looking back, wus ono which to him was crowded with memories of the past. He made this announcement with considerable regret, but at tho same time ho desired to thank the members of tho House, individually nnrt collectively, for the courtesy and forbearance with which his decisions in the House had been received, and the manner in which he himself had, during the long period he had presided over them, been treated- (Cheers). Mr M'LEAN said the House would hear with deep regret the decision which tho Speaker had arrived at, and not only the House but tho country also, and whatever might bo the future career of the Speuker, it would bo watched with great and increasing interest, and that tho able manner in which the high and important duties devolving on him had been discharged, would never bo effaced from tho memory of the House or the country. (Cheers) Mr YOGEL said that he felt that they owed to the Speaker tho very high character of tho Legislufure, and he felt, in common with other hon. members, deep regret at tho decision arrived at by the Speaker. (Cheers.) Mr STAFFORD said that it was difficult for him to express the feeling with which ho contemplated tho removal of one so highly esteemed, so worthily respected, as the Speuker from the scene of public affairs, connected as he had been for i many years with him in public and private life, and having come down to New Zealand with him ; but it was one of the feelings of advancing ngo, that the memories of youth and manhood wero departing from them. [At this point the hon. member, whose feelings had been for some time overpowering him, fairly broke down, and had to rcsumo his seat.] PETHION OF LUNDON AND WIIITTAKER. On the motion of Mr Bradshaw, the petition of Lundon and Whit taker was referred to a select committee. A long discussion ensued on the second part of the motion, viz., the constitution of the committee, which was proposed to consist of the following members : — Messrs Hall, Richmond, Yogel, Kynnersley, Williamson, Bunny, Wood, Ormond, Creighton, and Bradshaw. On the resolution being put, a division was culled for. The following was the result — Ayes, 20 j Noes, 17. The motion was thereforo agreed to. LIMITED LIABILITY MINING COMPANIES ACT. Mr GILLIES, for Mr Macllarlano, moved for leave to inlroduco a bill to amend the law relating to Limited Liability Companies. Leave given, tho bill read a first, time, and tho second reading fixed for next sitting day. PAPERS. Mr M'LEAN laid a number of papers on tlie table, which were orderod to bo printed. CONSTITUTION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Mr M'INDOE moved, — That, in tho interests of the colony, it is desirable that the constitution of the Legislative Council should be assimilated to that of tho House of Representatives, and that this resolution should be reported to tho Legislative Council. Although this was his first session in that House, he had not been a careless observer of tho defects in the constitution under which they lived, although lie held very strong opinions respecting aristocratic or quasi -aristocratic representation, but he would not obtrude those opinions on tho House at that time. All he wished to effect by his motion was to assimilate tho two branches of the Legislature to tho extent of making tho Legislative Couucil temporary in its duration and elective in its character. Mr BUNNY thought it very likely that if this was carried out there would be a chance of a dead-lock unless tho Government had the power of dissolving the Council, without which safeguard tho Council would become the dominant power in the country. Mr M'LEAN said at this late period of tho session the House could not give this subject the full consideration which it deserved. Ho might gay that during the present session, hon. members nor the Government could bring this matter forward, as it was not a proper period in the last session of an expiring Parliament to bring forward euch an alteration in the constitution of the country. He would therefore ask the hon. member to withdraw this resolution. Mr WILLIAMSON, also urged tho withdrawal of the resolution. Mr HAUGHTON said that itappoarcd to him there was many difficulties in the way of altering tho present constitution of tho Council. If they made the Council tin elective body they would very possibly find themselves in the same difficulty as the Victorian Assembly found themselves on a recent occasion respecting the Darling grant, lie felt, however, that the Government could bring down a well digested measure during the early pnrb of tho session, which, while putting a fair share of power in tho Council would give tho Government power to advise tho Governor to dissolve that Council alter an appeal to the general constituencies, but not before. Mr YOGEL said that while he thought it desirable to give tho Upper House an elective character, it was a very difficult problem to legislate so as to give that branch of tho Legislature an independent position, and at tho saino time to provide something to prevent a deadlock. He thought that somo such power as this should bo given— that if a bill wero passed and forwarded to tho Upper House twico, and it. had been then thrown out, both Houses should sit as ono Chamber. Ho did not at all agree with tho power proposed to bo given to tho Government to dissolve the Council. Mr CARLETON said that the effect of tho Upper House being uwdo elective would be to render that Chamber thoroughly conservative, and to check tho domocracy in tho Legislature, which was the House of Representatives, and to make tho Legislative Council, what it was not now, a power in tho State. Tho Government had promised to consider the matter in tho rocess, und ho thought thuL it was a matter for regret that they had not considered it in tho former recess. Mr M'INDOE said he would desiro to with* draw tho motion of which ho had given notice. Motion withdrawn. LOAN TO OTAGO. Mr MAOANDKEW moved that tho House go into Committee of tho whole to consider a respectful address to tho Governor, requesting him to recommend the House to mako provision for a sum of £650,000, in accordance with a resolution of tho Provincial Council of Otago. Mr YOGEL said this question had received anxious consideration from tho Governmont, and he only now gave thoso opinions to the House. While the Government fully recognised tho necessity for public- works, it had brought down measures which did not propose to confine to any part of the colony (ho public works which it had initiated in its largo and comprehensive measures, and he did not think the resolution was compatible with tho policy of the Government, us if the provinces wore allowed to detach themselves from

the general scheme, it was useless to think at all of a united colonial credit. He would also point out that the three first words in the resolutions would como under the scope of tho policy of the Government, which had been so favorably received by the House and the country. At the same time he must say that tho province of Otago had as much or more right than any other province to ' ask for a share of public money from her seourity, and also from tho manner in which she had aided the interests of the colony as a whole. If they, however, allowed this principle to be carried out, it would, it seemed to him, go far towards dcterio- 1 rating the credit of the colony as a whole. He felt this as a vory unthankful task, because he had on more than one occasion eomo up to that House charged, as Provincial Treasurer of the province) of Otngo, to ask tho Government to allow the province to borrow money for tho works alluded to j but now these resolutions conflicted in a great degree with the policy of the Government with respect to tho initiution of emigration and public works throughout tho colony. Mr MACANDKEW said that after what had fallen from the Colonial Treasurer, it seomed to him that very little chance was left of carrying his resolution, but at the same time he could not allow tho opportunity to pass without i stating, in a few words, what had induced him to ' bring it forward. He did not, by this resolution, wish to cast any burden on tho colony whatever, but it was simply owing to the action of tho House in 1867, that Otago came before them in some sort a suppliant. If; might be said that Otago could fall back upon its revenue, which was large, but although their revenue for the past year was J £333,000, the whole of this was absorbed in various items of expenditure throughout the province. [The hon. member then quoted statistics in support of his argument ] It would be seen that although tho province could not go into the whole cost of the works which ho wished to see carried out, yet the expenditure of tho province could be so managed as to pay interest and sinking fund, and further, besides their revenue, which, would bo amply sufficient, they offered as collateral security, three millions of aci'es of land, at present realising £32,000 annually. The money proposed to be spent out of tho loan was to supplement an annual vote, and ho contended that nothing was moro pi'oduefcive than immigration, and although (lie Government were intending to carry out this, they would prefer to have it in their own hands. With respect to tho Southern Trunk Eailway, he might say, that this £400,000 would not be required, as ho had been informed that a company which hadjust concluded a line in Tasmania, had offered to construct the Great Southern Trunk Railway on a guarantee of six per cent for thirty years — so that the amount of £650,000 would have to be reduced by this item. With respect to tho water supply to Goldflelds, the Government had brought down a scheme in this direction, but it would not be of any great use to Otago unless £100,000 was spent in these works almost immediately. The item for embankment of rivers was a highly necessary work, as sotno of tho most j fertile portions of the provinco were open to be devastated by rivers overflowing their banks ; and therefore ho regretted that these resolutions wore not likely to be carried. Tho gross total resources of tho province of Otago over and above its liabilities was four millions sterling. There were, lie knew, several hon. members who set their faco indiscriminately against provincial borrowing without considering the ability of the province to repay it ; but he hoped even against hope, that these views were confined to tho fossils of the House. Ho would not detain the House longer, but would move the motion standing in his name. On the motion for going into committee being put, a division was demanded, with the following result :— Ayes, 18 ; Noes, 26. Pairs : For— Messrs Haughton and Eyes ; Against — Messrs Kelly and Edwards. Tho motion was thereforo negatived. PETITION OF EDMUND HINES. Mr CARLETON moved— That the report of the Public Petitions Committee on this petition bo referred back to that committee. After a lengthy discussion Mr Carleton obtained leave to withdraw the motion. NATIVE SCHOOI/ AT KAIAPOI. Mr M'LEAN moved for leave to introduce a bill to cnublo tho Governor to accept n surrender of the grant of certain land at Kaiapoi in order to onablo a new native school to bo erected. Leave was given, the bill read a first time, and tho second reading fixed for Tuesday. PUBLIC REVENUES ACT. Mr M'LEAN, for Mr Vogol, moved for leave to introduce a bill to amend this act. Leave granted, bill read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Tuesday. VOLUNTEER ACTS AMENDMENT ACT, 1870. On the motion of Mr M'Lean, leave was given to introduce this bill, which was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Thursday. THE CASE OV JAMES WITTY. On tho motion of Mr Ormond, the House went into committee to consider of a respectful address to tho Governor respecting tho caso of James Witty, when a resolution to that effect was agreed to and reported to the House. THE CASE OF GEORGE GREEN. Mr M'LEAN for Mr Fox, moved for leave to bring in a bill to give effect to tho award of tho Secretary for Crown Lands in the case of George Green. Leave given, the bill read a first time, and tho second time on Wednesday. Tho House adjourned at 5 p.m.