PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 28, 2 August 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

Legislative Council, (PKB PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, August 1. The Council met at 2.30. The New Zealand Institute of Journalists Bill was put through its final stages. The Magistrates Court Bill was partly considered in committee. House of Representatives. The House met at 2.30. Mr O'Connor gave notice to introduce the " Referendum Bill. The Wm. Robinson Estate Trust Bill, which vests the estate of the late Hon. W. Robinson in separate trustees, instead of one trustee, was read a second time. Replying to Mr Guinness, Mr Seddon said Government was awaiting the opinion of experts on the condition of the Brunnerton coal mines before taking any action in the matter. Considerable discussion ensued, but the Premier said no good would result therefrom until Government had more information on the subject. Replying to Mr C. H. Mills, Mr Ward said a bill would be brought down in a few days to amend the Public Trust Office Act so that the Public Trustee will be empowered to pay the right owner any small sum of money standing to his credit without the claimant having first to obtain an order of the Supreme Court. After further debate the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act was read a second time and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. Mr Carroll moved the second reading of the Native Trust and Claims Definition and Registration Bill, to define and give effect to certain Native trusts and claims. The motion was agreed to after a short debate and the measure referred to the Native Affairs Committee. On the motion for the Committal of the Cheviot County Bill, Mr Rhodes presented a petition from several people, who wished to be cut out of the County, and he asked the Minister to postpone further consideration of the Bill for a few days ; but the Hon. Mr McKenzie could not see his way to do this. After a short discussion, the House went into committee on the Bill, which passed without amendment and was put through its final stages. Mr Seddon moved the second rsading of the North of Auckland Counties Vehicle Licensing Bill to extend the powers of County Councils in the northern part of the North Island so as to enable them to raise funds necessary to defray cost of maintenance and repair of County roads. He explained that the Bill simply provided that all vehicles should bo taxed by Northern County Councils for maintenance of the 1 County roads. In the course of the debate which followed, several members expressed the opinion that the principle contained in this measure should be applied to the whole colony and not to one particular district. The members representing the districts interested pointed out that the traffic on the roads on the north was of an exceptional heavy character and the roads could not be maintained on local revenue. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Submarine Telegraph Cables Protection Bill for the protection of 'submarine telegraph cables, lying in, or in the vicinity of Lyell's Bay, in Cook Strait. He pointed out that as there were £40,000 worth of property represented in the cables, the Bill simply provided that any damage happening to those cables by the discharge of sewage should be made good by the Wellington corporation. Messrs Duthie, McLean, Wright and W. Hutchinson, urged that the Bill should be dropped. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. Mr Ward's Conservation of Rights Bill went through Committee without amendment and was read a third time and passed. The second reading of the Imprisonment lor Debt Abolition Bill was carried on division by 27 to 24 after a short debate. The Electoral Bill was further considered in committee. In clause 7 dealing with the qualifications of Maoris to vote Mr Shera moved an amendment the effect of which would place the Maories on the same electoral footing as Europeans. The Premier opposed the amendment which, after a debate lasting upwards of 2 hours, was rejected by 35 to 11. Progress was reported on clause 10. The House rose at 12.30.