THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3933, 2 October 1875, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegraph ] _ „ Wellihgton, October 2. In tiie House oi Representatives, at 2 30 yes* ter day. George Grey presented a petition from Messrs Reid and Brett, of the Auckland Evening fetar ’ complaining of the charges made for Press telegrams for evening papers, and praying for relief. The Speaker said that the petition, being printed, could not be received. Sir George Grey then asked leave to lay it on the tabic. Permission was granted, and the petition was bud on the table, Mr J. 0. Brown asked lire Government if they will obtain the opinion of the Solicitor* (■•enerd ns to whether the rules and regulations of the Waipori Drainage Channel, laid upon the table on the 3'Jth September, 1875, arc not I'ftra vires also, if they will lay such opinion up >:i the table at the earliest opportunity. ( Mr oichardsnu said the Government would my th.o niles and regulations before the Solicitor-* leneral, and would take whatever action he advised in the matter. Bills passed : Railways Bill, Neglected and Ciimiual Children Act Amendment Bill, Friendly Societies --let A mendment Bill, Evidence hj urther Amendment Bill. Second readings : Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill, Riddell Band Grant Bill. J ho following Bills were introduced and road a It*.st time : —Cutram Telegraph. Station Reserves Bill (Reynolds), Dunedin Corporation Borrowing Bill (Byke), New Zealand UniverMty Reserves Bill (Bowen), Wellington Reclamation Ban ! Act (Richardsonl, anti Bodmers Enfranchisement 1 .ill (Wakefield). ° Upon the committal cf Evidence Further Amendment Bill, Mr Curl is moved the introduction of a clause to enable a judme in criminal cases to ask questions under certain restrictions. Ihe lion, gentl men spoke at cousidecable length to show the advantages of such a clause in furthering the ends of Justice. Mr Bowen did not feel justified in eanctionmg the intisulu Aim; of something; so radmallv opposed to the principle w f the Law of Evidence without c Middling the judges and high law ofii ;ors, and at his request the clause was withdrawn. the adjourned debate on the Debtors and ( rediiois Till was resumed by Mr Hunter, who hoped the House would go into Committee on the Bill, so as to make it as perfect as could be. It would bo impossible to frame any perfect ineavnro on that question in one attempt. Mr (bulls opposed the commital of the <nll, as he objected to the whole of its principles. Mr Swanson thought that the best law that could be introduced would be one simply repealing the Insolvency Act and nothing' else. Ho strongly supported the clause making all acquired property liable for debts previously contracted. They ought to be made to pay their debts whenever they were able. As for protection against the vindm..ive creditor, that was a character he rarely saw in real li e. As a rule, creditors were rather inclined to bo hm.nnt. Mr Wakifield thought tha Bill was for creditors alone, as it was oppressive to debtors. It made no dist Inchon between the different grad",s of debtors —guilty and immcenc were all treated alike. Mr Sheehan said that, after careful consideration, lie doubted the advisability of proceeding further with tha Bid this session. The suuject was new, anil they had bolter leave it for the new Pari ament to deal with. The Bill perpetrated a grievous injustice upon the honest aa k up. as vompaied wi'.h the fraudulent bankrupt. The Bill ought to be s lit before the general public, as well as before the Chambers of ('cm me:c-. Makii.g after-acquired property liable was a most retrograde step. Mr Bowen said there was a good deal of misconception regarding the Act. When considering the question of bankruptcy, it was asked how the case would stand if the bankruptcy law were done away with. Then immediately cropped up the que-tam of how to deal with fraudul nt hanktupfs. As the present law was based upon a great many wrong principles, the object was, in i itrodueing that Act,to establish the law upon a frcsii basis altogether. At present a fraudulent! -inclined tradesman haa an immense power over his creditors by the facility with wlii di he e uihl s-..c k the aid of the Insolvency. Court and become whitewashed. Me could hold that over his creditors’ heads like a weapon. The hon. gentleman defended die provisions of the Bill at considerab c Re}. r ; dng to after-acquired property ■)eing liable, he saul that after most careful inquiry lie could not find an instance of the abuse of that prim lego. 1!« had no particular desire to force the Bill upon them without any alteration, but he considered it would be very odd if amongst so ninny business men they could not make the Bill a good measure while in Committee.

A division was called for by Mr Murray, which resulted in the Bill being ordered to be committed by HI to 23. In Committee, Mr Tyke divided the House on clause *2, which he proposed to amend by making the Act come into operation in IS". 1 ). The amendment was rejected by 33 to 28. The Bill progressed as far as clause 2G, which was postponed. Clause 20 was also postponed.

The House rose at 5 30 p m, On reassembling at 7 30 p.m., I’rogre s was reported on the DebtoiS and Creditors Bill. The Stamp Duties Bill was advanced os far as clause 107, aim the following cl ;uses were postponed:—From 50 to 53 inclusive, which relate io the stamping of appointments; and danse fid, relating to bills of lading. Clause 80, relating to the stamping of mortgages, w ■ stiuck out. Considerable opposition was raised 1© clause 03, dealing with policies of sea as -.urnner, and if it was postponed the Government promised, in the meantime lo obtain all possible information as to the amount of revenue derived from this source, and sating that if they found the tax to be harassing, and that it only realised a trifling amount, they would strike i: out. 'lhcy, however, declined to strike out that and all other clauses bearing upon the matter until that information Lad been obtained. The Bills of Bales Bill passed,

On' th# motion of Mr Reid, tha consideration of the amendments made by the Legislative Counoil in the Otugo Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill was postponed till Tuesday i ext. Air Bowen moved the second reading of tin Representation Bill in a comparativ ,-Iy brief speech, the burden of which was that the Government did not think it advisable a’ present to deal with any glaring inequalitio. in the representation of tiro Co'ony, feeling that they could not well deal with the whole question of vommntat on until the Ookny had been laid out in shires. To attempt to deal with the question now would seriously retard the next elections. The Government, however, would be prepared to consider in Committee any suggestion from members to improve the Bib, and members were uquested to give oarly notice of any suggestions i« that direction.

Mr George Civy took great objection to the Bill as being most unfairly drawn up. Ins tea ■ of attempting to g.vo representation according to population, it was not o ly perpetuating old v.-andir-g injustices, but absolutely increasing 1 bcm. Ho objected to Hawke’s Buy and Tirnaru getting increased representation, and Taranaki being rdlowed to retain Its three members, and attributed tire latter solely to that Province being well represented o.r the Government benches. Mr Cuthbertaon moved the adjournment of the - fcbate and the House went into Supply upon too Estimates. Class 6, dealing with Native appropriation, l ?. After considerable discussion, all the items under this head we-i o popsc-d without reduction or alteration. The House ad journed at 12 MO a.in.