THURSDAY'S BUSINESS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 170, 23 June 1883, Page 2

THURSDAY'S BUSINESS.

_. Hon. Major A^ktns^n, m rep'y to Mr Wait resDecting. public bodies being enabled to claim, : whphdiie, any rate* for Grown or native lands, said Govern-, ment did intend to ask the House to vote these moneys, and. a Bill, would; be also also brought mtq ; amend, the oversight m- the Act of last,. session. \ Hon. Mr Johnston to Mr Daniel as to conapellinsf' contractor to nay workmen at th vend of each fourteen days, said a bill was not necessary, because a clause m every Government cootraot reqinrfid this, tp be done, under a penalty tor in tt action, ; He was aware of some departures from the practice," and intended m future to issue public notice m any district where a contract ; was taken for public works. ""' "> Mr" Barron asked whether some dishonest baker?, an^ others, were permitted to defraud the pnblic by selling bread of false weight, through poice carelessness, or defects m the law. He wanted a remedy applied,, either by exprPKs instructions to the police or by a Bill . . ■ . ; , Hon. Mr Dick was not aware thnt dishonest bakers did defraud the public. If,' on recei pine replies' to bis inquiries, he found freph legislatidn necessary, a • Bill would be brought m to suppress such practices. Mr E. Phaw gave notice yesterday to ask the following questions m the douse next Wednesday-^CJnder what power the Public Trustee; is investing trust funds m loans on mortgage of freehold property belong ing toprivate individuals; and whe'ber the colony is liable for any lo ses which may occur m respect ot such advances* and whether, the rate of ihi,eresl : is not for the most part below the current market rate? f ; Mr Wh\te asked, a question relating to the grievances of, man v new borough's which could not claim land endowments since the law was changed m 1878. Hon. Mr Holleston said m reply that the Goverrioi o nt bad"previously considered -this matter,. and r having ob tamed returns oClunds within such towns the Government now i" tended to get power from the :Hpuse by, a; Bill to grant, endowments to new boroughs and town districts . ' If a Bill could not be passed thie session, the 'Government would withhotd land fromi sale within each such district. pending fre^h:- legislation.

/BY TELEGRAPH.) .: (PEE UNITED RHESS ASSOCIATION. I i j . . WELiiirOTON, This Day. 1 On the House resuming after the usual adjournment, the Tenants Fixture BUI was read a sesond time on the ' motion of i»r Connolly. Mr Connolly moved the second read^ m.- of the Prisons Bill. It took away from the visiting justices the power of prolonging the original sentences on' account of jjprison offences, and required all serious prison offences to be dealt with m the nearest R. M. Gour 1 :. In minor offences also the whole proceedings must be mi n the prisoner's presence. It also provided for inspection by visitors of a lower grade than justices. Kespectable working men ami women ■would b^ appointed, with full power of enquiry. Co'onel Trimble thought these visitors would clash with the visiting justices. I He jcomplained that the new prison regulations'were too cast-iron and severe especially m regard to forbidding prisoners seeing friends and depriving them of: tobacco.- . . Mr Holmes concurred m those objections and both he and Mr P uton jtravV instances. of great hardship m regaid to visits from friends. Mt* Watt also concurred and thought visiting justices should have power to permit such visits. Considerable discussion took place m place m which Messrs Feldwick, Joyce, Dodson, Feddon, Grey, Shiw, bh'epherd, .Swanson, Daniel, . Hutchison, and others too* part, all objecting! to the severity of the punishments provided, and especially those of of ffo?* ging, and the dark cell. la replying^Mr Connolly intimated he would be qhite prepared to aeoept amendments' to modify the punishments, or do away altogether with thoße specially objected to. The Bill was read a second time, and the House rope u\ 12.40,