General Assembly.

Western Star, Issue 979, 5 September 1885, Page 3

General Assembly.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, Ist Sbpt. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Capt. Morris moved—" That in the opinion of this Council the present system of Government by party is not the best method of governing the colony, and that a committee be appointed to make suggestions for an improvement." He spoke in depreciation of the existing system of party Government, which was lowering the tone of the House and country. He would not, however, proposo to submit any suggestion as to how an improvement might be made. —Dr Pollen said the question, so far as the Council was concerned, might be regarded as an abstract one, as there was no party in the Council. He moved the previous question. MrEeynolds thought the subject was one well worthy of discussion, and referred to the evili attending party government.—Previous question carried. The adjourned debate on the third reading of the Presbyterian Churah Property Bill was resumed.—The bill passed. . Mr Menzies moved—" That in establishing a'system of relief for the aged and indigent I poor, it is expedient that it should be conducted by Boards elected by the contributors, and that the funds to be administered should be derived from endowments, voluntary contributions, legacies, and subsidies from the State, but that no special rate shall be leviabla for this purpose."—Debate adjourned till next day. l . '.''*.''■„"•''< - ■ At the evening sitting, the Council went into Committee on the Bankruptcy Act, 1883, Amendment Bill; and Mines Act, .1877, Amendment Bill. The former was reported iwith amendments, and progress was reported' with the latter. The Property Law Consolidation Bill was further considered in Committee and reported with amendments. The Council rose at 10.25.

Wednesday, 2nd Sept. The adjourned debate on the second read- : of the Legislative Counoil Bill was resumed. Sir F. Whitakcr said that owing to the lateness of the session he did not propose to push j the bill further than the second reading this year. The ' Colenial Secretary protested against the second reading of the bill.—After further discussion the second reading was carried by. 22 to 17. The Counoil went into committee on the Mining Companies Bill, which was reported with amendments. The Gold Mining Districts Bill was read a .first time. The third reading of the Bankruptcy Act, ■ 1873, Amendment Bill was agreed to by 18 .to 13. "j,. The Mines Act, 1e77, Amendment Bill: was committed and reported with amendments. Thubsday, 3bd Sept.

The adjourned debate was resumed upon the question that the following resolution be agreed to:—That, in establishing a system of . .relief for the aged and indigent poor it is expedientthat it should be conducted by Boards elected by the contributors; that the funds to be administered should be derived from endowments, voluntary contributions, legacies, and subsidies from the State, but that no ipecialrate shall be leviable for this purpose. -rSir F. WnitaVer moved that all the words ef the resolution after "that" be omitted, with a view to insert the following words:" in establishing a systom of charitable aid a clearly defined distinction should be drawn between involuntary and voluntary pauperism, and with that object provision should be made for relieving the aged, helpless, and destitute, ' chiefly in kind; (2) no relief should be given to those able to work, but in cbsbs of necessity work should be found for them at a rate of wages not exceeding one half the ordinary wages of the district; (3), one-half the funds necessary ; after deducting voluntary contributions, &c., should be provided by a rate and " the other half for the present by a contribution * from the Consolidated Fund; (4), the funds "should be administered by local Boards, who should also levy the rates. —Both the resolutions of committee and of Sir F. Whitaker 'were rejected by 21 to 8. The following bills were received from the House of Kepresentatives and read a first time : i-Mortgage Debentures and Rating Bills. The Hospital nnd Charitable Institutions Bill was committed, reported with amendments, and ordered to be recommitted. ' The second reading of the Land Bill was agreed to on the voices.

HOUSE OF EEPEESENTATIYES. Tuesday, Ist Sept. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Eeplying to Mr White—Whether the Government are prepared to supply volunteers with .ammunition for practice beyond the regulation allowance at cost price ?—Mr Ballance said there would be no difficulty in nupplying Volunteers with ammunition at row price. . . Eeplying to Dr Newman—lf the portions of the North Island trunk railway, made by Maoris, were offered by public tender to Europeans fit-Mr Eichardson replied in the negative. A small part of the contract had been put up for competition amongst the Maoriß, and it had been done in a satisfactory manner. The following bills were introduced:—Bill to reduce the number of votes which may be given by any County Elector at any Election Jor a member of a County Council (Grey) ; Public Eevenues Bill (Vogel). The House went into committee for further Consideration of the Mortgage Debentures Bill, which was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. Mr Tole moved the second reading of the CJriminal'Code Bill. —Objection was raised to this bill being connidered so late in the sossion, and the result was the debate was adjourned, and on resuming in the evening the second reading wai carried. Mr LeYcttam moved that the amendment made by the Legislative Council in tho Employment of Females and Others Amendment Bill be agreed to. He pointed out that the principal alteration was one to the effect that females and young persons should be allowed to work in newspaper offices till 7 o'clock at night on Saturday.—Mr Bradshaw moved that the amendment be not agreed to, and that half-past 4 be substituted for 7. —Mr Stout thought Mr Bradshaw's nmendment

was not an unfair thing to ask if it had been explained that certain newspapers would not be able to conduct their work unless young persons were allowed to work till 4.30. The House having given relief to that extent, the Council had gone farther and made the hour 7 o'clock. —Mr Bradshaw's amendment was carried on a division by 43 to 42, and a com'mittee was appointed to draw up a resolution for disagreeing with the Council's amendments. ■ The House went into Committee for further consideration of the Rating Act Amendments (No. 2) Bill, which passed with some additional clauses. The bill was recommitted for the purpose of considering the third clause. —Bill read a third time and passed. Mr Stout moved that the Laud Transfer Bill be recommitted for consideration of clause 191, relating to a case where any sum has been lawfully paid out of the assurance fund'as compensation for loss occasioned by fraud in error, negleot, omission, or misrepresentation on tbe part of any proprietor | bringing land under this Act.—Mr Dowmo Stewart moved an amendment in the first to strike out the words "hasbeen" and to insert" shall be," so as to abolish the retrospective character of the clause.—Amendment carried by 29 to 28.—Mr Stout moved to strike out the words "negligenoe or error.' Agreed to —Mr Garrick moved to strike the word out before the word omission "fraudulent."—Agreed to by 45 to 18.—Several other amendments were inserted in the clause; the bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. Major Atkinson asked the Premier what business be intended proceeding with this session ?—Mr Stout said he hoped to j be able to go through all the bills on the Order Paper by the end of next week. He proposed that the House should sit on Saturday for the Consideration of the Federation Resolutions. &r Stout moved, the second reading of po

I Property Assessment Act, which he said was a consolidation measure, relating to tho assessment of property for the propertytax. He explained the nature of the amendment and said that whatever opinions might be held by members on the property tax as against a land tax, they must all agree that the present law required amending.—Mr Wakefield contended that it was most unfair '. for the Premier, under the guise of supporting the property tax, to bring down such a bill as the present measure. The present bill was a , fraud, as it was an attempt to impose a land f.ax under the guise of a property lax. He was always of opinion that there should be no exemptions in the property tax, and there was no reason why this should Hot be abolished.— Captain Sutter objected altogether to the j clause which exempied the property of natives 1 from the operation of the bill.—Mr Pybe objected to small property owners paying nothing I to the State. Tho clituse which exempted Maoris from taxaiion must be struck out, and | thev should be made to pay for the benefits of civilisation. He would move, if no one else did, that the Maoris should be made to pay under the bill, and also that there should be no exemptions. —Mr Downie Stewart said that (when the Property Tax Bill was passed every meniber gave expression to his particular views on it, and if the same course were followed now it would take a fortnight or three weeks to get the bill through. There were several debateable questions in the bill. He should advocate Ihat the exemption should be £3OO. —Mr Buchanan said he had been in favour of the £SOO exemption, but he thought it might well be considered now whether the exemption might not be redu"ed.—Mr W. P. Buckland said every clause of this bill bristled with fresh taxation, and the bill also did away with the secrecy that was preserved by the original bill as to the property of individuals. He was altogether opposed to a land tax as against a property tax. If the bill got into committee he should vote for a small reduction in agrioul--1 tural implements.—Major Atkinson said the bill might be looked on as a useful consolidating bill, or as a bastard land tax. Hoping in committee to be able to strike out the objectionable features of the bill, he would support the second reading. Ho had felt somewhat disappointed that the Premier had shown no reason for the extraordinary exemption he proposed in the bill. He thought the House would not bo doing its duty in reading the bill a second time unless they were told how much tho revenue would suffer by the exemptions under this bill.—Mr Stout said the main objection to the bill was in

respect to exemptions, but he contended that the pastoral and agricultural interests should be placed on an equality. He pointed out that mortgages were not exempted, and that £SOO was not too large for general: exemption. In reply to Mr Kerr, he said that to tax Maori property would be to discourage settlement, beoause the Maoris would not individualise their titles. It would be impossible to estimate .the loss to the revenue by the bill, but the amount of taxable property would not be decreased by it, because other things were brought under the tax.—Seoond reading oarried on the voices. The House rose at 1 a.m.

Wednessday, 2nd Sept,

Replying to Mr W. F. Buckland--If the •Minister for Public Works will give effect to the resolutions passed by the delegates from the various Pastoral and Agricultural Associationß, New Zealand, to convey to and from, free of charge on the railways, all stock and articles duly entered for exhibition at the various shows in the colony ?—Mr Richardson said the Government considered quite enough concessions was already made in this respect. Mr Fisher moved—" That there be laid before the House statements showing the result of tendering for the printing of ten million telegraph forms required by the Government, giving the names of the tenderers and the amount of each tender.— Agreed to. Sir J. Vogel moved that the Friendly Societies Amendment Bill (No. 2) be discharged from the Order Paper. Agreed to.

The House went into Committee on the Counties Act Amendment. Bill. A lengthy discussion ensued oh clause 2—providing that new counties are to be created by special Act Several members opposed the clause, and contended that it was too late this ses-J sion to proceed with tho bill. The clause . was carried on a division by 43 to 22. The House rose at 5.30 p.m., and resumed at 7.30 in Committee on the Counties Act Amendment Bill. —Clause s—providing that the operation of the Act is not to be suspen- j ded in future—was carried by 36 to 32.—1 n clause 11—providing that ohairmen of counties are to be elected by county electors annually—Mr Stout said he had '•eoeived a large number af letters from County Councils on this subject, and he was bound to say they nearly all opposed it. He was prepared in consequence to eliminate this provision—Mr Eeid moved to Btrike out the words " tho county electors of every county shall elect a chairman." —Amendment carried by 52 to 24.—Several clauses were struck out on Mr Stout's motion as consequential. Amendments on clauses 28, 29, and 30 were postponed after a long discussion. In clause 34.—providing that councillors shall be liable for moneys illegally borrowed Colonel Trimble moved that the penalty for which councillors shall be liable for this offence shall be £IOO instead of £2oo.—Agreed to.— Mr G. F. Eichardson moved a further amendment in the clause to strike out the words " and all money so illegally borrowed shall be a debt due to the county from each member of the council who consented to such borrowing, and may be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction."—Amendment lost on a division by 33 to 28.—Clause 35, limitation of bank overdraft, elicited a lengthy discussion, but was eventually struck out. Several other clauses having been , passed, Mr Stout moved to report progress on the bill.—Agreed to. The House went into committee on the Property Assessment Bill. Clauses 2 (interpretation clause), 13 (providing for property subject to taxation), 18 (property exempt from taxation), and other clauses were postponed. The remaining clauses were passed without material alteration, and progress was reported on the bill. Tho House rose at 12.50 a.m.

Thursday, 3rd Sept. Replying to Mr Garrick, Mr Tole said the various local bodies had now in their possession copies of the Municipal Corporations Bill as it was brought before the House, and the Government intended, without any delay, to forward to those bodies the supplementary order papers with the various amendments proposed by members on the bill. The House went into committee for the further consideration of the Property Assessment Bill. In clause 2, Mr Stout moved that " property" shall include all real and personal property, and extend to and include every interest and of any kind whatever, and all property which may bo estimated or valued as an asset of any company.—Agreed to.— On clause 13—property subject to taxation— Captain Sutter moved to reduce the £SOO exemption to £2oo.—The Chairman ruled that the amendment could not bo put without the consent of the Crown being obtained a 3 it interfered with the revenues.—Captain Sutter then moved that the clause be struck out. —The Chairman said that by the rules of the House he could not put such a motion from the chair.—Mr Barron thought the exemption had better be left as it was, although ho considered the properly tax altogether wrong.— Colonel Trimble movid that the clause bs postponed to enable the Government to consider whether a reduction of the exemption could be made.—Major Atkinson asked i f it were postponed would the Government be prepared to tako that as a direction for the committee that the exempt on should be reduced ?—Mr Stout was not, prepared to reply to that question at once —Sir J. Vogel said it was very undtsirable in the. present bill to bring in a large number of taxpajew. He thought the committee would be taking the I preemptive of the Crown into their own hands ■ if they were to reduce the exemption, and it would be very unjustifiable if they were to do so. —After some discussion, Mr stout, said he was willing to postpoiw clauses 13 aud 1-1,

but he earnestly hoped the Committee would not reduce the exemption from £SOO. He might tell the author of the tax (Major Atkinson) that nothing would tend more to destroy it than the adoption of that course He then moved that clauses 13,14 and 16 be.

postponed.—Agreed to.—ln clause 18—property exempt from taxation —Mr Keid moved to strike off £3OOO as the amount of exemption of agricultural improvements, and to insert £IO,OO0 —Sir J. Vogel considered the proposal in the bill was a very reasonable compromise. He reminded the committee that the present bill abolished many exemptions. —Major Atkinson regretted that in a consolidation bill the Government should bring in what they called a compromise ' between a property tax and an income tax. 1 He thought the state of the finances would not warrant the making of so many exemptions. He submitted that the Government should not force such a clause upon them, and felt certain that if the Treasurer remained in office till next session he would be compelled to repeal the bill they were now discussing. Ho hoped these clauses would be struck out in the absence of any information as to the result to the revenue of tho colony. He moved that subsection 2 be struck out.—Several other members spoke on the clause, and Mr Whyte moved that the word " agricultural" be struck out. A long discussion ensued, after which the werd "all," preceding agricultural improvements, was struck out by 29 to 20.—Mr Stout said that as the Committee hsd by this vote affirmed the amendment of the member for Egmont, he would move that snbseotiong 2 and 3—agricultural improvements and eni gines and machinery exemptions—be struck 1 out.—Agreed to.—Clause 27—providing that parties to a mortgage may agree as to payment of the tax on the mortgage—was struok . out on the voices.—ln clause 13—property subject to taxation—Mr Stout said that after what had taken place he hoped the committee would piss the £SOO exemption without alteration.—Major Atkinson said he was not prepared to take the responsibility of moving any reduction in the exemption, as the Government had not made any recommendation in that direction. —The c'ause providing for the exemption of £SOO was thm pßSsed without further discussion, and the schedule of the bill was agreed to.

Tho House went into Committee for the further consideration of the Counties Act Amendment Bill. Several new clauses were added to the bill.—Mr Guineas proposed a new. clause providing for the election of deputy-chairmen of County Councils in the absence of chairman.—Clause negatived on a division by 27 to 22.—Mr Guineis moved a new. clause allowing licensing committee clerks to be paid out of county funds.—Clause lost by 31 to 16. —The bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The Prjperty Assesment Bill was reported from Committee, read a third time and passed.

Captain Sutter resumed the debate on the Gold Duty Abolition Bill. He read severs! returns to show tho expenditure on goldfields on the West Coast, and asked the Premier to give the House some information as to the effect of the abolition of the gold duty on the revenue. —Mr Pyke said the gold duty was the most iniquitous tax ever imposed: on a community. It was absolutely crushing in its effect on a most important industry, and if the House continued to insist on this duty t'ie mining industry would be completely crushed.—Second reading carried by 24 to 21.