Parliamentary.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 101, 23 October 1894, Page 2

Parliamentary.

♦ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, October 22. The Council resumed at 280 p.m Thfl Government Life Insurance Act Amendment Bill and Bailwa\i Authotisa. tion Bill were read a second time, passed through Committee and then put through their final stages. On the motion for the second reading of the Banking Bill, Hon Dr Grace criticised the clause dealing with amalgamation, and said it was an admission on the part of the Government of want of confidence in its own officer. The inolusion of this clause he considered was the effect of harassing questions put to Government by members of the House. He thought amalgamation would tend to make the Bank of New Zealand a perfectly secure corporation, and one which would be bound to do good business. Hon McGregor thought clause 2, relating to the bank note issue, should be restricted to the Bank of New Zealand. The second reading was carried on the voices, •.•• In Coinrnitte, Hon. McGregor moved a new clause providing that the Bill should only apply to the Bank of New Zealand. This was negatived on the voioes with out much debate, and the Bill having been reported without amendment, was read a third time and passed. The Unclaimed Land Bill, and Land and Income Assessment Acts Amendment Bill passed their final stages On the motion of the second reading of the County Vehicles Licensing Bill, the Hon Mr Richardson moved an amendment that the Bill be read a second time three month** hence. After • short debate Mr Riohardson's amendment was carried by 17 to 11 and the Bill thus thrown out at 9.80 p.m. The Council adjourned till next day at 11 a.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, October 22. The House met a 2 80. Captain Russell continued his remarks on the Pompbaka purchase. He strongly condemned the whole transaction, and laid stress on the fact that there were 1 circumstances connected -with it that should undoubtedly be cleared up by the Minister of Lands. Mr Thompson said, as Chairman of the Committee, that every facility had beengiyento Mr Scobie Mackenzie to prove his charges, but he had failed to do so, the Committee being unanimous in acquitting the Minister of Lands of i any blame in the matter. Messrs Collins, Fraser, Button, Hall and Carncross also spoke, after which Mr Bell's amendment disagreeing with the report was put and lost by 41 to 15. TheHon Mr McKenzie replied. He' spoke in refutation of the various charges niade by the Opposition in connection I with the purchase, and said if he bad not asked for an inquiry he would have been accused of cowardice. Time would i show whether the Pomahaka estate had been purchased at too high a price, but he pointed out that he himself had noth- : ing to do with fixing the price. That was • done by the Land Purchase Board. The motion for the adoption of the report and its inclusion in she journals of the House was then put and carried i on the voices. The Mining Act 1891 Amendment Bill Mining Districts Land Occupation Bill, ; Land Drainage Act Amendment Bill, Kirikiri Native Scheme Site Bill, and Indictable Offence Summary Jurisdiction Bill passed through Committee with slight amendments and were subseI quently read a third time and passed. The House went into Committee o! Supply, and the remainder of thePublio Works Estimates were passed. The Supplementary Estimates were also passed without alteration. i The House adjourned at 2.30 a.m.