PARLIAMENTARY.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 135, 26 July 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[I'ER PRESS': AGEXCV.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AVet.likgtox, July 22. . The House resumed at 7.J0 last evening, when it, resolved itself into committee on .the Baling Bill. Clause Gl was amended so as to allow a local body to sell a part or the whole of the property of absentees for rates unpaid. Most of the. Auckland mumbers supported. tip chi use, js t rgng 1 y, ; , bn I it met with some opposiiiun from 1 Canterbury and Otago members. .The majority of the other clauses that passed fhroiigbco'm'inittcc >were npt-4(iateiMly.aliorc.cL.:, : Sc\Y T eral .chilli were postponed till the recommittal of (he Bill. The Stamp Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. „ The lion. C. C.. Bowen .moved the second, reading of the Friendly 'Societies Bill, and explained, that tlic Bill Had been introduced solely in compliance with the wishes of the Friendly Societies themselves, and that it had been framed upon the English Act of 1875,..which had been drawn up in accordance, with the decision arrived at by a Royal Commission appointed! 'by the Imperial Parliament in 187-1 ; and while they.were prepared to concede as much as possible to the wishes of the Friendly Societies of the colony, they were reluctant 'to depart to any great extent from' Hie conclusions arrived at by the Imperial Parliament, who had-givon'llie greatest; attention to .the question.. t It was urgpifc that the Bill would ’create a new department- hr Government, : hup the-fact was, the'! Government did■ not wish to create any fresh, department, as they calculated upon the necessary work of registering and auditing. Being done in' the law offices of the Government, lie pointed out also ,that it Was' for the interests of The Societies that they should be under-the supervision mf the Government ; in fact,, the most influential Societies, which had suffered from reckless : competition,-,were those which were most desirous that they should he subject 'io' Government interference. - A goo’d deal of discussion ensued, hut while it was agreed that the Bill was a good one' in the main, : and very, carefully drawn up, it was contended that it would bo more consistent with the . interest of the Societies, if the Bill were not advanced to a further stage, until sufficient lime had been given to the Friendly Societies anti others interested in the question, fd consult as to amendments. : • Mr Bowen said the Government had no wish to hurry the Bill. The Bilk was then read, .a second, time, and its committal ordered for Friday next. '

The House then went into committee on the Municipal Corporations Bill. A great deal of discussion ensued on 'clauses regarding the number of votes to be allowed to burgesses, opinions being divided as to whether burgesses should have plurality of votes, or merely single votes for each ward.- , Ultimately,... progress was reported without' any decision having been arrived at. In the course of the debate, the Government announced that as’ regarded the election of Mayor, they intended burgesses to- have but one vote. The liou.se adjourned at 12.40 a.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, . , , July ,25. The House met at 2.30, " 'Mr Pyko 'gave notice to ask leave to introduce a Bill to alter and amend duties 1 on gold. Mr I’olloston .gave notice to ask when rates and Jahles, in connection with Friendly Societies Bill, will be laid before too House. Mr Bowen moved tbo second reading of the Juries Act Amendment Hill, and brielly explained its -object and provisions, it exempts. Railway otiicinls and workmen, and provides that an alien may Ire tried by a jury, hr the same maimer as'if lie was a natural horn subject. The remainder oblhc afternoon- was occupied in discussing the Municipal Cor-poration-Act Amendment Bill, which was taken up at clause 20;('number of votes oi: burgesses). An' . ardent discussion was kept up throughout. The maximum mnnberof votes allowed by life Bill'to burgesses is live. , | ' The Premier announced that the Public Works Statement would bo made at 7.30. •ThcTloii.se rose" at 6.30. -- [Tbs Statement was made as .promirnly but was too long forms to even attempt to publish iu the present issue.]