HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 22, 25 July 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated, That Government desired to rigorously enforce the licensing laws, but saw no necessity for altering the police management, — That the sum of £150,000 had been received from the Bank of New Zea'aud under the New Zealand Consols Act ; the currency of the depasits was Ist February, 1910, and the rate of interest to be paid was 3-i per cent. PALMERSTON PETITIONS. Mr Pi rani presented a petition from Mr Blaramberg claiming £5000 compensation for damage sustained by him through the action of the Wanganui Education Board, and one from John Carmody, claiming balance of contract monies due on the Turangarere road. LOCAL BODY ADVERTISING. In answer to Mr Harris, the Premier said consideration would be given in the new Lo^al Government Bill to curtailment of advertising statutory notices. OLD AGE PENSIONS. Replying to Mr G. W. Russell, the Premier said he did not expect to deal with the old age pension question this session, although every information in relation to the matter was being obtained, RETURNS. Tlie House agreed to motions tor returns of the amounts paid for advertising by Government last year and for the number of boys escaped from Burnham Industrial School last year. DIVORCE BILL. In the evening the second reading of the Divorce Bill was moved by Mr Collins, placing women on the same footing as men. The second reading was carried. REJECTED. The Municipal Franchise Enlargement Bill, giving tenants a vote in municipal affairs, was rejected by 33 to 28. UNCLAIMED MONIES DILL Mr Joyce moved the second reading of the Unclaimed Moneys Bill to jtovide for giving publicity to information relating to unclaimed funds, and for other purposes. The Hon Mr Ward congratulated Mr Joyce on producing such a valuable Bill. It seemed to him that moneys of this kind, not being claimed by the original owners, had a right to revert to the State. The motion was agreed to on the voices. SLANDER 01' WOMKN BILL. Mr Newman moved the second reading of the Slander of Women Bill, which, made it legal for any woman to obtain damages for slander even if special damage shall not be shown. — Agreed to. DEFAMATORY BILL. Sir R. Stout moved the second reading of the Defamatory Bill, to declare to amend the law relating to defamation. He said the Bill practically put in plain form what the law of libel should be, and what was fair comment on public matters. The motion was agread to on the voices without debate. REVALUATION BILL. Mr G. W. Russell moved the second reading of the Periodical Revaluation of Lands Leased in Perpetuity Bill. Ho said the Bill was not intended to be retrospective only. The principle he contended for was that these leases should be from time subject to revaluation, and if this were given effect to it would entirely remove all speculation in connection with the landed estate of the colony. The Hon. Mr McKenzie regretted that he could nut support the Bill. Mr Russell could not effect his object by this Bill, and he asked whether any man would purchase land which could be revalued in ten years. Sir R. Stout said if the Government believed in a Fair Rent Bill they | should not object to this Bill. The Premier said if the House passed this Bill, they would force lessees to borrow money to buy for cash, and to put them into the hands of the money-lenders. Several othor members having spoken the debate on the second reading of Mr Russell's Periodical Revaluation of Lands Leased in Perpetuity Bill was adjourned till next day. The House rose at 1.15 a.m.