Monday, August 21.

Manawatu Herald, 22 August 1893, Page 2

Monday, August 21.

The Speaker took the chair at 7.80 p.m. The second reading of the Customs and Excise Duties Act Amendment Bill was agreed to, and the Bill then passed its final stages. The Rohe Potae Investigation of Titles Act Am«ndm«nt Bill w»i I

passed. The Native Trusts and Claims Definition and Begistration Bill as amended by the Native Affairs Com* iiiittee, passed through committee, & clause being added validating partition or succession orders in regard to \ certain blocks. The Postmaster-General moved the second reading of the Post Office Acts Amendment Bill, which was agreed to on the voices. The Colonial Treasurer proposed tbe second reading of this Banks' and Companies' Accounts Audit Bill, which he explained, was not in any way compulsory* The debate was adjourned on the motion of the Premier. The Minister of Lands moved the second reading of the Stock Bill. Mr Buchanan objected to the Bill. . Mr Wright characterised the Bill as one likely to worry sheep-farmers and legalise sheep stealing. \ Captain Russell said the Bill was fearfully and wonderfully made, bristling with penalties. He objected to the clauses relating to driving. . Mr E. M. Smith said the Bill was so faulty that it would be impossible to make it useful. • Mr Richardson said the Bill would come back very much altered from the Stock Committee. The extra* ordinary feature of the Bill was that everything was overridden by regulations. Mr McGuire held that the Bill was entirely unnecessary. Mr Palmer believed that the measure was too stringent. Mr Meredith considered the Bill an improvement upon that of last year, and there were many useful provisions in the Bill. Sir John Hall said the Bill gave too much power to the Minister. Messrs Tanner, Buckland, Buick, Lake and Rhodes also spoke. Sir Robert Stout said that present law relating to brands and ear marking was entirely futile to stop sheep-stealing. He suggested the establishment of a system of-dis-trict registries for sheep. - •■• The Minister of Lands regretted that almost every member who had spoken had condemned the Bill. A compromise might be come to by the Stock Committee, by which the hours for the North Island might be extended. The second reading was agreed to, and the Bill was referred to the Stock Committee. The second reading of the Stamp Acts Amendment Bill wasag-rewbto. The House adjourned at I^*so arm.