PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 212, 13 September 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

FEB PBESS ASSOCIATION, | LEGISLATIYE COUNCIL, j Thubsdat, 12th Skptembeb. The Conncil met at 2.30. In committee on the Companies Bill, Clause 25, which provides that where a company is ordered to be wound up by the Court under the [principal Act the Official Assignee 'shall be the sole and officii) liquidator, in reply to a question by tho Hon. Oimond, Hun. W. C. Walker thought that companies voluntarily wound up did not come undar this clause. Hon. Tnoaiey moved an amendment providing that companies already in course-of being wound up should also cotno under the clause. Hon. Louisson protested against the drastic nature of this amendment which was carried by 16 to 13. Hon. Bjwen pointed out the danger of retrospective legislation, and ven r tured the opinion'that the amendment would not bear scrutiny when the Bill was looked into. Hon. Twomey moved to strike out all the audit clauses, and substitute a clause providing that accounts of all | companies shall ba audited by the Audit Office. Hons McLean and Louisson opposed, and Hon. G. Jones supported the amendment. Hon. W. C. Walker considered the provisions of the Acb of 1894, giving shareholders tbe right to apply for a Government audit, met the case. I Ho". A. L Smith pointed out that i it would be an unnecessary expense' to the colony. Hon. Bowen thought the suggestion most impracticable. > The Council adjourned at B p.m. | Evening Siixinq. The Council re-umed at 7.30 p.m. The Companies Bill was further considered ia committee, Clause 18, I relating to audit, was oarried without material ameudm nt by 17 to l.j Several new clauses were addJd and j the Bill was reported, aud the Council rose at 9.20 p.m. j HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thjbsday, 12th Septembrb, The House met at 2.30. j The annual report of the Commandant of the Forces was laid on thp table. Mr. Piraoi asked whether there was any trut h in the statement that had b en published that Colonel Fenton was going to Srnth Africa to take charge of the Sixth Coot : ngent, and whether Major Andrews (an old New Zealand boy, who was now in command of that contingent) was to be superseded on tbe authority of the New Zealand De r eno Department or the Imperial authorities. Mr. Buddocomplained that Imperial officers had kveo appointed to the command of districts, and urged that these appointments should be given to colonial officers who had had South Afrioan experience.

Mr. Saddon said 1 thay mast not; discriminate too much between colonial and Imperial officer*. They all belonged to th« one great nation. Major Andrews had only taken charge of the Sixth Contingent tempo* arily, and his (Mr. Seddon's) opinion was that they wanted a man of higher rank to take charge of 600 or 700 men. The appoin'ment of a district adjutant referred to by Mr. Buddo had twen made before he promised to give such positions to colonial officers, but sinoe then colonial officers had bam appointed. When another oolonial officer came bick from South Africa he would be appointed to a simitar pes tion. j Tha Limitation of Profits and Pievention of Rings and Combines Bill (Mr. Horr.s'iy), the Mining Act Amendment Bill (M>\ MoOuwati), ttn.l the Oc.'aa JB»»ch Publio Dimain Ac*, 1892, Amendment Bill(M-. Morrison), »ere introduced and rend a fiis* t me. Mr. S'jddon moved a r< solution expressing hon or at the attempt on th-3 life of President McEinley, and sympathy with Mi 8. McKinluy aud the American peop'e. The motion was seconded by O.tptain Russell, and agreed to unanimously. The Local Blls Committee recomimend«d th it the Esmont County Bill be not al owed to proceed, as h<> Standing Orders had not been complied with.

i Mr. Hornsby moved that a gross i breach of privilege bad bean committed by the publication of a certain article in thn Minawatu Evening Standard of > Ocfcob r 22 d, 1900. Mr. Maspey raised a paint of order thifc the allege 1 breach nos hiving been brought up a* ones after discovery, notice of motion mu<t. he i:ireo OupViin Bus-el I urj»pd that Mr. Hornsby had missel his opponuni y by n«t bringing the question up on the first day the House nr t. Mr. 0. W. Russell: It has already been read in the H us* thi< sesaio". Mr. SelHon siii he wished the House to do the correct thing in this matter. First of all thn article must ! be read, and they must decide whe'h >r there had been a breach of privilege. If, \vh»n read, it was proved that the breach of privilege h<d t>een com mitted some time ngo, they had to consider whether it could now be d»nlt with. He gave aprfcednnf. frm May to show if. could nnvv be dealt with, Mr. Pirani said that when members I of the Opposition raised this p .int he jsaid he did not care aS"tit it. If he j hail committed a breach of privilege he ' would be glad to see it raised as soon as possible. Mr. Fisher s\id he read the a-'Me to the House on .August Is', wlmn sp aking on the Libel Bill. It se»in d a little peculiar that the Hoase should now be asked to deal with the ma* ter. I Thn Act ing-Speaker said the allege J branch of privilege occurred ab>ut jelev n months ago, and he rul-d thu Mr. Horusby must give notioe of motion, Mr. Hornsby thereupon gave notice of motion for the following day. Mr. Pirani gave notice tba f . to-nnr-mw week he would bring before the House a breach of privilege committed by Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby in tho N*piar Evening Sews of 6th August, 1896, in the course of an article in which he said that the member for Palmerston North hid been bribed by the foreign banks in the colony to vote against the Bank of New Zealand, Mr. Seddon moved that all o'her business be postponed in or Je~ thai he might bring on his motion t > te-oind the resolution fixing morning sittings of the Hqusp. Captain Russell protestpd agai is?, the persistant refusal of the Govs, nment to answer questions. The Premier's motion wis carri d bv 31 to 18. ' Mr. SeJdon then moved to rescind th# reaaluiion of 10 th July lait, a ring

morning sittings. H« sud the ; occasioned in tho work of j warranted him in bringing on m «tion. It was bis desire to s ssion to a close by th# first Ottober. > Captain Bussell agreed that ing sittings interfered with committed! but be hoped Mr. Seddon would reasonable hour for rising on nights of the week. A lengthy discussion ensued, in course of which Mr. Graham moved uH addition t9 the motion "That tbfH House shall not sit after midnight" ■ The debite was iatstxnptadf.br thai 5.30 adjournment. [■ Evening Sitting. ■ The House resumed at 7.30. i ■ The debate on the proposal to abolish , ! morning .sittings of the House was oon- ' I ttnued.' Mr. opposed ' 1 Graham 8 ' amerdjnpnt on tho 1 ground that it; would, qnftbjfe a fair 1 members to effectually block bnsinaM. ',l On Mr Graham's amendment V 3W. ,)>£&' to?6/and tha * motion by 35 to 2S. Thefinawoiildebate was resamsdat 9.15 by Mr B. Thompson, who said ba did not agree with thpaa members who had been other metnboM ' for independently criticising tha / budget It was absurd to blame tha f Government for piling up the national ' d«bt, when a large amount of money borrowed was lent and added no extra >urden to tax* payer?. The Gevernmant should ga slow m the mattw of purcbaasa under M the Land for Settlement Anf. . lieved land w«s now above its traoH valus. He wu pranMd to sumac* any reasonable pt^^JforboSSK WM MMtg&jji.# constructing railways. Thew.,wa«np d#ubta pertain amount of sgitation and unrest among the farming community of lata, and this be attributed to the low prioea of wool. Th® Workmen's Cooopensatian for Accident At% the abnormal value plaoed on farming land for purjtoies, and' tha Conciliation and Arbitration looking into. He oomplaioef that tha Grown Tenants B.bato Act had <not fcoan fairly administrated, Mr'fiinare Kiihan said ha viewed with suspioion tha continual hnii«H««g up of the colony's jutional demand objected to any portion being —Ul+fl on the Maori laads. . He tbe. Native Land Adminutration Aet of la'-t session, spying under it tha n itive race had a grievous burden to bear. He urged that Government should cease purchasing Maori ' and should return land to landleaa natives in the Waikaio. With regaid to tha Boyal visit, tbe Go vernment should not have ignored a large —i*?f of the Maori jpaoe, and their represent tative head, King M^huta