HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 57, 4 September 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

CONFERENCE OF BOTH BRANCHES of the LEGISLATURE. THE BANK BILL PASSED. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, Sept. 3. In the Honse this afternoon, Replying to questions it was stated that a Bill was being drafted to prevent the introduction of fruit diseases into the Colony. That lack of funds prevented Government satisfying all demands for land nnder the Improved Farm Settlement regulation. That new regulations were being framed in the direction of reducing the pay of the men of the Permanent Artillery. The House resumed at 8.45 p.m. Mr Ward brought up the report of the conference of managers from both Houses on the Bank Bill. Following is the report: —"As to clause 31, the managers of the Council and the House, being unable to agree as to the privilege claimed by the Honse, it was decided, considering the urgency of the Bill becoming law, to deal with the amendment on its merits. The amendment of the Council, increasing the joint salaries of members of the Realisation Board to .£ISOO, was accepted, the payment, however, being made subject to the approval of the Gaveruor-in-Council. It was stipulated that this proceeding was not to be drawn into a precedent or to be held to be a waiver of the privilege of the House. As to clause 37 it was decided that the proviso making the purchase of another banking institution subject to the vote oi Parliament, which had been struck out by the Council, should be restored. The proviso, however, was amended to provide that the resolution of disapproval must be brought down within ten days (instead of fourteen) after the contract is laid on the table, and both Houses were placed on the same footing in regard to the notice of motion being placed at the bead of the Order Pap*r. The House accepted the amendment of the Council in striking out clause 54, which made provision for the disposal of lands taken possession of by any Bank or mortgagee. The managers of the two Chambers unanimously agreed that this question should be dealt with in a separate Bill. Clause 56, prohibiting overdrafts to officers, which the Council had struck out, was reinstated with the addition of the following pro* viso :—" Provided nothing in this clause shall prevent the granting of an overdraft to any company to which any such director or member of either Board or any such officer may belong, and provided further this section shall not come into operation until the Ist of January, 1896." Mr Ward moved that the amendments be agreed to. Mr Seddon said those members who desired to speak on Friday night might now do so if they pleased. Mr R. Thompson said he did not like compromises as a rule, and he thought the privileges of the Honse should be maintained. Mr Ward said the privileges of the Honse had not been waived by the conference. Dr Newman expressed satisfaction that Parliament would have to ratify aoy proposal for amalgamation. Sir Robert Stout was glad that a com. promise had been arrived at, otherwise the Bill would have been blocked. He thought, however, that in clause 31, relating to salaries of members of the Realisation Board, that the House had surrendered its privileges. Mr McGowan protested against the striking out of clause 54, providing for disposal of lands taken possession of by any Bank as mortgagee. Mr Duthie regretted that the clause relating to prohibition of overdrafts to Bank officers was weakened. Mr Seddon was sure a feeling of relief must be experienced by every member of the House that at last there was an opportunity of this Bill being disposed of, and Government wonld be very glad to hear the Speaker declare the report of the conference agreed to. He had done his best on the Conference to uphold the privileges of the House, and he thought what had been lost was a mere iiothing. As to the salaries of the Realisation Board he said as the responsibility was now cast on Government they would not pay these officers more than they were worth. He thought the Bank of New Zealand under the present altered conditions wonld prosper and do a sound business. Owing to pressure of business the Bill to deal with lands held by a Bank as mortgagee could not be brought down this session. Parliament had risen to the occasion over this Bill, and he trusted the results would tie satisfactory to the colony. Mr W. Hutchison dissented from the report of the conference. He had always opposed the Bill, and felt that the House would that night do one of the worst pieces of work it had ever done. Mr Buddo supported the amendments made by the conference. Hone Heke made a final protest against the Bill. Mr T. McKenzie approved of the report of the conference. Long had he waited in vain to hear arguments to induce him to support the Bill. Messrs Graham, McGnire, Lang, G. J. Smith, Fraser, McLachlan, Pirani, Larnach, Duncan, Collins, G. W. Russell, and Ward, also spoke, but their remarks were a repetition of speeches made during the early stages of the Bill. On division the report of the Conference was agreed to by 34 to 11. At 240 a.m. the House rose till 7.30 p.m.