GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2568, 30 June 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[.PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, Jdnb 29, BILLS PASSED. The Imprest Supply Bill, No. 2, was read a second and third times and passed. The Lunatics Bill was read a second time, QUESTIONS. In reply to the Hon. Dr. Menziea, The Hon. Mr Whitakeb said the Government Intended to provide a standard valuation for rating purposes for all local bodies. THE SOUTHERN EXCURSION, It was agreed, on the motion of the Hon, Mr Whitaker, that tho Council should adjourn till Wednesday, on account of the Southern excursion. ACTING GOVERNOR. Sir G, Whitmore gave notice to ask on Wednesday whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the inadvisability of the dormant commission to act as Administrator of the Government during the absence of tho Governor devolving upon a momber of the Judicial Bench in the colony, and if so, whether the Government propose to initiate any action with a view to remedy this defect in the constitution. bills. The Companies Bill and the Fisheries Bill (statute revision) wore passed through committee, with numerous amendments. The Council rose at 4 15 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thuesday, June 29. Tho House met at 2 30. thoendon reclamation. Mr J. G. Wilson withdrew the Thorndon Reclamation Bill. The Hon. Mr Johnston announced that the Government would introduce a public Bill of a similar purport. UNION BANK BILL. On tho motion for tho consideration of the report on tho Union Bank of Australia, Limited, private Bill, Mr Bathgate objected, at considerable length, to these special Acts for foreign banks. Ho contended that the right to issue notes should only bo conferred on security in colonial debentures being lodged with the Colonial Treasurer, and the notes signed by a Government officer. In no other way could colonial creditors be properly protected. After some remarks from Mr Hutchison and Mr Montgomery, the report was agreed to. QUESTIONS. In reply to a question from Mr W. White, Tho Hon. Mr Johnston said no reductions had been made in the rate of wages of railway workman last year. All that was intended by the circular issued was to render tho rate uniform. He thought the present rate a fair one, considering how many were anxious to obtain it. As far as poisible tho hours were limited to eight. In reply to Mr Weight, The Hon. Mr Rollbston expressed a desire to see tho Hot Springs on Hanmer Plains available for use by invalids, and he hoped to be able to make some proposal on the subject. In reply to Mr Wright, The Hon. Mr Johnston said that the Government were considering the terms of a fresh agreement with the Kawakawa Ooal ’ Company for working the Kawakawa railway.

In reply to Mr Steward, The Hon. Mr Johnston said the Treasurer would shortly submit proposals for enabling tho railway employes to insure against accidents.

In reply to Mr Fulton, Tho Hon. Mr Johnston said a further supply of trucks was being procured for the Dunedin section of the railways.

In reply to Mr Fulton, The Hon. Mr Johnston promised to make inquiries as to the condition or the OutramMosgiel branch railway. Replying to Mr Steward, The Hon. Mr Johnston promised to provide further accommodation at St. Andrew’s

station, and to make the Makihiki railway bridge available for foot passengers. Sir Gbo. Gekt asked if, until it be decided whether the Government House and grounds at Auckland are to be permanently appropriated to educational or other purposes, they will allow the garden and recreation grounds, and the rooms in the House, to be used as lecture rooms by any professors who may bo appointed by the Auckland University. The Hon. Mr Dior said an Aot would be necessary. In reply to Mr Seaton, The Hon. Mr Johnston said he could not comply with the request made for a public siding at Kensington. Replying to Mr Barron, The Hon. Mr Johnston said that the only cotton waste unfit for scouring had been burned at Hillside workshops. NBW BILLS. The following new Bills were introduced and read a first time :—The Portobollo Road Board Enabling Bill (Mr Macandrew), A Bill to Enable Trustees for Religious, Charitable or Educational Purposes to form themselves into Bodies Corporate (Mr Dargaviile); Maori Representation Bill (Mr Taiaroa), The Native Land Division Bill (Mr Bryce), The Education Reserves Act Amendment Bill (Mr Dick).

AHOKI.AND GRAMMAR BCHOOIi BILIi. This Bill was considered in committee Several amendments wore made.

Mr Moss moved now clauses altering the constitution of the Board of Governors. Mi- Pbaoook objected, as the present system of election was satisfactory. The amendments wore negatived on the voices, Mr Moss intimated his intention of bringing in a now Bill on the subject. The title of the Bill was altered to read The Auckland College and Grammar School Bill, and was reported as amended. THE VISIT TO THB EXHIBITION. On the Hon. Major Atkinson’s motion, it waa resolved that the House on rising adjourn to Wednesday next at 7 30 for private members* buainses, and that the following Monday be given to Government business. OTAGO HABBOB BOARD BILL. The adjourned debate on the Otago Harbor Board Empowering Bill was resumed by Mr Weston, who spoke at great length on harbor improvements generally in the colony, urging that the Government should prevent waste of money going on. He contended that the Harbor Board scheme of improving Dunedin harbor was folly until tho bar at the heads waa made available for large vessels. Ho opposed the Bill. Sir George Obey supported the Bill, as te considered the improvement of Otago Harbor a subject of national importance. Mr Levin opposed the Bill. Mr Weight was commencing to spaak, when the debate was interrupted by the dinner adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME. The Hon. Major Atkinson stated that tho Government proposed on to-morrow week to proceed with the consideration of tho standing orders committee’s report as to amendments in the forms of the House. They would also ask the House to give up all Wednesdays for Government business, and also to sit on Mondays in future for Government business. On Friday tho Hon. Mr 801 l iaton would also move the second reading : of tho Lands Bill, which would probably be | circulated to-morrow. On Monday he would himself bring down the scheme of n tional insurance, and on the Tuesday e.fter the Public Works Statement would bo submitted. On the next Government day they would proceed with the General Government business, Local Government Bills, and Native Bills. The Roads Construction Bill, General Rating Bill, and Crown Lands Bating Bill would be circulated shortly after tho members return from Christchurch. THE PENSIONS BILL. The House wont into committee on the Pensions Bill. Mr Sheehan took charge of it in the absence of Mr Shrimski, who was ill. i The Bill was amended to prevent it apply- , ing to tho payment of pensions already i granted. Messrs Evans Brown, Rolleston, Fitzgerald, Wynn Williams and Hall opposed the Bill. Mr DbLatoub blamed the audit office as - being subject to political influence in granting , pensions. The Hon. Major Atkinson warmly repug dialed the charge against the Audit office, • and said if there waa any fault in it, it was a 1 desire during the recess to usurp tho functions of Parliament. Ho opposed the Bill.

Sir Gbobqe Qbbt supported the Bill as really a protection to the Civil Service. He agreed with the Hon. Major Atkinson that the Audit office wai too powerful and independent. When in office he would have kicked against it if he could have done so. Mr Kelly Supported the Bill. After contiderable farther discussion, certain amendments were agreed to, and the committee divided on the amendment of Mr Seaton's to make clause 6 retrospective. The amendment was negatived by 43 to 21. Several verbal amendments were agreed to, and a now clause proposed by the Hon. Mr Rolloeton exempting Supreme Court Judgen from the operation of the Bill was lost on a division of 32 to 31. The Bill was reported as amended. PROTECTION OP TELEGRAMS. Mr Fbldwiok moved—“ That the House go into committee on the Telegrams Protection Bill.” Mr Hutchison moved that it be committed that day six months. It was a Bill bad in principle and in detail, introduced simply in the interests of a very small number of newspapers who wanted to get the whole Press of the colony under their control. Mr Petrie seconded the amendment. The Bill was intended to create a monstrous monopoly. It was simply a Press Association Bill.

Mr Itbss would give a fair measure of protection, but in committee he would move an amendment to compel any one claiming that protection to supply all papers on equal terms.

Mr DeLatoub supported the amendment, and opposed the Bill. It would be as reasonable for tho London ” Times” to ask that no news appearing in its columns should be pub lished hero f->r six weeks of ter. There could be no copyright in nows. Mr Bracken said there might be no copyright in news when the cable transmitted it free;

Mr Joyce drew attention to a personal attack on himself in connection with this Bill, which had appeared in tho “.New Zealand Times.” Nowhere was there a more servile, toadying, slavish press than in Wellington, and that was the outcome of the monopoly existing, The Bill was an iniquitous one. Mr Moss opposed the Bill, as strengthening a monopoly controlling tho whole expression of public opinion in the colony, Mr Pyib supported tho Bill. The papers which paid for news from beyond the colony ware systematically robbed, to their great injury, by tho correspondents of country papers, who paid nothing. This was not fair or honest. If the Bill was not passed he believed the public would suffer considerably by having to go without cable news altogether. Mr Mxjnbo and Mr Fish opposed the Bill.

Mr Whitaker supported the Bill and defended the Press Association from the aspersions oast on it by Mr Joyee. Messrs Joyce, Turnbull, and Fish again spoke at great length against the clause.

Tho committee divided. The original words were retained by 23 ;o 12.

Mr Fbldwick, in regard to clause 2, consented to make the period of protection eighteen hours instead of thirty-six, and to omit the words “ or any comment on or reference to such intelligence.” Mr Ivess moved a proviso—“ That any per. son receiving and distributing protected news for payment should be bound to supply such news to any paper on the same terms as it was supplied to other papers of a similar grade as to size, locality, and time of publication.”

After considerable discussion, and a motion to report progress having been negatived by 22 to 14, this amendment was carried by 20 to 17.

Several other amendments were negatived on the voice - .

At 2 35 the bill was reported as amended, and the House adjourned till Wednesday,