REJECTION OF SHOPS AND SHOP ASSISTANTS BILL.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 76, 27 September 1893, Page 2

REJECTION OF SHOPS AND SHOP ASSISTANTS BILL.

THE RAILWAY BILL KILLED. INDIGNATION OF THE ATTORNEYGENERAL. Legislative Council. (per press association). Wellington, September 26. The Council met at 2.30. The Land Act Amendment Bill and Tairua Land Bill were read a second time. On the motion for the second reading of the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill, Sir George Whitmore moved as an amendment the Bill be read a second time that day three months. The amendment was carried by 25 to 11, the Bill thus being killed. The Railways Act Amendment Bill was consdered in committee. In clause 2, an amendment moved by Mr Stewart, was carried by 20 to 15, providing that the present Commissioners shall be re-appointed for one year. The Attorney-General said this was a question of too great importance to take his own responsibility upon, and he therefore moved to report progress to enable him to consult his colleagues. Mr Stewart objected to this, as he wished the words of his amendment to be inserted in place of the words struck ont. The motion to report progress was lost by 18 to 15. The Attorney-General said this was the first time a responsible Minister of the Crown had been deliberately insulted as had happened to-day. He had been refused permission to consult his colleagues upon a question of vital importance to the country, and he wished to emphatically enter his protest against such a course of action. Progress was then reported on the Bill to enable the Attorney-General to consult his colleagues. In committee on the Industrial, Conciliation, and Arbitration Bill, the words •' and arbitration " were struck out of the title of the Bill. The Conciliation Bill was further amended by the excision from the interpretation clause of all reference to courts of arbitration. Progress was then reported. The Attorney-General gave notice to move that a call of the Council be made on Tuesday next, 3rd October. The Christchurch Hospital Act Amendment Bill was put through its final stages. The Newmarket Hall Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Council rose at 9.50.

House of Representatives. The House met at 2.30. The motion by Mr Taylor for the introduction of the Elective Governor Bill was lost by 35 to 27. The Land for Settlement Act Amendment Bill was put through its final stages, a motion by Sir Robert Stout for recommittal of the measure being lost by 30 to 21. On the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply, Mr Mitchelson opened the debate on the Public Works Statement, contending that many of the votes had been placed on these estimates for the purpose of influencing the elections. He quoted extensively from figures to show that although the Premier took credit for constructing the public -works for the last three years out of revenue, the works had really been constructed out of loan money. It appeared to him that the statement had been framed with the sole object of deceiving the public, and large sums had been spent on unnecessary works, which were mainly started for the purpose of employing a large bod^ of men in view of the general elections. Dr. Newman said they found all through the statement that the Premier was borrowing in every direction. Messrs Harkness, Rhodes, Duthie, Bobt. Thompson, McLean, McGowan, Buchanan, Moore, and G. M. Smith also spoke. Sir John Hall said last year's Public Works Statement was misleading, in as much aB a mistake had occurred in the figures, but this year's document was deliberately misleading. Since the present Government took office there had been an increase every year of expenditure on public works. In the course of his reply Mr Seddon declared that from the present prospects there was no necessity for any borrowing, and he could assure hon. members there was no cause for anxiety. The House then went into Committee of Supply for the consideration of the Public Works Estimates the votes on wbich were agreed to, without alteration, after very little discussion. The House rose at 3.35 a.m.