LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 85, 4 October 1894, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

|Per Press Association! Wellington, October 3. The Council met at 2.30. The Rating Bill and Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Bill were put through their final stages. The Council decided, by 19 to 14, to insist on its amendments in the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill, and the Hons. Bowen, Bonar, and Reynolds were appointed managers to meet the managers from the other House. The Hon. Sir Patrick Buckley moved the second reading of the Government Advances to Settlers Bill, but the debate was adjourned till next day. The debate upon the second reading of the New Zealand Consuls Bill, to which the Hon. Mr Bowen on the previous day had moved an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months, was resumed by the Hon. Mr McLean. He said the present money panic all over the world was due to general distrust. He was convinced that Government were making a great mistake in their endeavor to withdraw money from circulation which should be devoted to developing the resources of the country. The Hon. Mr Kelly, in supporting I the Bill, denied that it was a policy ! measure. The Hons. Messrs Oliver and Bonar opposed the Bill. The Hon. Mr Korr strongly supported the Bill, and said that if this and other policy bills were not agreed to pressure would be brought on the Council to pass them. Hon. Mr Whyte said it was absurd to suppose that small sums would be invested under this Bill. Hon. Mr Reynolds opposed the Bill on the ground that the country, at last elections had declared against borrowing. Hon. Sir P. Buckley said that after consultation with the Colonial Treasuror ho had been authorised to say the Treasurer would, by Governor's message, reduce the amount under the Bill to half a million extending over two years. Tho debate had been carried out with a stern determination to kill the Bill. He hopod tho compromise ho had made would be to the satisfaction of the Council. On division, the Hon Mr Bowen's amendment was rejected by 10 to 18, and the second reading carried on the voices. The Council rose at 0. p.m.