GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1958, 3 June 1880, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PEE PBESS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WISE.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, June 2. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to the Hon. Captain Eraser, The Hon. E. Whitakee said that if contractors under the Otago Harbor Board took contracts believing that the Government would pay failing the Board doing so, they (the contractors) would make a mistake, and would learn a lesson. The Government were under no obligation to assist the Otago Harbor Board. On the motion of the Hon. Colonel Whitmoee, papers were ordered to be laid on the table re Major Kemp’s dismissal. On a motion for a return, the Hon. Captain Eeasee said that he hoped Dr. Skey would he appointed to supervise industrial schools. A number of sessional committees were appointed. The Hon. Captain Baillie was chosen Chairman of. Committees.

On the motion of the Hon. N. Wilson, a Committee was appointed to co-operate with the Committee of the Lower House, inquiring into the state of the bankruptcy law, to report within a month.

The following Bills being part of the result of the Revision of the Statutes Commission v> ere read by message from the Governor : Adulteration Bill, Aliens Bill, Cruelty to Animals Bill, Compensation for Accidents Bill, Animals Protection Bill, Building Societies’ Bill, Juries’ Bill, Marriage Bill, and Married Women’s Property Protection Bill. They are all consolidations of existing laws. The Hon. Dr. Grace moved the Address in Reply in a brief speech, in which he expressed the hope that all parties would do their utmost to help the colony out of its difficulties. The Hon. G. R. JOHNSON seconded the Address.

The Hon. Colonel Whitmore spoke at length on the Government policy, chiefly in its favor, especially as to Native matters. He highly eulogised Mr Bryce as the best Native Minister the colony had ever had. He criticised the Government’s finance, and said he would further their efforts to keep the colony out of its difficulties. Finance came before everything. Their house was on fire, which must be put out before abstract questions could bo discussed. He opposed the withdrawal of subsidies, but would raise halt the cost of education (in which there was gross extravagance, M.A.’s teaching boys the alphabet), by direct local taxation. The Hon. E. Whitaker briefly replied to Colonel Whitmore’s remarks, and the Address was curried. The following Bills were read a first time Wellington Racing Club ; Land Transfer Act Amendment; Cattle Trespass and Pound Management ; Fisheries Law Amendment; Dividing Fences Law Amendment; Compuleory Registration of Dogs; Branding and Brands Registration. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, June 2. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICES OF MOTION. Sir George Grey gave notice of motion for a reduction of the salaries of Ministers in New Zealand. Mr Gisborne gave notice of a question relative to the Agent-General’s recent contest for a seat in the Imperial Parliament. Mr Stewart gave notice to ask leave to introduce the Otago Harbor Board’s Empowering Act, 1880. Sir George Grey gave notice that he would move for a return of all correspondence relative to the discharge of the Maori prisoners at present confined in Dunedin gaol. The House adjourned for a few minutes, and, on resuming, The Speaker reported that the Address in Reply had been presented to the Governor. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Hirst for a period of one week. questions. Replying to Mr George, The Minister fob Public Wohks said that the Government had received a report from the officer in charge of the survey of the North Auckland railway in regard to the best route, and ho had instructions to make a fur- ) ther examination of the country, with a view to deciding upon the best route to be obtained. Replying to Mr Hamlin it was stated that the return ordered by the House on Oct. 22nd, 1870, of the amount of tolls levied at Newmarket and other places in the county of Eden since the abolition of the province of Auckland, would bo presented at an early date. In reply to Mr George, The Treasurer said that £20,000 odd of succession duty had been paid on the estate of the late Mr W. Rhodes, but that £IB,OOO had been refunded by order of the Supreme Court, leaving a balance retained of £2,000 odd. In reply to Mr Reid, The Minister fob Education said it was not intended to bring down an Education Act Amendment Bill during the present session. Replying to Mr Tamoana, The Native Minister said in regard to the reappointment of a doctor for Wairoa and the East Coast, that the medical gentleman had lately left, as the amount allowed

(£SO) was too small. If they could get another to take the same amoant the appointment would be made.

Replying to Mr Hursthouse, The Colonial Seoeetaet said the proclamations in force were sufficient for the purpose of preventing the spread of pleuropneumonia from the North to the South Islands.

Replying to Mr Pyke, Major Atkinson said that there was no objection to lay upon the table of the Houss copies of the several royal commissions issued during the recess which have not been gazetted. Dr. Wallis asked the Government to state the principle on which the Government advertisements are given to the papers of the colony. The Hon. J. Hall replied that a circular had been sent to heads of departments to distribute advertisements to all the leading papers, independent of any question of politics, and he had no reason to suppose that those instructions had not been strictly obeyed.

Replying to Dr. Wallis re the introduction in the course of the present session of Parliament of a Bill dealing with the question of the payment of members of the Legislature, The Hon. J. Hall said that a Bill of the kind was introduced last year, and from the reception it mot with the Government did not intend to re-introduce it this session. Sir G. Gbet asked tho Government if they proposed to sell the “ Hannah Mokau ” before the subsidy now duo is paid. The Hon. Mr Beycb replied that the Government did not admit that any subsidy wes due. The vessel had been mortgaged for £IOOO to the Government, and as they saw no probability of the services being performed by the vessel, tho Government had determined to recover the amount of the mortgage by whatever moans it could. Mr Johnston asked the Colonial Treasurer whether a larger public debt than £5,000,000 has resulted from the Loan of last year, and it so what was tho amount of public debt thence resulting, and when was it repayable. Major Atkinson said that the five million loan had been issued at 5 per cent., but the holders had tho option to convert the debentures to 4 per cent., £l2O being given for the £IOO debentures. At the latest date £1,160,000 had been converted. When all was converted the loan would represent a debt of six millions. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time Eire Brieades Bill, Napier Church Trusts Bill (Mr Russell), Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill (Hon. J. Hall), Drainage Bill (Mr Murray). OFFICIAL EETDENS. Sir G. Obey moved for copies of all correspondence and telegrams which have passed since the Ist day of October last between the Government or any of its officers with Messrs Sheehan and Whitaker, or either of them, or with any Judge or officer of the Native Land Court, or with any Land Board or member of Land Board, or with any surveyor relative to any lands, Native or Government, in the Patea district or in the neighbourhood or vicinity of that district. The motion was seconded by Mr Whitakee and agreed to. It was agreed on the motion of Mr MontGOMEEY, that a return bo laid before the House showing the cost of the construction of each section of the railways and of each branch railway mentioned on page 784 of the “ Gazette ” dated May 20th, 1880, together with the estimated value of the rolling stock in use on each section and each branch. SESSIONAL COMMITTEES. The following Sessional Committees were appointed after some discussion as to their composition :—Native, Goldfields Petitions, Library, House, Standing Orders, Classification <of Petitions, Reporting Debates, and Public Petitions. THE BANKEtrPTOY LAWS. The Hon. J. Hall moved the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into and report on the operation of the present bankruptcy law, and whether it requires any further, and if so what, amendment; or whether any, and if so what, other system would in the opinion of tho committee be more effective. Mr Db Lautohb said that he hoped tho committee would use sufficient despatch to enable its recommendations being embodied into law this session. It was notorious that our present bankruptcy law had been a failure, and there could be no doubt whatever but that its amendment was urgently demanded. The motion was put and carried. Hon. John Hall moved the second reading of tho Regulation of Elections Bill. He said it was in all respects the same as the Bill brought down last session. He explained its provisions, and, on the question being put, the motion was carried without further discussion.

At 4.40 the House adjourned till to-morrow.