GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2608, 16 August 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PBBM ASSOCIATION TZLSOBAM.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, August 15. QUESTION. In reply to Sir G. Whitmore, The Pbbmibb said the Council woald be given an opportunity in a few days to dismiss the Volunteer Commission reports. TABIOUfI BILLS. The Customs Laws Consolidated Bill was read a third time, and the Public Works Bill, Industrial Schools Bill, and Bluff Harbor Foreshore Beclamation Bill a second time. The Law Practitioners Bill was passed through Council, numerous amendments being made. The Pbekibb said that next year ha would bring in a separate Bill dealing with law societies. The Council rose at 6 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2 30. OBAKBI BESBBVES BILL. On the motion of Tawhai, tho Orakei Reserves Bill was read a second time. COMMITTEE BETUBN. On the motion of Mr Lbtin, the report of the joint committee on the Standing Orders, and on the Wellington Cemeteries Bill was agreed to, VENTILATION. The question of ventilation and improving the buildings was again raised by Mr Montgomery, who complained that in consequence of the draught, many members were sustaining serious damage to their health. The Speakee promised the matter would be farther looked into. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr George, The Hon. Majoe Atkinson said tho Government did not propose introducing a Bill to make it illegal to grant any office of profit under the Crown to any member, unless he shall first seek re-election.

Beplying to Mr Allwright, The Hon. Major Atkinson said the Government had carefully considered the report of the shipping legislation committee, and had an Act dealing with the subject in preparation, but he could not Bay whether it would be passed this session. Beplying to Mr Taiaroa, The Hon. Mr Johnston said that the land taken from the Native Hone Topi Patuki for railway purposes would, so soon as it was proclaimed, be compensated for to its owner, Beplying to Mr Taiaroa, The Hon. Mr Betch said the road from the township at the mouth of the Clutha to Tekaro, which had been closed by the persons owning the land, was a subject to be dealt with by the local bodies, and not by the Government.

Beplying to Mr Steward, The Hon. Mr Johnston said that the petition of thirty-six farmers at Otaio, South Canterbury, for the erection of a grain shed at the railway station, bad been referred to the station manager for his report thereon. Beplying to Mr Dodson, The Hon, Mr Bolebbton said instructions had been given to cause reserves to be made on sales of Crown land and river land on river banks and creeks suitable for the propagation and protection of flab, and the instructions would be carefully looked after, Beplying to Mr Dodson, The Hon. Mr Dick considered that very serious evils resulted from non vaccination, and the Government did not consider it desirable to introduce a Bill repealing the Compulsory Vaccination Act. Beplying to Mr Wright, The Hon. Mr Johnston stated, in reference to the £250,000 estimated as the coat of the new railway station at Dunedin, that during the next three years it was proposed to spend not more than £75,000. A large proportion of the amount already disbursed had been used for reclamation purposes, and furnished an asset worth three tlmaa vhe value of the amount expended thereon. Beplying to Mr Fish, The Hon. Mr Johnston said provision had been made for paying railway laborers casually employed every fortnight, and if employed for less than a fortnight they were paid their wages when the work was done. Beplying to Mr Fish, The Hon. Mr Johnston said that so soon as the railway goods sheds at Dunedin were completed the Olsgo Harbor Board would get possession of their sections of land at present occupied by the railway. Beplying to Mr Wright, The Hon. Mr Boeeeston said Government would be prepared to co-operate with the local body in checking the destruction by fire of Alford Forest.

Replying to Mr Postlethwaite, The Hon. Mir Eollhhton said the Government had made arrangements to give assisted passages to domestic servants who were nominated by friends. Replying to Mr Weston, The Hon. Mr Eollbston said the Wallsend Goal Mining Company had made breaches in the condition of their lease. They bad gone to considerable expense in working the mine, and it was understood they were making arrangements to dispose of the workings. The Government would consider what steps should be taken in view of the breaches referred to.

. Beplying to Mr Weston, The Hen. Mr Eollbston said the road from Goal Greek to Brunnerton, and that from Qreymouth and Beefton main road to Walter’s terrace, .Nelson Greek, were matters for attention of the local bodies, and not for the Government. Neither of them opened oat Grown lands. Beplying to Mr C. Johnston, The Hon. Mr Beyob said the Government would not place a sum on the estimates sufficient to pay Volunteers who took part in the operations conducted against Te Whiti an amount equal to the pay already given to the Thames Volunteer force. It was true that force claimed further payment, but he would not recommend that it should be given. Beplying to Mr Maoandrew, The Hon. Mr Johnston said the proposal in connection with direct steam communication with England would be brought down for consideration on Friday. Replying to Mr Pyke, The Hon. Major Atkinson said measures dealing with local-government and localfinance would be brought down this week. Replying to Mr Steward, The Hon. Mr Eollbston said that with the view of assisting the frcasn meat industry power would be taken in the Special Powers and Contracts Bill to lease land to the Waitaki Abbattoir Company for paddock purposes. Beplying to Mr Fish, The Hon. Mr Bbyob said he had never seen or heard of a newspaper called “Society,” in which a paragraph was said to have appeared headed “ Another Failure.” It was, however, true that two policemen had been detected taking some small articles at the Exhibition buildings, Christchurch, and were challenged. The articles were restored. The men were dismissed the force, but not prosecuted. Beplying to Mr Bracken, The Hon. Mr Johnston said the Government recognised the importance of a detached building for parliamentary library Bess, but he was afraid no steps in that ion could be taken just now. Beplying to Mr Hutchison, The Hon. Mr Dice said the Government would consider the propriety of appointing a representative working man as a visiting Justice to each of the gaola. Replying to Mr Hutchison, The Hon. Mr Johnston said the collapse of the railway bridge over Baugiliki river was due to the heavy flood and the force of the heavy drift timber floated down on that occasion. It would be replaced by a cast iron cylinder bridge similar to the other two bridges over the river. Beplying to Mr Hurst, The Hon. Mr Dice said twelve warders of the Auckland gaol had inadvertently been deprived of leave of absence since April last, but the mistake had been remedied. TEB BANKRUPTCY BILL. This Bill was introduced and read the first time (Mr Dick). OTHKK BILLS. The Prisons Bill wan reported with amend ment. The Justice of the Peace Bill was re committed for the purpose of enabling Sir John Hall to introduce a clause empowering Justices of the Peace to hear cates of an immoral nature with closed doors. Mr Oonolly objected to the clause as opposed to the spirit of jurisprudence, which provided that every accused person should have a fair and open trial. The debate was interrupted by the 5,30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE BILL

The debate was resumed on the Justices of 1 the Peace Bill. The committee divided on the new clause proposed by Sir John HalL Ayes, 24 ; noes, 24. The Chairman gave his casting vote in favor of the ayes. Mr J. E. Beown proposed that the duly authorised representatives of the Press be excepted from tho prohibition. Mr Macandbew said that that was the most objectionable part of the whole thing. It was the publication of these reports that created tho evil. The committee divided, Ayes, 50; noes, 24. On the question that the danse as amended pass, Tho committee divided—Ayes, 47 ; noes, 29. The clause as amended passed, and the Bill was reported. PBISOHS BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. RAILWAYS OoNSTBUCTION AND LAND ACT AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion of the Hon. Mr Johnston, this Bill was reported, read a third time and passed. noeth island loan bill. On the motion for the committal of tho North Island Trunk Bail way Loan Bill. Me Montqombby asked if any arrangement had been made with the Natives re the survey of this line, and had the Native owners agreed to give land adjacent to the line which would, to tome extent, recoup the cost of the line; also, when the survey was likely to be commenced, and, if the loan was got, when would the work commence. The Hon. Mr Johnston said that this year tho Government only proposed asking for a sum to defray the expense of the survey. The Government was of opinion that if a large snm was set aside for the railway, that the native owners would in all probability make some concession in the shape of gifts of laud. Mr Then bull reviewed the loan proposals of the Government at considerable length, which he condemned, asserting that the colony should not at present add farther to its loan indebtedness. Mr J. W. Thomson also spoke against the borrowing policy. Mr Maoandbbw gave notice that in committee he would move the insertion of a new clause, affirming the'principle that no money should be borrowed until the lines were approved of by Parliament, and that a certain quantity of land had been set aside by the Natives through wherever the line would pass. The Hon. Major Atkinson, in reply, defended the system of the main trunk lines in contradistinction to branch lines to small centres. He argned the latter would find no sympathy in that House. In reply to an objection raised, he argued that the fact of the imports being largely in excess of the exports was evidence of material progress and prosperity, inasmuch as that it was proved there was a eteady flow of wealth coming into the colony. The motion for going into committee was then put. Ayes, 47; noes, 24, Ayes—Messrs Atkinson, Beetham, Brown, J. E. (St. Albans), Bryce, Buchanan, W. O. (Wairarapa South), Oonolly, Dargaville, Dick, Dodson, Fergus, Fitz Gerald, Hall, Harris, Hobbs, Hurst, Johnston, O. J. (Te Aro), Johnston, W. W. (Manawatu), Kelly, Levestam, Levin, Mason, MoMillan, Mitchelson, Morris, Moss, Munro, O'Oallaghan, Peacock, Petrie, Postlethwaite, Eolleston, Rutherford, Shepherd, Stevens, Sutter, Swanson, Thomson (Christchurch North], Tole, Trimble, Watt, Whitaker, Whyte, J. B. (Waikato), Williams, Wilson, L (Kaiapol), Wilson, J. G. (Foxton), Wright and Pilliet. Noes—Messrs Barron, Brown, J. O. (Tuapeks), Buchanan, J. (Napier), Gadman, Daniels, Danean, Holmes, Hursthouse, Hutchison, Joyce, Macandrew, McDonald, Montgomery, Seaton, Sheehan, Shrimski, Smith, Steward, Tawhai, Thomsom, J. W. (Olutba), Tomoana, Turnbnll, White, W. (Sydenham).

On the motion for leaving the chair. Mr Hutchison in opposition to the loan. He charged the Bank of New Zealand with being a perfect incubus on the progress of the colony, and alleged that it was constantly plotting and scheming in connection with the affairs of the colony. This projected loan being another instance of that kind.

Messrs Shrimski, Joyce, Seddon, Turnbull spoke against the motion. The Doan Bill was then committed by 44 to 25.

The Hon. Major Atkinson said he would more an addition—“ That the turn of one million shall not be raised until the line has been surveyed and approved of by Parliament." Mr Babbon moved—“ That the turn be reduced £250,000."

The House divided. Ayes, 47; noes, 13. Major Atkinson's addition to clause S, providing that the loan should not be raised until the line had been surveyed and approved of by Parliament, was opposed by Messrs Sheehan, George, and Oadman. Me jar Atkinson said the only difference it made was that they could not raise the loan until the line was determined. If they raised the money they could rot spend it without the sanction of Parliament.

The proviso was added on a division of 5S ,o 15.

Mr Basbon moved the reduction of the amount of the loan to £250,000, Negatived, by 47 to 13. Mr Barron moved to limit the rate of interest to 4 per cent. Negatived, by 48 to 13. On the motion of Major Atkinson clause 6 was struck out, as being similar to clause 15. Mr Baeeqn proposed to strike out all the words after “security” in clause 13. Negatived, by 45 to 16. The remaining clauses were then passed, and the Bill was reported as amended in committee.

On the New Zealand Doan Bill, Major Atkinson moved to report progress, with leave to sit again. The House rose at 2.45 a m.