LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9238, 16 October 1895, Page 5

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM )

Tuesday, October 15. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.3 U. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN. Mr JENNINGS presented the report of the Labour Bills Committee on tha Shipping and Seamen's BilL The Committee recommended that the Bill should be allowed to proceed, provided that the Oovernmeat should take some steps to facilitate the entry of colonial boys into the colonial mercantile marine. LANDS. Mr BOLT moved—" That in order bettor to show the present disposition of the lands of the colony, whether as freehold or leased from the Crown or as endowment, and also the amount, position, and quality of such lands as are yet undisposed of, it is the opinion of this Couucil that the Government should, during the recess, prepare a map of the lands of the colony, to be laid on the tables of both Houses on the opening of the next ensuing Parliament, such map to show in distinctive colours the acreage in all areas of land of 2000 acres and upwards, stating whether held as freehold, as leased from the Crown, or as endowmenc, the names of the respective owners, occupiers, beneficiaries, the Crown lands yet available for settlement, and in each case whether and what proportion ot first or second-class land." The COLONIAL SECRETARY said that he had ascertained that such a map would require two additional draughtsmen for at least twelve months. At present there were several maps in the Lands Department which contained all the information. The motion was lost by 22 to 9. AMENDMENTS IN BILLS. The House transmitted amendments made by the Governor in the Fencing Bill and the Industrial Conciliation Bill, which the Hoube had agreed to. The amendments were agreed to by the Council in the first Bill, and reasons for disagreeing in tho second Bill were ordered to be considered next day. The Houde, by message, disagreed with the amendment.s made by the Council in the Dunedin Loans Conversion Bill, and transmitted reasons for disagreeing. Mr STEWART moved—" That the Council should insist upon its amendments, and that Messrs Reynolds and Bolt and the mover should be Managers to draw up reasons." This was carried, and the reasons for insisting were brought up and agreed to. LIQUOR SALE CONTROL. Upon the motion for the third reading of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill, the COLONIAL SECRETARY called attention to the fact that his remarks on the second reading of the Bill had been misreported in the Wellington morning newspaper. What he said on the occasion referred to was that although he had no great feeling one way or the other, still he intended to carry the Bill through as introduced in the Council. He believed that his statement would be borne out by Hansard. Tbe j Lyttelton Times of October 12 oh had a leading article upon his action on tbe Liquor | Bill, which accused him of being the mouthpiece of the opponents to the Bill and endeavouring to throw every obstacle in the way of the Bill. He denied that he had ever thrown any obstacle in its way. Messrs KELLY and BONAR fully en- | dorsed the statement of the Colonial | Secretary that he had done hia best to pass the Bill. Sir G. S. WHITMORE said that nothing j any paper could s*y with respect to the ] Colonial Secretary could lower him in the estimation of the Council. Dr. C-RACE said that the backbone of the Bill had been the three-fifths majority. This being lost, the Bill was virtually lost. The Colonial Secretary had done his best, however, to retain not only the clause he referred to, but also all tbe other provisions of the Bill as they came from the • House. Mr BOLT said that he regretted the obloquy which had been thrown upon t.i ■ temperance party by certain members oi the Council, who had designated them as fanatics, &c. Mr KERR bore testimony to the.sincerity of the Colonial Secretary in his endeavour to rass the BilL The motion for the third reading was intercepted by a motion for the recommittal of the Bill for the purpose of considering new clauses and amendments. Mr RIGG moved a clause, its effect being that half of the electors jon the roll in any district must record their votes in order to make a poll valid. Agreed to by 16 to 13. Several technical amendments were made in the clause relating to Bellamy's on the motion of the Hon. E. C. J. STEVENS, and the Bill was reported with leave to sit again. SKA FISHERIES. The Sea Fisheries Act Amendment Bill passed its final stages. LAND AND INCOME TAX. The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of the Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill. Mr STEVENS said that the Bill was an improvement upon the existing Act, but there were matters which required clearing up. Clause 10 was of a retrospective The COLONIAL SECRETARY replying, said that the majority of the amounts of taxation had already been collected. He moved that the Bill should be committed. Mr STEVENS inquired if the Council had power to amend the Bill, for instance, clause 10. The SPEAKER said that he would give his ruling next day. The Bill was committed and reported without amendments. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS. The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of the Land for Settlements Act Amendment BilL Mr STEVENS intended to give the Bill 1 a fair chance, although he did not think that the scheme would prove successful. He thought that the present Board, on the whole, was a good one, but he failed to see why the District L*ni Registrar should be added to the Board. With regard to the question of the closing of roads, he did not think that the clause had received the ! attention which such a very important matter demanded. Mr WALS.EK failed to see that the proposed addition to the Board would have the effect of improving existing matters. He would almost prefer that one individual should be endowed with the power of either the present or proposed Board. He did not think that clause 11 would be likely to prove as dangerous aa was apprehended by Mr Steven*. The second reading was cirried, STOCK. lbs COLONIAL SECRETARY raovdd

the second reading of the Stook Act Amend* ment Bill. The dinner adjournment interrupted the debate. eveningTsitting. The Council resumed at 7.30. STOCK BILL. The second reading of tha Stock Act Amendment Bill was agreed to. IMPREST. The Imprest Supply Bill No. 4 was received from the House aud passed all its stages. water s_t_*ly. The COLONIAL SEURKTARY moved the second readiugof the Waler Supply Act Amendment Bill. Carried. COMPANIES' deposits. The COLONIAL-SECRKIARY moved the second reading of the Companies' Deposits Amendment Bill. __fter a short discussion the motion was agreed to. TKAOITERS' COURT 01* APPEAL. Mr MONTGOMERY moved tho second reading of the Public School Teachers' Incorpoiation and Court of Appeal Bill. After considerable discussion the second reading was agreed to. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE. Mr MONTGOMERY moved the second leading of the Ratiug on Unimproved Value Bill. Mr BOWEN was scarcely satisfied with the Bill, nor did he think the opinion of the Council had altered since the Bill came up last year. He desired to know what unimproved land was. Mr MONTGOMERY—"Prairie land." Mr BOWEN said that was an indefinite term. It would be extreme injustice to tax a man who built a cottage because he erected it alongside a palace. So with respect to a tax ou rural lands, the rating of whioh under the Bill would prove injurious to the masses. He moved —" That the Bill be read a second time that day six months." Mr PHARAZYN warmly supported the amendment. Mr McOULLOUGH moved the adjourn-" ment of the debate, which was agree! to. The Council, at 9.45, adjourned till next day.