PARLIAMENT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3886, 18 August 1873, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, 15th August. The Hen tlie Speaker took the chair at two o'clock. BItEACH OP PRIVILEGE. The committee brought up their report, which said that Stevenson stated that he did not intend in the words he used to infringe the privilege of the Council, and that lie wished to apologise for using auy worda that might be construed as such. The committee recommended that the apology be received as satisfae'ory. lEIEGBAPH CABLES SUBSIDY AGREEMENT BATIFIdTION 811/ L. The Hon Dr POLLEN, in moviug the pecond reading of this bill, said that it wa3 in a measure a money bill, as it contained provision for the appropriation of the turn required (o enable the Q-overnment to carry out the ugreemenfc entered into by New Zealand, New South "Wales, and Queensland, the fulfilment of which would place New Zealand in telegraphic communication with the rest of the world. The bill had pasßed the House of Representatives without a division, and with no more discussion than was necessary to elucidate its details. The people of the colony, it may fairly be assumed, were anxious that communication by telegraph should be established between New Zealand and the great centres of population and commerce, and it might be also assumed that the Council could have no objection to enabling such a scheme to be carried out. A message now sent by telegraph to England required six payments to different companies. The cost of twenty words from Australia to England by the existing line was £9 8a 4d. The price proposed to be charged between New Zealand and Australia would be £1 for twenty words. So that the total cost of transmitting a message of twenty words from New Zealand to England by the Adelaide line would bo £10 8s 4d. By the proposed line of Singuporo the cost of twenty worda from this colony to England would orly be £6 4s. This certainly was a great reduction, and well worthy the attention of the Council. The hon gentleman then explained the provisions of the bill, and the negotiations which bad taken place before its introduction. The Hon Mr SEWELL moved the following addition to the bill • — " In fcho opi'mion of this Council it is expedient that telegraphic communication by submarine cable should be established between New Zealand and the Australian Continent as speedily as circumstances will permit. That the line and points of communication should be such as will enable the cable to be laid and maintained mo«t easily and at the least cost. That G-overn ment should, without delay, obtain the requisite Legislative authority, and take the necessary steps for effecting the guarantee,'with a right of purchase by the colony upon equitable terms, or, failing suoh an arrangement, them at the cost of the colony itself." He had no doubt but thbt a second line of telegraph cable would be highly beneficial. He had not seen the advantages as to the reduction in the cost of forwarding messages referred to by the Hon Dr Pollen in any printed papera. The Hon Dr POLLEN had compiled them from the piinted papers. The Hon Mr SBWJELL demurred to the bill being conaidered a money bill. There was no doubt money to be appropriated in the bill, but this he looked upon as only subsidiary. The chief object of the bill was telegraphic communication, and the Council had power to deal with it. He thought that if his amendment was adopted by the Council, members would find that it would be well received by the other House. They were asked lo bind themselves to construct this Hue ,in combination with two other colonies, and in no other way. There was no limitation of time in this bill, and it ties their hands against doing anything on their own account. The other two colonies?, being already in communication with England, might be supine in the mutter, and if the object of the present bill was not fully carried out, New Z -aland could absolutely do nothing. The Government had got a definite proposition from another company to construct a line. All the assurance they had got from Mr Audley Cook was that he waß authorised by Messrs Siemen, cable contractors, to state that they would undertake to form a company to lay the lino. The line proposed to be constructed would cost £1,800,000. He thought the guarantee to be given by New Zealand on that amount would be greater than on tlio independent line proposed to be made to Australia by Mr Gisborne for £410,000. They were to hear one-third of tho £50,000 a-year on the proposed line by the Government, which he thought was more than tho colony's proportion. Thoro was \esa risk of the New Zealand portion of the line breaking than that between Australia and Singapore. The Hon Captain FRASER seconded the motion. He thought Mr Waterhouee and Mr Sewoll had endeavored to prejudice the bill. There were two men in tho colony who hod dona more to raise New Zealand in (lie estimation of the world than all othor3 — Mr Yogel, by his great public works, railways, and postal and telegraphic comiuunication ; and Dr Hector, who had done so much by his untiring labors to make New Zealand woll known among the scientific men of the world. Victoria was a greedy and a graßping colony, and although exporting largely to New Zealand it had almost put a prohibitory duty on this colony's products. There was a strong probability that New South Wales and Queensland would be large customers to this colony for cereals and other produce. He thought the Hon Mr Wa£erhouse, when speaking on the subject the previous night, had exaggerated the risk of breakage between Australia and Singapore. The Hon Colonel WHITMORE supported the bill merely on the ground of cheapness. By having this line constructed the colony would have the benefit of competition, for

there was nothing to prevent them, when the telegrams reached Australin, to Bend them either by way of Adelaide or Norrnantown. He thought (he colony was little indebted to Mr Vogei ; lie only put the finishing touoh upon the telegragh, and as for the railways, their success was too doubtful yet to give an opinion. The-Hon Mr WATERHOUSE said it was not a question concerning either Mr Yogel or Dr Hector. However much he may diffar from the former gentleman, he had always spoken of him with respect. It would be inferred from the retnurks of the Colonial Secretary that that bill was necessary for the establishment of two lines. This he entirely differed from ; Australia would not rest long without a second line ; and whether the colony joined or not, the Java line would be constructed by the Australian colonies for their own convenience. He instanced the several lines between America and Europe. What he meant to convey was that, believing that both lines would be constructed by the other colonies, New Zealand should remain free to tuke advantage of any circumstances that might arise. The Hon Mr HOLMES thought, with the limited revenue at their disposal, some consideration should be given as to the expenditure of £17,000 a year. They were already within eight days of England, and there was no pressing necessity for the line to Australia to be constructed. He objected to the portion of the bill in which New Zealand was in part responsible for the line between Australia and Singapore. If the question of alliance with any of the Australian colonies were taken into- consideration, Victoria should get the preference. She had given New Zealand many enterprising colonists, and the trade with her hud been infinitely greater than with tho others. The Hon Mr MILLAR believed the line proposed by the Government was immeasurably the best, but would like to see a clause inserted in the bill giving New Zealand power to construct a second line to Australia in the event of breakage of the first one. 'The Hon Dp POLLEN said that if Mr Sewell'a amendment were carried, he could only come to the conclusion that it was a foregone conclusion to reject the bilK He never had heard weaker argumonts used by hon gentlemen than he heard that day. It had been said that nothing had been heard since the Conference. It was only in June last that correspondence had taken place on the subject. The proposals made by Messrs Seimena were below that of any other party, and the advantages to be derived greater, and the members of the Cou.ference in Sydney, being practical men, accepted the proposals. There was every probability that the proposition was made bona fide The other Governments were satisfied that the arrangements would be carried out. It was quite probable that if the three Governments did not unite, there would be no second line constructed. The bill was simply that the Parliament should gire tho G-overnment power to carry out its arrangements with the' other colonies. If they were not carried out, the colony could take what action it deemed proper to secure telegraphic communication. The Hon Mr SEWELL, after what had fallen from the Hon Colonial Secretary, would withdraw hia amendment. The bill was read a second time. ARMS ACT AMENDMENT 811/ D. The Hon Dr POLLEN said it had been found thafc the legislation on this subject was effected under panic. The consequence was that, in many cases juries refused to convict on account of the high penalty. He knew a case in Auckland, where a raun hud been let off simply because the jury thought the punishment too severe for the offence. It was proposed by the bill now before the Council to reduce the minimum imprisonment from three to two years. The Hon Colonel WHITMORE opposed the bill, and moved on amendment that all parties guilty of selling arms or ammunition to the native race should be liable to the penalty of death or such terms of imprisonment (13 might be thought fit. The crime was one of the worst ; for mere gain, those who sold arms and ammunition to the natives were utterly regardless of what trouble they brought on the colony. The Hon Mr STOKES said that there was no doubt but that the crime was one of the most atrocious kind ; but as it had been found that the severity of the puuishment prevented committals, he would vot.> for the bill, and even for a lesser term of imprisonment, if he thought it would tend to the conviction of parties guilty of this heinous offence. The bill was read a second time. The Council adjourned till the next Bitting day at % p.m.