THE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1555, 26 September 1912, Page 6

THE COUNCIL.

■ NEW BILLS FORESHADOWED. , /The LegiSTative Council met nt 2.30 yes- • (eft-lay afternoon. ' •'-■■ The Hon..H. D. BELL gave notice ", of .his'.intention to introduce, the Cemeteries ict Amendment Bill and the Divorce and .-Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill. , DUNEDIN DISTRICT DRAINAGE. The Hon. J. T. PAUL moved the second leading: of the Duncdin District -Drainage ■Sewerage Amendment Bill, W'hich. he said gave power to borrow an additional -£100,000/ part of. which was to be devoted to the extended drainage area. The Bill also provided machinery found necessary '.iniithe' praotical: operation of the Drainage Boards business. Tho Bill, said Mr. : Paul, found.no opposition from the local I bodies'in the district. The second reading was agreed to. . MOKAU HARBOUR BILL; The Hon. O. SAMUEL moved the second reading of tho Mokau Harbour Board Empowering Bill, which Bill m.-fices pro-vision-for tho borrowing of a sum of .£IOOO, for tho purpose of. rebuilding tho wharf at Mokau. : The second reading was agreed to after exception, had been taken to the iuclufiion qI the principle of plural tho Bill. , Tho Hon. Geo. Jones, who lodged - the objection,''said "it • had been ;laid down, that this plural voting was unjust and impolitic,; and should be aban- ■ donedV" ' .... " "■ ' ' ' " . The Hon. Mr. SAMUEL said ho did not know one case in which the principle of plural voting had been abandoned in local harbour Bills. Ho could quote ninny where it had not. THE AGED AND INFIRM; Tlie Aged aiitl Infirm Persons Protection' Hill: was recommitted, in order that two technical amendments might be made. The Bill was reported with the further amendments, and, with tho consent of the Council, was put through its final stages and passed. . Tho Hon. O. SAMUEL, took the opportfmity~6f congratulating the Leader ' ofthe Council on having passed the Bill thro'ugh Council. Many person's would bo - relieved of much distress and suffering as • a result of this Sill. ■ The Hon. I'. KELLY also congratulated the Leader of the Council on bringing in the Bill. He hoped that if (he Bill wcro proved to be a success, ,its provisions would apply also to • tho- Katiye population.! The Hon.; Sir W. J. STEWARD also added-his congratulations to the Govern'ment." I "'The'. Bill, lie said, was well conceived, and would form a valuable addi-tion-to tho-humanitarian legislation of Ne«r,.Zwiland. The Government was deserving of hearty congratulation for hav- ' ing so early in its career presented so valuable;.a measure. In! reply to a question, tho Hon. H. D. Boir.stated.'that "protected person" included Natives. In'replying generall} - , Mr. Bell express- ■ ed his indebtedness to the Statutes Revision Commmitf'Ce, and especially its cliairjnan.io'r 'tho, caro bestowed on tho Bill. BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION. ■Tn committee on the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment .Bill it decided -by a'mojority of five votes tTiat if, after 21 days after a conviction for nonregistration of the birth of a child, registration had not been effected, the magistrate might authorise some person to register 1 , the birth. The time provided in the Bill was previously If days. The new clauses and amendment drafted by the Statutes Revision C.ommitteej and already summarised, were agreed to, , and the Bill was reported, with amendments, j The Council adjourned at 5 p.m.