PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1145, 12 September 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[per united press association.]

Legislative Council. WELLINGTON, This day. The Council met at 11 a.m. yesterday. The following Bills were read a third time and passed :—Gisborne Harbor Board, Ashburton Race Course, Fencing Act 1881 Amendment, Municipal Corporations Act 1876 Amendment, and Portobello Road Board Enabling. The following Bills were read a second time :—Cemeteries, Education, and Rhodes’ ! Estate Duty. Colonel Whitmore moved that the Council insist on the amendments being made in the Land Bills. Carried.

Mr Whitaker moved the 2m 1 reading of the Rangipo-Murimotu Agreement Validation Bill.

Mr Reynolds moved it be read this day 6 mor «hs, as it had only been introduced after hours, and, after some discussion, the Council divided on the 2nd read’ng : Ayes, 16 ; noes, 11. The amendment was lost. The Council rose at 12.35.

At the afternoon sitting. Mr Whitaker moved the Bill be committed presently. Mr Holmes moved an amendment that it be referred to the Waste Lands Committee to consider and report on. The amendment was subsequently withdrawn. Captain Fraser moved it be referred to a Select Committee.

The Council divided : Ayes, 13 ; noes, 16. The amendment was lost, and the Bill was ordered to be committed presently. The Premier stated he had just received certain information from the Government Printer which would detain Parliament until Friday, o«ving to Bills not being printed. The Council then agreed to insist on the amendment in the Special Powers and Contractors Bill by 14 to 12. The amendments made in the District Railway Bill by the Council were objected to by tlie House of Representatives as being a breach of privilege, thereupon Mr Oliver moved that the Council do not insist on the said amendment, but subsequently withdrew the motion for the purpose of appointing Messrs Bonar, Johnston, and Oliver, to draw up reasons why the Council should insist on the amendments.

The Council adjourned at 4 until 7.30. At the evening sitting, the managers of the conference on the Land Bill reported that they had been unable to agree. A fresh conference was appointed for ten next morning; The following Bills were read a third time and passed:—Education Districts, Cemeteries, Rhodes' Estates Duty, Rangipo-Muri-motu Agreement Validation, Tauranga-Eaat Coast and Hot Lakes District Railway, Registration of Births and Deaths Amendment, Public Revenues, and Oamaru Harbor Board.

The Council rose at 9. The Council met at noon, when the Premier announced that arrangements had been come to by the Managers of the Land Bill Conference, which after discussion were put seriatum. In clause 2 “ one-third ” was restored in place of “one fifth,” on area of agricultural land open for sale in districts being leased. In clause 31, the residence clause, exception was made in case of leaseholders being minors who were allowed to reside with their parents or guardians for 3 years under pain of forfeiture for a longer period. Clause 33 was restored. The pin chasing clause 35 was amended ; so that reserves in mining districts not be affected; the operation in clause 37, the word “gold” was inserted before “mining. ” Mr McKenzie’s clause limit of three years was attached to the operation of the proviso, and added to the clause. On the motion of Mr Holmes, clause 76 was struck out.

The report of the Conference was agreed to.

House of Representatives. The House re-assembled at 2 p.m. On the motion for going into committee on the Oamaru Harbor Bill Mr Hall moved an amendment that they refuse to go into committee on the Bill, as it necessitated a suspension of their standing orders ; and sufficient cause had not been shown to warrant the step. He pointed out that at this late period of the session it would be impossible to give a measure of this kind sufficient consideration.

Mr Sheehan supported the bill. The fact of its late introduction showed that Oamaru was better able than many other places to gauge the real merits of the House. They knew that it was only at the end of the session that any real work was done. It was a credit to the Government to say they had taken over this Bill for a member of the Opposition. He defended the work as one of Colonial importance. Motion carried. In committee the Bill was amended, reported, and read a third time and passed. The House rose at four to allow the Conference to sit.

At the evening sitting, Mr Rolleston reported that tlie Conference had failed to effect a settlement in regard to the Land Bill, the Council would not yield to the purchasing clause, and the Government could not accept it. A further Conference would be held. A motion was agreed to that during recess Parliament Buildings should be under the control of Government, and that they should be responsible for all expenditure on them. The Propertv Tax Bill was, after some discussion, passed through all its stages. The Council’s amendments in the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill were disagreed to, and a Conference requested. The Council’s amendments in the District Railway Bill were disagreed to, and managers appointed. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Life Insurance Policies Bill, saying it was an important Bill, which he should like to see passed if there was no strong opposition to it. After a slight discussion the 2nd reading was agreed to, and the Bill committed.

Clause 36 was struck out. A few other unimportant amendments were made, and the Bill, as reported, was read a 3rd time and passed. At 1.35 the House adjourned until noon to-day. The House met at noon. Resolutions were reported from tlie Committee of Supply. Mr Bryce moved that the item £5OO, removal of Native Land Court to Wellington from Auckland, be omitted. He said that the item was virtually provided for by a vote on the supplementary estimates for the establishment of a lands registrars district. He reiterated the statement made in committee when the item was under discussion as to the nature of the proposed change in the locality of the Native Land Court head office. Mr Sheehan said it would be most unfortunate to remove the court from Auckland at this time. He proposed to add as an amendment to the motion for omitting the £5OO vote, the following— ’ ‘ In r.s much as the House does not view with favor the removal of the Native Land Court from Auckland to Wellington.” Mr Whitaker advised the ; withdrawal of the amendment proposed, i He concurred in the opinion that it was not ; desirable to give effect to the removal, as it | would be viewed with great distrust by the j Natives. The Government had been warned i of this, and still the Native Minister was *

prepared to take the responsibility under these circumstances. He thought it would be better to leave him to the responsibilities he had undertaken without seeking to hamper the Government with an amendment. Mr Sheehan said that in view of the fact that an amendment was not, under the circumstances, likely to be carried, he would do as suggested, and withdraw the amendment. The motion for the reduction of the vote was put and carried.