Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 507, 21 December 1897, Page 4

Parliamentary Notes.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Monday, December 20, The Council met at 2.30.

.masters' and apprentices' bill

The committal of the Masters and Apprentices Bill was rejected by 22 to 5. The Labor Bills Committee suggested the postponement of the measure. The five in favor of the bill were the Hons. Pinkerton, Eigg, Kerr, Kelly, and W. C. Walker. TIIE CYANIDE PROCESS. The Cyanide Process of Gold Extraction Bill passed its final stages. IMMIGRATION RESTRICTION BILL. The Minister of Education, in answer to the Hon. G. E. Shrimski, again refused to bring forward the despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the New Zealand Government re the Asiatic Restriction Bill, and the Hon. C. G. Johnston moved the adjournment of the debate on the Alien Immigration Restriction Bill for three weeks. This was carried by 17 to 11, and the bill was killed. MISCELLANEOUS. A new clause was added to the Westport-Ngakawau Railway Extension Bill in committee, and the measure w-as reported as amended. The Wellington City Empowering Bill was amended in committee by striking out the proposals for the purchase of Miramarand the leasing of the town belt. The Bill was reported as amended. The Council insisted on its amendments in the Victoria College Bill. The Defamation Bill was made the order for that day week hence, and so shelved. At 5 o'clock the Council adjourned till 7.30. EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7.80. The amendments made by the Governor in the Hawera Gas and Electric Lighting Bill were agreed to. NATIVE LANDS. The Minister for Education moved to commit the Native Lands Laws Amendment Bill. The Hon. W. 11. Reynolds moved to adjourn the committal for three weeks. After debate the motion to commit the Bill was agreed to. In committee minor amendments were made, and the Bill passed its final stages. The Council adjourned at 9.5 p.m., till Tuesday morning.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, December 20. The House met at 2.30. THE COLONIAL BANK. A lengthy discussion arose on the report from the Public Accounts Committee respecting £150,000 of consols advanced by the colony to the Colonial Bank. VICTORIA COLLEGE BILL. By 23 to 26 it was agreed that the amendments made by the Council in the Victoria College Bill be disagreed ■with. MANAWATU RAILWAY. Mr Seddon, in reply to Mr Rolleston, stated it would be better for the colony and for the Manawatu Railway Company if the Government leased the Manawatu railway instead of purchasing it. SECOND READINGS. The second readings of the following local bills were agreed to without discussion :—Wellington Boys' Institute Bill, Kohukohu Foreshore Reclamation Bill, Wellington Education Board Transfer of Reserve Bill, Bluff Harbor Board Empowering Bill, Borough of Lyttelton Corporation Enabling Bill, Invercargill Racecourse Trustees Empowering Bill, and Napier Municipal Corporation and Napier Harbor Board Exchange of Land Empowering Bill. These bills were subsequently committed, and passed their final stages. The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.80. SECOND READINGS. On the motion of Mr Seddon, after a short debate, the Onehunga Cemetery Bill passed its second reading. A lengthy discussion ensued on Mr Seddon's motion, that the Kapiti Island Public Reserve Bill be read a second time. .Subsequently the motion was agreed

to. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Leases and Sale of Settled Estates Act Amendment Bill.—Agreed to after a short discussion. tiie i-olice inquiries. Mr Seddon laid on the table of the House the reports of the Commission of Inquiry into the charges against exDetective Henderson, of Christchurch, and Inspector Emerson, of Napier. LANDS, KESERVES, AND ENDOWMENTS BILL. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Lands, Reserves, and Endowments Disposing and Enabling Bill. After debate it was agreed to. JUDGR kettle's CASE. Mr Seddon, in reply to Mr Rolleston, intimated that he would state to the House to-morrow whether there would be an inquiry into Judge Kettle's case, and that he would announce the intentions of the Government respecting the Police Commission. MISCELLANEOUS. The amendments made in the Native r Land Laws Act Amendment Bill by the Council were agreed to. Managers were appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing with _ the amendment made by the Council in the Victoria College Bill. On the motion of Mr (.'adman the - second reading of the Government - Railways Classification Act Amend - I meat Bill was agreed to. The Eight Hours Bill wait'vsuttictei,

and a lengthy discussion ensued on Mr Seddon's proposals to substitute new clauses affirming that where eight hours is at present recognised to be a day's work, it should be so. Messrs Taylor, Kelly, Moore, and others urged the postponement of the measure till next session. Progress was ultimately reported. The Kapiti Island Pnblic Reserve Bill was committed and discussed at considerable length and ultimately agreed to with amendments. The Government Railways Classification Act Amendment Bill was committed, and new clauses added providing that seniority shall be taken into consideration in promotions. The Leases and Sale of Settled Estates Act 1865 Amendment Bill was committed. (Left sitting at 2 a.m.)