MONDAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 115, 15 August 1885, Page 4

MONDAY.

North Island Trunk Line. Ihe House met at 7.30. Mr Thompson asked the Government -without notice if they had accepted any tender for any of the contracts on the North Island main trunk line. Mr Richardson replied that tenders for one of the contracts had been opened, and the lowest tender accepted.

R.M. Court Validation Act. The Premier, in moving the second reading of the K.M. Court Proceedings Validation Bill, merely remarked that it was to validate gome proceedings taken in the Resident Magistrate's Court, and had special reference to persons of the native race. The second reading was carried without debate.

Land Transfer. The second reading of the Land Transfer Bill was also carried without discussion. The Premier, in moving second reading, said it was a consolidation bill, and had passed the Legislative Council, The principal new provisions introduced dealt with assurance funds.

Companies Act, On the third reading of the Companies Act 1882, and Foreign Companies Act 1884 Amendment Bin (Vogel), Mr Holmes moved the recommittal of the measure for the purpose of introducing a new clause, of w;hich, ne had given notice, and which provides that co-operative insurance associations registered, under the Companies Act 1882, are emp6wered to insure only property of shareholders of such associations. He explained that two years ago a foreign insurance company started business in, Christchurch, and' reduced its rate to the amount of 25 per cent. Other insurance companies were compelled to reduce their rates in the same proportion, and even then the rates in Christchurch (although reduced 25 percent.) were,higher than in the other citieß in the colony. Within the last three or four months a ring of insurance companies, leaving out this particular Company, had been formed, and had raised rates on farm Buildings and farm,«properties; thus a ring had been formed to impose "most 1 unfair rates., on the. poor farming classes. The Company .to!; which he had referred wae not disposed to join in with the ring or to increase their profits at the expense of the farming community. ',>.■■ j ' In the discussion which ensued,. , „, f u The Treasurer said he had'no objection to&'recßmmittaKi' ''•" "- o 1 Mr Levestam strongly opposed recommittal. Mr Moss urged a recommittal of the clause in the interests of email insurance companies.

„.The v pwpcwM ,]te t 6M'mifc f for lttov.*iWppBoj)^addj|f v :Kif*Mm^ a W cl&«e ]c>eing, I p^i). i u wtf§' m6fc Vyiiti limeDdiieift moved by, Mr H&tgCi&tfftft bo IWJ6Amitted thai day!3x mb^Ki:" •"' ho'tl . Mr' Jlp^s, was to faat^ blaiifle 9 also recQnsiderecV'but" tliie was. lost 6li tKe (1) Th^ ( feiH .^'accordingly recoitfmitfea'fbr .the purpose -of .addipg a nBiir lcraulS''ihl;rbduce^byMrHqLA. >! i ;'" r^ : '>< ' After some dq|)ftte. clause was', with. , plig^ amen^inejit, aaddti to thfe^bill. ; ' ' w '»';■•> 0 Customs iOttd^oUe Duties. ( ou . '

!; In Committees the Customs and Exoise Duties 3fH, Mr jWaweitibld, moved, that the increased ""duty-v of : 6d* on' Australian Vines be'atrubk outj-tn-gintf that it would be unwise to' ! irritate» the Australian Governments, who would, no f doubt,-, retaliate on New Zealand products. ■ v w•' ' Mr Joyce opposed theoidea of allowing Australian wines tdoompete.'witbulocallymade wines. 'He 1 said the time hadicome when strong protective measures would be needed, and he" asked ■ the hon.i member to go round the Exhibition and say which of the industries represented were the result of protection,' and whioh of free trade. Mr Hubst showed that anincrease of duty on Australian wine would only increase the Customs revenue'on that article by £600. ■ Sir Julius Vogel twitted • Mr Wakefield for advocating differential duties, giving Australian colonies a preference over other countries. These colonies had already an advantage, and it would be foolish. to rai»e the dutieß on foreign wines if they did not raise the duties on Australian wines also. Mr Stout said the proposed increase on Australian wines was only the same as the increase on foreign wines. ! The increased duty was retained by 44 to 26 votes. Captain Sutteb moved the striking out of the clause re Tobacco Excise Extension, but this was lost on the voices and the clause was retained. The motion for the addition of the words, " Binder twine free," was lost by 37 to 31; The Committee then adjourned for

supper. River Boards. On resuming, the River Boards Act Amendment Bill (Premier) was reported.' Mr Fulton secured the passage of a clause permitting Boards, if they think proper, to levy their own rates by their own officers.

Various Acts, The Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment Bill (Mr Larnach) was committed, and several new clauses were addod without discussion. The measure was reported with amendments. The Westland and Grey.Education Board Bill (Minister for Education) passed as printed. Mr Guinness twice divided the House on the clause dealing with the constitution of the Board, but was defeated on each occasion.

Hospital and Charitable Aid, Just before midnight, the Committee proceeded to further consider the Hospital and Charitable Institution Bill. On clause 6, dealing with district boards established, Mr Pyke and Mr Joyce complained that sufficient notice had not been given of the amendments proposed in the supplementary order paper. Messrs Fisher and Gore made desperate efforts to get due representation for large centres of population, but were out-voted by representatives of country districts. Mr White (Sydenham) moved an amendmenttotheeffectthatanyboroughandcounfcy respectively, with a population not exceeding eight thousand members, should have one member ; with a population oJ from eight to sixteen thousand, two members ; above sixteen thousand^three members. The Premier accepted this as a fair compromise. A division was, however, callei for, and the amendment rejected by 41 to 26. At 12.50 Mr Bryoe suggested that the ! Government should agree to the adjournment of the House, The Tekasdrer preferred finishing the clause under discussion. Mr Seddon : % * Finish the bill." It was then proposed to add the words, "And three members for every borough and county, respectively, having over 20,000 inhabitants." The strength of the country votes again prevailed, only 29 voting for the proposal, while 40 opposed it. Mr Fisher moved to report progress and leave to eit again, but found himself in a decided minority. The new clause was thereupon passed. It provides that " for every district there shall be a district board of administration, to consist of the followirig members, viz. :— One member for every borough and county ; respectively in districts averaging less than eight thousand inhabitants, and two members for every borough and county respectively having more than eight thousand inhabitants." At 1.15 p.m , the Premier moved to report progress and leave to sit again. — Carried. The bills which had passed through Committee were then reported, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 1.25 a.m.