GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 968, 2 August 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[by TELEGRAPH. PER PRESS AGENCY.] LEGISLATIVE COUNGTL. Wednesday, August 1. PROTECTION OF ANIMALS. Dr. Pollen, in reply to Col. Whitmore, said the Government would he prepared this session to introduce a Bill to amend the Protection of Animals Act, 1873. MISDEMEANOURS. Dr. Pollen introduced a Bill to alter the law relating to the apprehension and arrest of persons for misdemeanour and other offences. BILLS COMMITTED. The Friendly Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies Bills passed through Committee, and the Council then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, August 1. The House met at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS. Several petitions were presented. One from a Canterbury settler for compensation for a field of wheat fired and destroyed by a spark from a railway engine ; one from Rangitikei settlers, praying that the Education Bill may provide for daily Bible reading in schools. PRESS TELEGRAMS. Mr Rees gave notice to ask by whose authority the telegraph officials alter or amend press telegrams without the consent of the senders. MKIJICAI, I 'RAC'TIT I ONERS. Mr Hamlin asked if the Government intended bringing in an Act to amend the Medical Practitioners Registration Act, 1869. Mr Whitaker said they had no such intention. WAIKOUAITI COUNTY COUNCIL. In reply to Mr Delatour, Mr Reid said the Government had never used any threat, direct or indirect, to the County Council of Waikouaiti to force them to gazette the main arterial road as a county road. SCHOOL SAVINGS BANKS. Mr Stout asked what steps have been or arc intended to be taken for establishing savings banks in public schools. Mr McLean said the matter rested entirely in the hands of the Education Boards. If they decided to establish these batiks, the Government woidd render them any assistance they could. COLONIAL STOCK. In reply to Mr Seymour, the Premier said Government had received no reports from Australian colonies of the condition of stock in their respective districts. The only document received was from Victoria last Juno twelve months, stating that Victoria was free from scab THE “ WAKA MAORI.” In reply to Mr Rees, Mr Whitaker said the libel case Russell v “ Waka Maori ” was practica i'y against the Government, but that in all probability the plaintiff would have to pay l lie costs. As to the printing of the “ Waka Maori,” a special arrangement had been made for it, particulars of which would be laid before tho House. Sir G, Geey raised ac-question of point of

order, inasmuch as the Attorney-General had made a reply, regarding which no question had been put, and a remark which was calculated to influence the jury. The Speaker said it would have been better had the remark not been made. OFFICES AT DUNEDIN. In reply to Mr Macandrew, the Government were understood to say that they were about getting more suitable offices for the Dunedin Registrar of Births, &c. THE LICENSING- BILL. Mr Fox’s Bill to amend the licensing law was read a first time, and the seconding reading was fixed for Wednesday next. LIMITATION OF SPEECHES. Mr Curtis moved—“ That the Standing Orders be amended so as to provide that no member shall address the House for more than twenty minutes consecutively, unless by leave of the House.” The exact scope of the motion was this—not that any member who exceeded the time mentioned should be stopped at the moment, but merely that it should be in the power of the House to prevent the continuance of a speaker after the Speaker’s attention had been called to the fact. He would prefer such a remedy for tedious prolixity, instead of the system of clamor by which obnoxious speakers were silenced in the House of Commons. Ho was not wedded to twenty minutes, and would be willing to accept amendments as to time ; but. something like a reasonable limit should be fixed. Mr Stout moved that the words “ unless by leave of the House” be left out. He did this to prevent the majority controlling the power of talking of the minority. Mr Gisborne considered the motion should be rejected in any shape, as being quite unconstitutional. Dr. Wallis, while disapproving of the long-winded oratory, doubted whether such a motion could be carried into effect in any legislature of the world. One bad effect of it would be to throw power into the hands of any party w r hich wielded a majority. He originally thought the proposal merely a joke. Mr Reader 'Wood expressed his astonishment that the Government did not lead the House in a matter like this, which affected the privileges of the House. Indeed, it seemed to him that the Government was favorable to the motion. Last night it took flic Premier an hour and a half to deliver his Financial Statement, and yet they were to be limited to twenty minutes to criticise. In that case the criticism would not be very exhaustive. It was better to reject the motion altogether. Mr Curtis objected to the amendment, and announced that ho would divide the House upon it. Mr Montgomery deprecated the silence of the Government upon the occasion. He would oppose the amendment and resolution. Mr Rees was in favor of accepting the resolution if amended so as to make the limit imperative and irrevocable, and apply to all alike. The Premier said Government declined to treat the matter as a party question, and, if it came to a vote, they would be found going into both lobbies. They also took no stand on the matter, because they thought the House ought to be allowed to regulate its own privileges. Mr Swanson said if the House accepted the motion they ought to allow members to prepare written speeches and read them. A division was taken on Mr Stout’s amendment, which was carried by 52 against 16. Mr Whitaker then moved the following words be added, “And that the Standing Orders Committee be instructed to frame a Standing Order to give effect to this resolution.” This was negatived on the voices. The amended resolution was then negatived. THE FINANCIAL YEAR. Mr Murray moved that it be an instruction to the Public Accounts Committee to report within a month whether it would be advantageous to change the financial year so that it should terminate on 31st March, or some date earlier than 30th June. The Premier said the Government had no particular objection, but he failed to see why it should be submitted to the Public Accounts Committee. Mr Montgomery was in favor of the resolution, as it would enable members to come earlier, which w r ould be a great convenience to many of them. The motion was agreed to. BEET SUGAR FACTORIES. Mr McFarlane moved—That the House affirm the desirability of encouraging the establishment of Beet Sugar Factories, and , give an assurance that no excise or other duty would be levied; on beet sugar manufactured in the colony for a period of ten years.” The Premier said, while they desired to encourage enterprise all they could, they were aware that it was highly necessary they should be cautious in what they did in giving assurances of the kind asked, so as not to make themselves liable for claims of compensation as had happened sometimes in cases of this kind. He hoped the mover would give them more information on the point, and explain the nature of the assurance he sought. Mr Macandrew suggested that the motion be amended, by which the Government should be asked to place a sum on the estimates by way of a bonus for encouraging beet sugar Mr Russell asked what was the use of placing a sum upon the estimates when the vote would lapse next year, and boot sugar could not bo produced in any quantity under four years. Mr Gisborne said the motion asked Government to do what was unconstitutional, and hoped it would be withdrawn. Mr Travers referred the House to an elaborate paper on the manufacture of beetsugar by Sir Julius Yogcl in 1876, and quoted from that paper to show that beet sugar could not be produced in the colony under £7 or £8 more per ton than the imported article cost. A perusal of that paper would convince anyone that it would not bo wise to interfere in the direction of the motion. They should recollect their experience in distilleries. Mr Joyce was in favor of the resolution. He did not believe in bonuses. Protection, it should be remembered, gave the world beet root sugar. He looked upon the stoppage ol disl illerics as a great mistake. Mr Murray took a similar view. Mr Swanson moved an amendment that, after the word “that,” the following words br' inserted: —“That the question of encouraging the manufacture of beet root sugar be referred to a Select Committee, consisting of seven members.” This amendment was agreed to, Mr MacFariane accepting it. .M r Macandrew’s amendment was negatived on the voices.

THE HINEHOA. A return was ordered of the contract price

for building the Hincmoa, the amount for extras in Britain, her total cost on arrival ut Wellington, and if insured. NATIVE LANDS. Mr Travels moved for a return of eases upon -which the Native Lands Court had adjudicated during the past year in each provincial district of the North Island, showing separately lands purchased by the Government under the Public Worbs Acts 1870 and 1873, lands purchased by private individuals, and land retained by the Natives. Mr Ormond would give the return as far as could be got, but they could not tell as to private individuals or the quantity retained by Natives. AUCKLAND RAILWAY STATION. Mr Reader Wood moved—“ That in the opinion of this House, the Auckland Railway Station should be removed to a site alongside Queen street wharf, as recommended by the Auckland Railway Commissioners.” He argued to show that the work was really of a colonial character ; that it was a gross engineering blunder in the first instance that the railway station was not put alongside Q.ucen street wharf; and that the alteration he proposed would be profitable. This station would be made the terminus of the Kaipara and the extension of the Auckland and Mercer railway to Waikato. The probable cost would not be more than £IO,OOO or £12,000, and they would gain a large quantity of land by the reclamation which flic works necessitated. The land reclaimed would more than pay for the work, and, if Government would not do it, if they would allow a private company to carry out the work he would be satisfied. Considering the amounts Government were spending upon other railways, what he asked for was a mere nothing. He was at a loss to undersf and why Government so consistently opposed this alteration. The debate was adjourned till to-morrow. The House rose at 5.30 p.m.