HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1564, 21 May 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Fjsidat, May 18. The House met at 2 30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT. The Premier moved that the House at its rising to-day adjourn till Wednesday next at 2.30 p.m. Captain Sutter moved that the sitting on Wednesday should be for Government business only. 'lhe Premier had no objection to that amendment. The motion was agreed to. QUESTIONS Replying to questions lt was stated that fines left oted on employees of the Government for breaches of regulations are paid to the Publio Trustee aud form the nucleus of a superannuation fund ; that if the totalisatow are allowed they should contribute towards charitable Institutions ; that it was not proposed to give long servioe medals to commissioned officers of the Volunteer Foroe ; that|tbe matter of promotion by a step In rank of officers who have served 16 years had been settled ; that the qaestlon of amending the present unsatisfactory state of law as regards Acclimatisation Societies was under consideration ; that to reintroduce the system of return tiokets on railway lines would result iv a lobb to the oolony of £40,000 a year, and oould not be entertained. REPRESENTATION BILL. On the motion for the re-oommlttal of the Representation Bill, Mr Mills said he moved for Its re-oommlttal m order that the number of members should be reduced to 71. He felt sure that many bad voted for 91 a few nights ago under a misconception. He thought they would be shewing a praotloal desire for economy by first reduoing the number of members, and then reduoing their own honorarium. Tbe Premier opposed the re-committal, and said that if It were agreed io he should not be responsible for its passing this session. A lengthy, discussion ensued after whioh the moilon for re-oommlttal was lost by 50 to 21. Tbe Bill was then read a third time and passed, ELECTORAL BILL. On the motion that the amendments In the Electoral Aots Amendment Bill be , agreed to, Mr Levestam moved that the r Bill be re-o^mmitted for the purpose of considering the clause, providing that a ' £10 penalty Is enforoed for a candidate ' who does not poll one-tenth of the nam- ' ber of votes polled by the successful t candidate. I The amendment was loßt by 37 to 31. i The Bill was read a third time and I passed. : IN COMMUTES. The Government Loans to Looal 1 Bodies Aot Amendment Bill and the * Local Bodies Loans Aot Amendment ) Bill were passed with slight amendments. f The Wellington University College Bill was further considered m Committee. Clause 26, Colonial Treasurer to pay 1 £1500 for seven years for maintaining ) the College elioited considerable dlsousl sion. I Mr Hatoh moved that it be struok ont. Mr Turnbull movod to confine the Bubsidy to ono year. 1 The Premier defended the necessity of i a University College m Wellington. I Mr Hursthouse protected vigorously i against the olause m the Interest of the taxpayers. : Mr Turnbull's amendment was lost on the voices. Mr Hatoh's amendment was defeated by 29 to 18. i The clause passed. The remainder of the Bill got through i without amendment. ; IHIRD READING. On the motion for the third reading of the Wellington University College Bill, 1 Mr Turnbull, Mr Hursthouse, and Mr Hatoh oppoeed it strongly. The Bill was read a third time by 31 to 18 and was passed, INFANTS GUARDIANSHIP AND CONTRACTS BILL. The Bill was passed through Its re* maining stages. THE KBBMADEC ISLANDS BILL. The Kermadeo Islands Bill was considered In Oommlttee. • A question was raised as to what would beoome of the rights of the present residents. Some members argued that the Islands had simply been annexed ln order to enable people to get a title whioh they oould not otherwise obtain. The Premier said this was a matter the House would be able to investigate. Several motions to roport progreßs"or adjourn the debate were lost. These being dispossed of the Bill finally got through Committee unaltered. On tho motion for the third reading, Sir George Grey moved Its postponement to July sth to allow the House to obtain information oonoeruing a company whioh it waß alleged would be formed to trade with the Islands io question. On a division the amendment was lost, and the Bill was read a third time and pasied, EMPLOYEES LIABILITY ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was read a seoond time, the Premier explaining that it was designed to remove certain impediments to obtain* (ng redress under the existing law. WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES BILL. The adjourned debate on the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill was resumed, aud after a short debate the bill was read a seoond time. BUILDING SOCIETIES' AOT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Tole moved the seoond reading of the Building Societies' Aot Amendment Bill. Tha motion was agreed to. COUNTIES AOT AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was read a seoond time, INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL ACr AMENDMENT BILL. Thlß Bill was read a seoond time, TONGABIRO PARK BILL. Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the Tongarlro National Park BUI, reserving the mountain of that name, alone with Buapehu and Ngarnhpo and land near them, as a national domain, m acoordanoe with the offer of the native chiefs. The area of the reserve was 62,000 acres, and the natives had promised to sign a deed handing lt over as Boon as the Aot came Into force. The indirect benefit to the colony at no distant date must be enormous, and the act was a most generous one on the part of the natives, for which they ought to receive the thanks of the country. Dr Newman congratulated the Minister on securing such an acquisition. Mr Looke trusted that the land had really been given and that it was no sham. Colonel Trimble did not think the land was of muoh value from an agricultural point of view. It was well-known that from time immemorial the natives had attaohed great Importance to these mountains and the adjacent springs. They had been tapn for years. The BUI was read a seoond time, The Houie adjourned, at 12,30 a .in,