GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2616, 25 August 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.] legislative council.

Thursday, August 24. BIBST headings. The following Bills were brought from the Lower Home and read a first time :—lmprest Supply Bill, Native Land Division Bill, and Native Land Act Amendment Bill. The Babbit Nuisance Bill (Mr Oliver) was also read a first time. IMPRISONMENT POB DEBT. The Hon. Mr Wilson moved the following motion, which was agreed to without debate: —“ That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient that the Government should bring in an Act to amend the provisions of the Im. prisonznent for Debt Abolition Act, 1874,” PUBLIC WORM BILL. This Bill was recommitted and further amended. TH ABOBA TOWNSHIP BILL. This Bill was read a second time. The Council adjourned from 5 till 7.30,

EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7 30. BILLS.

The Savings Bank Act, 1858, Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee, and reported with amendments. The Tairoa Township Bill was read a second time, and the Stamp Bill was read a third time. The Dunedin Southern Market Eoserve Leasing Bill was also passed through Committee.

The Otago Harbor Board Farther Empowering Bill was passed through Committee, Tbe only amendment made was that in respect to giving the Board power to levy a harbor improvement rate not exceeding three shillings a ton, either by weight or measurement, on all imports and exports. The Dnnedin South Market Beserve ' Leasing Bill and the Harbor Boards Bill were passed through Committee with name rous amendments. At 10-15 the Council adjourned. HOUSE OF EBPBEBENTATIVE3. Thursday, August 24. The House met at 2 30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Wright, The Hon. Mr Johnston stated that the Agent-General would be requested to obtain full information as to the several processes now in use in England and America for preserving railway sleepers, with the view of adopting tbe same here. Replying to Mr Holmes, The Hon. Mr Johnston said the Government was not aware of any discontent amongst the employes at the Addington railway workshops, caused by the manner in whioh the locomotive superintendent discharged his duties; and unless some distinct charges were made, he did not consider it the duty of the Government to institute an inquiry. If Mr Holmes wished it, an inquiry would be made as to the circumstances under whioh Mr Schultz had resigned his position. Mr Holmes said he did wish it. In reply to Mr Peldwiok,

The Hon. Major Atxinson said no provision would be made this session for the continuance of direct grants to aid local bodies, as the matter would be provided for by the Boads and Bridges Construction Bill. In reply to Mr Maoandrew,

The Hon, Mr Bollbston said the advantages possessed by the sectional ship designed by Isbieter, of Port Chalmers, were not fully understood by tho Government, but the matter would be kept in vLw in connection with the employment of immigrant ships and the establishment of a direct steam service.

In reply to Mr George, The Hon. Mr Dice said a County Council had no power to levy a general rate over the whole of a county with the intention of only collecting such rate from the outlying districts.

In reply to Mr Duncan, The Hon. Mr Johnston stated railway employes had no deduction made from their wagea when compelled to attend Courts of Law or coroner’s inquests. In reply to Mr Hutchison, The Hon. Mr Johnston said that tho increased rate of pay had been given to all railway laborers.

BILLS. The Portobello Bead Board Enabling Bill was read a third time and passed. The Hokitika High School Bill was further considered in committee, and progress was reported, and leave granted to sit again. The Westland High School and the Ohoka and Eyroton Domain Board Empowering Bills were read a second time. The Bangiora Domain Board Empowering Bill and the Ohoka and Eyreton Domain Board Empowering Bills passed through committee, and were read a third time and passed. CHBISTOHUBOH DISTBIOT DBAINAGE BILL. The debate on the second reading of this Bill was resumed. Mr White moved that the Bill be read that day six months. Debate interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment, B7ENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. public lib babies. Mr Smith moved the resolution reported from the Committee in reference to subsidies to public libraries. The Hen. Mr Dick said that when the vote of £6OOO on the estimates was brought down he would also submit a resolution as to the equitable distribution thereof. He asied that tho resolutions be withdrawn. Sir John Hall suggested that tho resolutions c£ the Government should be submitted as an amendment upon Mr Smith’s resolutions. By that means an opportunity would be given for discussing both propositions. The motion wro carried, and the resolutions agreed to. BILLS. The Private Tramways Bill was read a second time. The Public Health Act Amendment Bill passed with amendments. The Resident Magistrates Act, 1876, Amendment Bill passed with amendments. The Canterbury Rivera Act, 1880, Amendment Bill passed without amendments. The Patent Act Amendment Bill passed with amendments. Tho Council’s amor-dmsnta in the Bluff Harbor Foreshore Bill and Small Birds Nuisance Bill were agreed to. land soabd bills. Oa the motion for the committal of this Bill (Sir Q. Grey), The Hon. Mr Bollkbton spoke against it. He argued that if a member residing at a remote part of the provincial district were elected, it would bo impossible for snob personi. to attend regularly. The district would have to be remodelled to meet that difficulty alone. Elective Boards would require much larger powers of administration than Boards now have. If they got these powers then they would in a corresponding degree diminish tho powers of tho Ministers, she election by the local bodies was wrong. If they were to be elective then the election should be in the hands of the people, and that would to a very great extent destroy the responsibilities of the Government in its relations to Parliament. Ministers were responsible to Parliament, so that they were responsible to the House for what they did. In that respect the nominated system was different from what it would be if it was purely a nomination by the Grown. Mr J. MoKenlih charged tho Government with inconsistency in not having opposed the Bill on its second reading. This Bill was popular in the colony, and tho nominated Waste Lind Boards had not given satisfaction. It would be quite' as easy for the local bodies to elect the Lands os it was for school committees to elect the Education Boards, and that mode of election had worked very well.

Mr DELAnorp. combated the contention that elective bodies would favor the settlers by whom they were elected. Mr Httbst urged that there was no demand throughout the country for this Bill. It was not a cardinal point of the late elections. Elective Boards, as ehown by the elective Licensing Boards, had not boon a success. Ho thought they might move in the direction indicated, at the same time they should be careful to do nothing to weaken responsibility on the part of tho head of tho department. With that view he moved—- “ That tho Bill was inexpedient, and that Government be required to consider during the recess what steps should bo taken to give the Boards a representative character, without at the same time destroying Ministerial responsibility.” Mr Shbimski said that the question at issue was made a special point during ths

election in the South Island. He instanced the case of districts which had not been represented on the Board*, and the*6 dutriCiJ had suffered accordingly. Mr Edteeefobd bore testimony to the fact that the electors of his district were not in favor of the proposed change. * TVT* Fulton argued that it had been shown that the land districts would have to be reconstituted and increased. They were already troubled with too many elections, and a further increase should if possible be avoided. It would also tend to increase the cost of administration. The motion for leaving the chair was put. Ayes, 31 ; Noes, 23.

In committee. Mr Kelly moved in the direction of making the Boards elective by the registered electors instead of by the local bodies, and with the view of reconstituting the land districts as may be fixed by the Governor in Council. Mr Hubbt moved that the electoral district be constituted the land district. Mr Hubbxhouse moved that progress be reported. The subject was too wide and important to be undertaken at that late hour of the evening and advanced period of the session. The motion for reporting progress was negatived on the voices. After di;oussiou, the Bill was reported with amendments. LICENSING ACT, 1881, AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was next considered in Committee. THE PBNOINQ BILL. In committee on the Fencing Bill, Captain McKenzie moved to report progress, as it would be little loss if the Bill died a natural death. The motion was carried on a division of 22 to 20, and progress was reported. GOLD DUTIES AMENDMENT BILL. After some objection from Major ATKINson, Mr Seddon’s Gold Duties Act Amendment Bill was passed through committee, reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The House adjourned at 2.15 a.m.