THE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1590, 6 November 1912, Page 8

THE COUNCIL.

NATIVE'LAND BILL.' Tho Legislative Council met at 11 . o'clock yesterday; morning.'The Native, Land 'Amendment Bill, was • considered in. 'bomniittoe.' : -'Sub-section 3' of Clause 7 'was amended, on the motion . of-the Hon. H. D. Bell to re:id.;is under: --"Tho provisions of . Section 209 of the principal Act, , w;ith .respect to the precedent consent of. Maori. Land; Boai'd to alienations'of Native land, and with respect to alienations inade in, pursuance of Biich consent, shall! bo allowed to extend and apply, and at all times to have ex•v. tended and applied; to alienations of undivided interests ,in : Native -land, and, to 1 alienations of ;part only of any; area of - Native land owned, by the samo owners, and shall be deemed at all times to have /.authorised tho granting' of two, or more' . , concurrent consents in "'.respect -'of differ-' ' ent alienations of the same load, and, the • granting, of any such consent on the application of any .one ov inore of the owners who arc parties to the proposed alienation, without the concurrence of tho other ■■ owners." The. Bill was reported with . amend- . meirts, aiid put through its, third • reading, and passed. -.' . FIRST READINGS. The' Public I'eserves v aiid, Domains Amendment Bill, • the Ellesmere Land Drainago- Amendment Bill, the Westport - Harbour Bill, the State I:'ire Insurance Bill, the Military Pensions Bill, the Gov- ' eminent Life Insurance' Amendment Bill were received from the House of Repre- ; ientatives and; read a first- time. . MILITARY PENSIONS. The second reading of the Military Pensions Bill was moved by ■ The Hon. H. D. BELL, who gave an' ' outline of its provisions on the lines already; given in the House of Represent,!-; tives, Tho cliarge upon tho-'country by ... its provisions was estimated to'-be .£25,000, of which <£10,000 would come hack because of the'old. "age:pensions. The Hon. O. SAMUEL said-lie was bitterly disappointed with this Bill! The only thing in its 'favour was'that it 'was fro'mowhat better than the old one. It ■ was, however, aii illiberal measure, .and did not do justice to the men whom it ' pretended to benefit. - 'Several other speakers expressed disappointnient with , tho measure,-but as it was not subject to amendment, the Bill was put through.all its:stages,and.passeu. NATIVE' FISHING RIGHTS. -. On the motion for the second reading of the Drainage 'Amend,'ment Bill, which provides for the drainage of a lagooii' and the vesting of its'bed. in the, E|lesuiere Drainage Board,' The Hon. 'I;.'J.'AI(:VT.V remarKed on tho necessity for ;<j6mponsalion .being provided for loss of Nativii fishing rights. In committee he moved a new clause,, providing thai, compensation ' might be pven either'in, money or : in lands from the area reclaimed. Mr. Parata argued that if- the ldtce dried up there was nothing ir; theXßill to give the Natives : power to go to;th.e Native Land Court for , compensation;,,-:,. ■ The lion. H: V. BELL remarked that the previous "speaker was quite wrong in ' saying that the; Natives had no provision for. compensation. Section 29 of the Land Drainage Act',.made tho necessary provi- ' feion. . On a division the clause was thrown out by 11 to 8. ' ,- The-Bill was. "-eported without amendment, and passed. STATE -FIRE INSURANCE. On the second reading of the State Fire Insurance Bill,: which provides for the wtablishmen&df a reserve fund, ? The Hon.:O;,.SAMUEL said, if the De-.| partment was.' niali;ing more income than yrae required,",'it'should be used foT Teduc- ' ing rates rather, than giving bonuses to insurers. , Tho Hon. J'.'EKJQ said :he had. been largely responsible for the ' introduction of the principle ,of giving insurer? bonuses and he defended the principle. It prevail- : . ed in life insurance and should also obtain ill the fire line. . .. The Hon. H. V. "WIGUAM showed the difference betwoen.firo and life insurance. 'I'lie fire risk a yeariy Wntract which ; was terminable on either side. • He did'not. believe in bonuses in such cases, but held that' the rates shonld be brought a a low nS T?e'Bill was put through Committee mtiiout amendment and passod,

' LIFE'INSURANCE. The Government Life Insurance Amend-: ment Bill lvas rend a-second time and put through its final' stages without amendment,and passed.' - • .. GOVERNMENT. RAILWAYS. •The following. amendment to the Government' Railways Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's. Message. "No' solicitor, counsel, or agent other .than a member of .the .Department or the secretary Of any. society of of the Department. recognised by. tho. Minister for tiie purpose of this scction shall appear (o be heard on any appeal; but the appellant; shall appear in person , or by another member or by the secretary of any such society authorised and..the Department shall appear by some inember appointed by the Minister in that behalf." :The clause was agreed to. : PUBLIC REVENUES BI.LL. > ■ Ail amendment introduced ,bv Governor's Message was made to the Public .Revenues Amendment Bill to.'provide tliat members 'of local bodies might present a sound defence to obligations for .surcharging, provided that the-'-money had been expended,' applied or liability incurred cither without their knowledge or ,against their protest .given ill writing/ , '• HAWKE'S BAY RjVERS. ',V The Council-agreed to'the.dmcndments made by the House of Representatives in the Hawke's Bay Rivers Bill. The Hon. J. Anstcy, who strenuously opposed tho Bill as it stood originally, stated that'the amendments'made the measure acceptable to all parties; OPUNAKE'HARBOUR BILL, The Opunake Harbour Amendment Bili was from the House of Eopresentatives, and read a first time. ... . RESERVES AND DOMAINS. A long discussion took' place on Clause 3 of. the'. -Public-- Reserves .arid: Domains Amendment Bill,- which clause: provided that'.a county council might provisionally acquire. land forVrecreation. pjii'poses... o.b--jectionrr.was. .taken ;to,. an .'amendment v'oiE the; Counties 1 .-Acfc being, made.in.- this.Bill. At- length the -Leader :of-.the Council mov-ed-that'the. clause in.qu6stion.\bo , ;deiett'd' I and replaced .by a clause, making' it- consisfent. .with the. Domains; Act,, and'.the Counties. Act.- ; '' - , The Bill was reported with the. above Amendment, and was subsequently, read it third time and passed. LAND AGENTS REGISTRATION. The. 'Land. Agents: Registration Bill was received' from the ,ilouse,,of Representatives- and reiid- a .first time, - yl'he. second reading was made ah. order of'the jay for to-day. ; ' BARMAIDS REGISTRATION. The-Barmaids Registration Bill was received from the House of-Representatives, and read a. first time. The' Hon. H. D. BELL, in moving the second reading, outlinod the Bill 011 the lines covered when the Bill was inti-jd iced in the House of Representatives. In committee on the. Bill the Hon. .0. Samuel-moved an amendment to the < fleet that barmaids who had been empbyci in a private bar for a continuous period of three months during- the past year be given the opportunity of registering. On a division. the amendment wis rejected by lit to 2, only the Hon. J. E. Jenlcinson voting with, the mover. . The Ijill was reported without amendment, and was put';... through its final stages and passed. The Council adjourned at 9.-15 p.m., and will sit again at 11.30 this morning.