GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2592, 28 July 1882, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[EBBSS ASSOCIATION TELKaBAM.T LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thubsday, July 27. The sitting hwtsd or-ly ten minutes. f'UCOND BEADING. The Private Tramways BM (Mr Hart) was read a second lime. THE FOLIi TAX. In reply to tha Hon. Mr Holmes, The Hon. Mr Oliybb said tho Chinese crews of veisels were not called upon to pay poll tax, unless they remained in the oolony. She Chinese cooli cf tho India at Auckland lud remained in the colony and was called on to pay. The cook of tho Sibyl did not remain, and therefore had not to pay. HOUSE OF BEFRESENTAIIVES. Thubsday, July 27. The House met at 2 SO. THE LAND TAX. Sir Geobge Geey gave notice that he would introduce a Bill for the reduction of taxation through the Customs and proporty tax revenue, the deficiency to bo made good fry the imposition of a tax upon land. THE LABOH QUESTION. ■m Mr Hutchison gave notice that ho would ~aaoVe for the appointment of a Commission to consider and report upon the beat -means for regulating tho hours of labor in shops, lianks, ka.

the pabliahbnt buildings. Mr Geobge directed attention to the

sanitary state of the House, consequent upon which serious illness prevailed amongst —■—jnembors, and more especially amongst 'the oco jpants of the Reporters' Gallery. To such nn extent had illness prevailed amongst them that there was only one reporter who was really in a position to continue the work to a late hour in the evening. The matter required immediate attention, not a single hour would be lost. I z was suggested that a commission consisting of the Colonial Architect, JDr. Heotor, and same independent authority be instructed to report upon tho ventilation, <fce., and as to what steps should be taken for improving the sime. There was another matter of even more pressing importance. A • ifew days ago a gentleman belonging to the. .■Reporting Gallery wu9 taken suddenly unwell. Sis medical advissrstated that he wassnfferling from arsenical poisoning, and on investigating the matter it was found that tho Ijrreen damask hangings with which the ohamber was surrounded were impregnated with araenio, and to that cause (the illness was attributed. Last night a member of the House was attacked in precisely the same way, and he is cow laid up with serious illness. That was a matter whioh demanded their immediate attention. These hangings ehould bo removed at once, -~___«xren althnagh the Chamber might look a "" little -bare_ in consequence. These matters uhould be taken in hand at onoe, as the •sxiating state o! things is undoubtedly fending to most alarming oonsequenoea. The Hon. Major Atkinson said that Government would undertake to have the matter Hooked into at once, with the view of getting Ithe ventilation improved, as also the hangings complained of removed at once, if found s dangerous. —' Mr Macandbew said there was no use (jotting reports on the subject. What was wanted was what he had all along urged upon tho Homo, viz , that the business should !ba closed by midnight, and that they should jjat away to their bads in something like a Ifcimely hour. Mr George stated that in the event of the committee reporting that no remedy could be Jfound, then thoy should be instructed to ifnrnish an estimate of the probablo cost of an .entirely new building. Mr J. O. Bbown agresd with Mr Maolandrev that the b;-st remedy would be to finish the business at midnight, and he hoped 'the Government would facilitate them in itheir endeavors to adjourn not Inter than 12 a.m. Mr Shephebd suggested that the estimates «of a new building should bs based on an 'estimate of removing the seat of Government 'to some more suitable plaoe than Wellington I appeared to be for the purpose. I The Government reiterated that tho subla sot would have immediate consideration, and ||hat no efforts would be spared to remedy Ke evil. II MOTIONS. lISsV following motions were put ard Hid :—Mr Duncan —Copies of all valusIHJa mado by Government under land and IBoperty tax respectively within County of Waitaki. Mr Sutton—Return of all moneys IBllected in the North Island as duty upon |Bu> sale or lease of Native lands from the Ist lEpril, 1881, to 31st March, 1882. Mr Button [[-Copies of tho Judge's notes and minutes of line evidence of the Judge of Native Land: [Dourt who adjudicated upon the Omaranui Tblook in 1666, and that these papers be added ito those already on the table, in order that Ith» action takon by the Judge who heard and decided the matter in 1866 may be placed Alongside the opinion expressed by the Chief •Judge in 1881 on matters which had been finally ad judioated on fifteen years previously, and of whioh he dess not appear to have had lluiy judicial cognizance. WL ' — BULB PASSED. olio wing were reported, read a third time, and passed : —The Bluff Harbor Foreshore Beclamation and the Dunedin Southern Market Reserves Leasing Bill*. IN COMMITTEE, The Timaru Harbor Board and Timoru j High School Aot, 1878, Amendment Bills -were further considered in committee an -reported with amendments. rXTIBLTON HABBOB BOABD. The Lyttelton Harbor Board Bill was reported, read a third time and passed. OTAGO HABBOB BOABD. The Otago Harbor Board Further Ems Bill was further considered in Comjgaittee. Mr Weight moved as an amendment that :not more than one-fourth of the sum of .£60,000 should be spent in the upper harbor until such time as there was a depth of 23 it upon the bar at low water. The Committee divided. Ayes, 41; noes, 24. The amendment was accordingly added as f a new clause to the Bill. The Bill was reported as amended. HOKITIXA HIGH SCHOOIi. MrFiTzGEBALD moved tho seoond reading iof tbe Hokitika High School Bill. Mr Petbie and Mr Wbbton opposed the IBill, contending that the sohool shouid be 'established at Greymouth, as being more iwntial to the district as a whole. The motion for second reading was carried am the voices. The House adjourned at 5.30.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. MIS CBLLAN EOT7B. Mr Buchanan moved the second reading of the Napier High School Sill. Carried. Mr Maoandbbw moved the Fecond re idling of the Portubello Bead Board Enabling Bill. Carried. Mr Tubhbull moved the second reading of the North Ximaru Cemetery Sale Bill. {Tarried. Mr Feldwick moved the second reading of the Gladstone Be creation Bsasrva Bill. ffcy Carried. Mr Peakson moved the seoond reading of i the Bangiora Domain Board Empowering . mi. \l Mr O'Callaghan objected to the principle Ntfthe Bill. Carried. OTAGO HSAS3. _ The House went into committee to eonuiner am address to the Governor requesting liiim to cause to be placed on the estimates 4)1500 to eomplete the road to Otog} Heads. The Hon. Mr Johkstoh objected, atating that there was au unexpended balance which would be made available for the purpose. On that understanding progress was reported. BMPLOYMEHT OF P3MALIS. The Employment of Females Act Amendment Bill was reported, read a third time and passed. SCHOOL COMMITTEB3. The School Committees Election Bill was farther considered in Committee, and re--ported with amendments, which were ordered M too be considered on Thursday next. W PUBLIC OFFBNDBBS. ■ In Committee on the Public Offenders Bisf rinaliiication Aot Amendment Bill, The Hon. Mr Dice thought Mr Levestam, who was in charge of the Bill, should move that the Aot of 1867 be repealed. Mr likvbstam said the Aot of 1867 wag of «0 use now. He had read the highest legal •authority on the subject. Mr Da Latjtoub oould not see why onr Jliw should be more stringent tbs:-» English

law, and thought tho law should remain as at present. .The Bill was then reported with amondments. small Brass. The Smull Birds Nuis*noe Bill was oarried with amendments. LAND BOABD BII,&. Sir Geobge Gbby moved the second reading of the land Board Bill. Mr Bathgate said his leading idea was to localise government throughout the colony, and maintained that ft cbaogo was necsseary in the matter of the Land Board. ,Mr Stevens said it was impossible for the Minister of Lands Icoated in Wellington to look after the requirements of tfra people. He thought it would be far better if such an officer were to be cleoted by the people. Mr Sbddon looked upon the present measura as the most important that had been brought before the House, and would give the Bill bis hearty support. He did not blame the present Minister for any wrongs that had taken place, but he hoped the Bill would pars its second reading. Mr Fbedwick called for a division, which resulted as follows : Ayes, 86 j Noes, 4. The Bill was then referred to the waste lands committee. Tho House adjourned at 1.15.