PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 107, 12 July 1895, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington, Tuesday. JUDICIAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE BHiL. The whole afternoou was occupied, in debate on I ho second reading of the Judicial Prac'iee and Procedure Bill. The debate w.is adjourned, and the Council rose until Thursday. HOUSE of REPEESENTATIVES. Wellington, Tuesday. THE WARD RECEPTION. Mr Seddon moved that the House at its rising adjourn till 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. He thought the Colonial Treasurer's return from England was an occasion when the House should sink party feeliug and the members would scarcely be in a mood to go on with business to-morrow on account of the reception proceedings. Captain Eussell said the Opposition objected to the statements alleged to have been made by Mr Ward before the London Chamber of Commerce, and if they agreed to adjourn it might be taken as a tacit agreement on their part with these statements. They therefore entered their protest against the adjournment. Mr G-. J. Smith objected to the adjournment, and Sir Robert Stout, who took a similar view, said such a thing was entirely unknown in England, and would be scouted in any other Parliament in the world. Mr Seddon in reply said the House had frequently adjourned for more trifling reasons than that of doing honor to a Minister of the Crown, who had done good service not only to this colony but to all colonies. He felt sure Mr Ward would be able to explain his statements at the meeting of the London Chamber of Commerce, and also refute other charges made against him. Mr Seddon's motion was carried by 42 to 23. " MEDICAL CHARGES. Mr Seddon stated in reply to a question that if medical men persisted in making excessive charges for operations and medical- attendance there was no doubt legislation would have to be introduced enforcing maximum charges in these directions.

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. (New Zealand Times.)

The Local Authorities' Loans Conversion Bill provides that any local anthority authorised by special order may convert any outstanding loan it may have by means of conversion debentures'issued to the amount of the loan, and any 'further amount that might be necessary by way of premium or compensation. Debentures so issued are to bear interest at a rate not exceeding 4$ per cent., and shall have a currency not exceeding 80 years. No such debenture shall be issued for a smaller sum of £2O. The sinking funds accrued and accruing in respect of any loan shall be to, the extent of conversion, and shall be disposed of by the Sinking Fund Commissioners, for the benefit of the local authority, as Governor in Council decides. Pending the operations for converting loans, moneys may be borrowed for the purposes of the conversion from any person to an extent not exceeding the sinking funds to be set free by such conversion. The rate 9, revenue or other securities for any loan converted are to become the securities for the conversion debentures in connection with such loan. In converting two or more loans any local authority may consolidate them into one loan. Holders of debentures cannot be compelled to accept payment before the due date, and a poll of the ratepayers is not necessary to enable a local authority to convert its loans. Since the Government took over the railways a reduction of from 14 to 28 per cent has been made in the freight of lime. They now have under consideration the question of a further reduction. The police have had special instructions, the Premier states, to prevent Chinese gambling houses springing up in the towns of the colony. Mr G. VV. Russell is introducing a Bill to provide for the periodical revaluation of lands leased in perpetuity. If the Bill is passed into law, it will necessitate a revaluation of these lands every 10 years, and if the revaluation is not acceptable to the tenant he mayforfeit his lease or appeal to the Stipendary Magistrate of his district against such revaluation. The yearly rental is to be based upon this periodical revaluation. In consequence of numerous communications on the subject of an application for a charter for a workingmen's club at Hawera, Mr Hutchison gave notice of question to the Premier on Friday—being the first available day—whether in view of the contemplated legislation, and of the strong adverse feeling, consideration of the application may not be deferred if the application be not granted.

The absolute prevention of poor men being got into Parliament at present was the Premier’s plea for the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill. He proposed to submit the Bill to the Statutes Revision Committee, and when the Bill came back to the House each member could give his experiences. (“ Oh !”) It was necessary to place a limit on election expenses. He thought no man should be allowed to spend more than £2OO over his election. The Bill passed its second reading without debate. A feeling of uneasiness has been growing among North Island members as to the rumored proposal in the Representation Bill that no re-distribu-tion of seats shall follow the census of April next. It is understood that there has been a large increase in the population of the North Island as compared with the population of the South Island since the last census. Taranaki claims to be entitled to another member, on the ground that there has been

a large influx of settlers, consequent on the opening up of land, and it is contended that the revival of mining in Auckland, and land settlement in Wellington would warrant additional representatives for these provinces. Compared with his Undesirable Immigrants Bill, which raised such a storm of indignation last session, the Minister of Labor’s Asiatic and Others Immigration Eestrictiou Bill is comparatively a harmless measure. The poll tax on Chinese and other Asiatics is to "be raised to £IOO. The exclusion of skilled contract labor, except in the case of workmen skilled in particular industries or people engaged in teaching (university professors, for instance) is aimed at. Criminals and dangerous lunatics will be excluded, and the law in existence in South Australia dealing with the exclusion of paupers or persons whose deformity ia of so pronounced a character as to obviously render them a burden on the State is re-enacted. Tourists will not be subject to any such disabilities under the Act, but on the contrary will be encouraged to visit the colony, and any New Zealander going away can return within a period of five years without being subject to the provisions of the Act. The Government intend to introduce this session a measure dealing with the question of charitable aid. The Premier states that the Government recognise that some amendment is needed in the law relating' to the raising of loans by local bodies. Absentees, in their opinion, should not count as voting against a proposed loan, but the matter had to l?e approached very carefully, and it will receive the attention’ of the Colonial Treasurer. A lengthy report on the administration under the Government Advances to Settlers Act, 1894, by Mr J. W. Warburton, superintendent, was laid upon the table of the House. In concluding his report, Mr Warburton says the Act cannot but prove of substantial benefit to the Colony. The Act only became law on October Bth last, and and up to 31st March 2016 applications for advances amounting 4o £843,188 were received. Of these, 796 applications for advances amounting to £423,051, were gr anted to the extent of £803,476 on a security of £851,089 ; and 532 applications for advances amounting to £203,414 were declined. The amount of money actually issued from the office in payment of the advances is £87,735.