GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2596, 2 August 1882, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

fFEEBB ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, August 1. Tho Legislative Council sat only fifteen minutes, and tho only business done was the third reading of tha Prisons Bill, e.nd the fiilt reading of the following Bills from the Lower Bouse:—Small Birds Nuisance Bill, Width of Streets and Roads Regulation Bill, suid fin Companies and Consumers Liability Bill. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2 30 p.m, DBP2HRED PAYMENT BETTLEB3. Mr Fulton brought up and read tho following report by tha waste lands committee on the Deferred Payment Bottlers Belief Kill: “ Tho committee have given careful consideration to this Bill, and have taken valuable evidence bearing on the subject. Interpreting, however, tho desire of the fe House as expressed by its resolution of the ft 31st July that tho question of public policy ■ relating to the woste lands of tho Crown ftj|AM not stand referred to this committee, BmjHßßiiDg that this Bill is of that character, to report tho Bill to tha House HHHB^^BCommendation. 1 ’ moved that the Bill be comHth Mr Rolleston said that he position of the affair to be committee did not consider it to deal with Bills of this ifmdaftCTtha resolution of the House passed (the previous evening, still the House might, iby special instruction, refer Bills of this nature for the consideration of the committee. He moved a resolution to the effect that this Bill should be and is referred for oomideraItion by the waste lands committee. Mr Kelly thought the committee had <come to an erroneous conclusion on this subject. It was fully understood that the committee should continue their labors, and that Bills, &s., should be from time to time re[erred to it as occasion might require.^ Mr Sbddon looked upon the Bill as a policy Bill, and after the conclusion coma to the previous evening, it would be manifestly unfair to refer it to tho committee. Mr Montgomery considered all that was necessary was for the committee to have come down and aakid instructions as to what it should do. ... Sir G Obey said that if the Bill went back to the committee it would be mutilated out of all shape, and the possibility was that they would boar no mote about it this session. It was sent to the committee on the Soh Jnly, and if it went back to the committee the probabilities were that no more would be hoard of it this session. Mr Hamlin said that tho Bills before the committee were there by virtue of a distinct order ef the House. The resolution of last night could not possibly be retrospective. The eommittee ought to have gone on with their work os if nothing had occurred. The motion was put that the Bill be committed for the 17cb iust. Ayes, 32; noes, 40. Mr BADDON moved as addition that it be sn instruction to the committee to report upon the Deferred Payment Settlers, Pastoral Lands Occupation and Elective Laud Board Sills within seven days. Sir George Grey supported this, and said that if these Bills were not reported on as proposed a great injustice would ba done, as tha Bills would not be dealt with this session, and he knew that they were anxiously looked for by the colony. 'The Hon. Mr Kollkston suggested as an addition to the motion that tho Land Amendment Bill ba included amongst the Bills to be rujSofted on. Mr Barron blamed the Government for being weak and irregular in its movements, the result being that the business was delayed, and useful measures altogether defeated. The Hon, Major Atkinson said that the Government of the colony had been rendered difficult, if not impossible, by tho disjointed State of the Opposition, Mr Montgombby complained that the conduct of the Treasurer to the Opposition hod been most discourteous. The conduct -of the Government all through had been mast irregular. They brought down measates, sod were afterwards only too glad to withdraw them. It was the way they had kept their seats so long, and he prophesied Shat a similar course would bo followed on this occasion. The Treasurer said the loans were for the purpose of covering deficiencies, and bad not the a outage to face taxation, but he {Ur Montgomery) said these loans were to purchase support. Tho Treasurer had heaped abuse upon him because he thought be could not find language to retort. Ha would show bim that he was quite able to find language, and any other thing that was necessary to zepadiate snob unjustifiable conduct. The Hon. Msjor Atkinson, replying to come of the observations of Mr Montgomery, denied he had ever been returned as an Opposition member. He had on the occasion referred to entered the House us an independent member, and had only joined the Government on the one question of tho abolition of the provinces. This he did with the lull approbation of all his friends. Mr Sbddon’b amendment that the committee be instructed to report within a week aa the Deferred Payment Settlers Bill, HI entire Laud Boards Bills, and tha Pastoral Lands Occupation Bill, was agreed to. Captain Morris moved the further addition that the Land Bill be added. Agreed to after debate. The Hon. Mr Bolleston’s amendment, as amended, was passed. TRUSTEES, EXECUTORS AND AGENCY COMPANY’S BILL. Mr Fulton moved the adoption of the report of the committee on the Trustees, Z imiSra and Agency Company’s Bill. Mr Bathgate described the measure as a novelty. In the course of twenty or thirty years this company would have large sums under its control, say half a million of trust money, and yet the company was a limited liability concern. It had not been shown w%y the association should--cot be called to account for tha money? entrusted to its care, in the same way as an attorney. It was not a trading concern, and consequently it was not exposed to the same contingencies which a limited liability company was. Ho suggested that the measure should be delayed ior another session. Interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. KYENING~iITTIN Gh The House resumed at 7.30. TEB LOAN BILLS AND PAYMENT OP MEMBERS. The House went into committee to consider messages from the Acting-Governor transmitting the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Bill, the New Zealand Loan Bill, and Payment of Expenses of Members of the General Assembly Bill. Mr Montoombbt said that while agreeing to the Loan Bills being brought in, it was not to be understood that ho was in any way committed to their principles. The Hon. Major Atkinson acquiesced in that proposition, adding that the fullest opportunity for discussion would be given on the motion for going into committee of supply, and prior to the second reading of the Bills being taken. Captain McKenzie did not feel disposed to give assent to the borrowing of £4,000,000 until he knew how it was to be spent, and was likewise assured that it would be spent in the true interests of the colony'. \ In reply to further remarks, N vThe Hon. Major Atkinson said that the Hull -Were ready, and would be distributed ax sooths the House gave authority to introduce them. Mr Maoandbew objected to two Loan Bills. If it was to be a loan, then let it be embodied in the ono Bill. He did not say he would support it then, but certainly he would not support two Bills of the kind. In reply to Mr Hutchison, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that there bad been no estimate of the cost of the proposed North Island Trunk Lins made. The motion for introducing the three Bills was agreed to by the committee, and the resolutions were reported to the Boose, and the Bills read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Friday. ■UPESMH OOUBT BILL. The Hon. Mr. Dice; moved the second reading of the Supreme Court Bill. Mr Hutchison took exception to the length of tns long vacation, cs also to the —scale flf fees provided for. Mr Wxston supported the motion, reviewthe judicial system at considerable ■\Jeigth. Mr Oonolly said that the provisions of the Bill were not, with one or tiro exceptions, Jiew* Amongst the exceptions be instanced

the clause providing tor a compact being made between solicitor and client for the payment of a lump sum. It alto regulated the costs of proceedings in the Native Laud Court, The object of the Commission was to simplify the procedure of the Court. Ho had no doubt but that experience would show that further simplicity might be wrought. That would be seen in the working of the proposed now law. The Commission did not desire to make the reform violent or too sudden and extreme in the first instance. What they desired was to snake it the achievement of a step which Could lead up to still further reforms. Ho thought the House would do well not to make serious alterations in the Bill, which was carefully considered by the Commission. Mr Maoandbkw said he understood this was a Bill to simplify the procedure in the Supreme Court. That was a measure mueh wanted, and one they should pass at once,, for the procedure in the Supreme Court, as it stood, was a scandal and disgrace, Mr Bathgate submitted that the Bui would produce a reform, but it would not be the full measure of reform required. He deprecated thej proposal to have oases tried before one judge. What ho would advocate was that cases should be heard before a full Bench, in which case there would be finality. He saw no reason why the District Court should not bs a branch of the Supreme Court, with jurisdiction to, say £SOO. The motion for a second reading was put and carried.

SECOND HEADINGS. The foll-iwing Bills were read a second time on the motion of the Hon. Mr Dick : —Court of Appeal Bill, Law Amendment Bill, Criminal Law Bill,

INDUSTRIAL schools bill. This Bill wss re-committed, and reported with amendments.

OXHEK BILLS. The following Bills were alio read a first time:—lmbecile Passengers, Fisheries, Inspection of Machinery Companies Act Amendment. The Auckland University College Bill and tho Railway Construction and Land Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. THE CUSTOMS LAW CONSOLIDATION. This Bill passed through Committee, and was reported, without amendment. LICENSING ACT. The Hon. Mr Dick moved that the House go into committee on the Licensing Bill. Mr Stevens) moved as an amendment that tho Bill be referred to a Select Committee, consisting of Messrs Dick, Trimble, Barron, Wynn Williams, De Lautonr, Bracken, Oonolly, ond Lsvestam. Mr Sutton was sorry that the -Government had not looked more into the subject of the licensing houses. He would support the amendment. Mr Peacock would vote against the amendment on tho ground at this late period of the session it was not fair to ask a member to give up hie time. He thought it should be adjourned for another year. Mr Conolly would like to see the discussion adjourned for another year. The amendment was generally objected to. The House divided as follows :—Ayes 42, noes 38.

The House then divided on going into committee—Ayes 51, noes 25. The House then went into committee on the Bill.

Mr Sutton moved that clause 2, referring to looal bodies, be strnok out. The House divided as follows Ayes, 31; noes, 32. The clause was struck out.