Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 7 September 1893, Page 2

Parliament.

HOrsK OF ttEPflEStitf'MflVM

MoXJiAV-, SItfTEHtRER 4. The Speaker' took the chftilf &t 2 .40 p iti»

The Cheviot Estate iMspositidri Bill was reported from doniniittee', Mid a tiiira time and passed.

The Hon W. P. Reeves moved the second reading of the Magistrates' Courts Bill passed by the Legislative Council. He said that it was intended by it to consolidate and amend the law relating to the jurisdiction of Magistrates. The Minister" explained, at some length, the various provisions of the Bill, stating that it conferred extended jurisdiction on Magistrates in cases in which they now had limited jurisdiction, and special jurisdiction on Magistrates in cases in which they had now no jurisdiction at all. He believed it would be found an exceedingly U3eful measure.

Sir Robert Stout hoped this and the Criminal Code Bill, both about eight years old, would become law this session. He suggested that the Libel Bill also should be passed. The second reading was agreed to.

The Hon W. P, Reeves moved the second reading of the Criminal Code Bill, which he said had been six times passed by the Legislative Council, and its second reading had been carried three times in the Lower House. It had been felt previously that the punishments proposed were too severe ; but as these had been modified, that objection fell to the ground. The only new punishment in the present Bill was flogging for boys endangering passengers by rail. He saw no reason why the Bill should not become law this session.

After some discussion the second reading was agreed to.

The second reading of the District Courts Jurisdiction Extension Bill, and the second reading of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Acts Amendment Bill were agreed to.

The Colonial Treasurer proposed the second reading of the Civil Service Officers' Guarantee Bill. He said the Bill provided that the Civil Service officers should make good any defalcations of any of their number. At present a levy caused great heart-burning, because some officers considered themselves exempted. This Bill would make the levy fall equa'ly upon all the officers in the Service, excepting, of course, those included in the exemption clause It was desirable in the interests of the officers themselves, and did not involve the colony in any contribution.

The motion was agreed to

The Minister of lands proposed the second reading of the Land Drainage Bill, saying that it was asked for by a large number of people in various parts of the colony. It provides for the damage of lands, authority being given for the appointment of boards under whose control the work will be done.

The Minister of lands, in reply to Mr Wright, pointed out that it was necessary to establish special boards for the administration of the Act, inasmuch as a county council would not take up a drainage scheme in a district if only a few people were interested. He would be willing, however, to amend the Bill, so as to give the councils the power of management, if they were willing to take them up.

The second reading was agreed to, and the Bill was referred to the Agricultural and Stock Committee.

The Minister of Lands moved the second reading of the Land Act Amendment Bill, which, he said, corrected certain mistakes in the Act of last session.

The motion was agreed to.

The second reading of the Giramerburn Forest Bill, designed to open for settlement the Gimmerbvrn Reserve of 1200 acres was agreed to.

The Kyngdon Land Great Bill was read a second time.

The second reading of the Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Act 1877 Amendment Bill was agreed to.

The Halswell River Drainage District Bill was read a second time.

The West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill was committed.

The Bill was reported from committee, and the amendments agreed to. The third reading was set down for to-day.

The House adjourned at 1. 10 a.m Tuesday, September 5. The Speaker took the chair at 2.80 p.m.

on the motion of Mr G Hutchison, the Egmont County Bill was discharged from the order paper.

The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill, wa

read a third time and passed. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Ellesmere Lake Lancta Bill were agreed to. The Post O-ffice Acts Amendment Bill Was committed: Sortie iiiiudr ahipiidments we're agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.

In the Civil Service Officers' Guarantee Bill, in c'dniniittee> an Amendment was made, and the Bill was then read a third time and

passed

The Stamp Acts Amendment Bill was committed, and was read a third time and passed. On tile quesfeidii of committing the Slidps attd Shop Assistants Bill} Mr Dutllie strotigly opposed the Jiilli urging that it Would injuriously hamper trade, and Would have a disastrous effect, so far as the Working classes were concerned He, moved all amendment that the tiill be committed that day six months.

Mr Fish supported this amend

ment.

The Hon. W. Bollesfcon contended that the measure wou'd be a gross injustice to small traders throughout the Colony, Mr Shera asserted that both shop assistants and shopkeepers Wanted the Bill.

Sir Robert Stout said he would propose certain amendments in committee, and if they were rejected, he would oppose the third reading. One of them was that hotels should be subject to its provisions.

Mr McGowan supported the Bill.

Mr R. Thompson declared that the P»ill would ruin a large number of small tradespeople.

Mr Earnshaw recognised that a great number of shops wonld go to the wall, but he did not think it altogether a bad thing. The existence of an innumerable number of shops did not cheapen the cost of goods to the consumer.

The amendment was defeated by 20 votes to 12.

The P»ill was committed, progress being immediately reported.

The House adjourned at 2.3 a.m.