HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 51, 28 August 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. Replying to questions, it was stated : That the Justice Department had not received any representations either from the occupants of the Supreme Court Bench or from the legal profession that the vacancy on the Bench caused by the deatli of Judge Richmond was causing any inconvenience to the business of the Court.— That the Fair Kent Bill would be circulated very shortly. It was now in print and ready for the consideration of the Cabinet. — That it was impossible to say at present what action Government would take in regard to assisting settlers who had lost their stock by the recent heavy snowstorms hi the South Island. The matter was under the consideration of the Government, and the Government and the Minister of Lands kopes to give a reply shortly. — That Government could not agree to prevent shipments of sheep and cattle from the North Island to the South Island owing to the prevalence of anthrax in the North Island, but every precaution would be taken to prevent the spread of the disease. The Fencing Bill was committed. Clause 24, relating to giving gates across roads, caused a long discussion. Mr Montgomery rnoA'ed to strike out a portion of the clause winch imposed a penalty uot exceeding £.0 on every person who damages or leaves open any swing gate on road, bridge, or any rabbit-proof fence, or who, after passing through such gate, does not close it. The Hon. Mr McKenzie oj)posed the amendment, which was eventuall} 7 lost on the voices. On resuming at 7.80, the Fencing Bill was further considered in committee, and a new clause was inserted making the Bill apply to Native lands. — Head a third time and passed. Hon. Cadm an moved the second reading of the Betterments Bill, to impose on lauds traversed b}' railways constructed at the public expense a tax in aid of such construction. He said the Bill gave effect to the theory that the unearned increment on laud should go to the State. The Bill, however, proposed that only half the increase should go to the State. It would only apply to railways made in future. — The debate was adjourned. The Land Bill was put through its final stages, and the House rose at 11 a.m.