GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1138, 23 August 1883, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

In the House of Representatives on Monday, The Hon Major Atkinson gave notice he would move that Government business take, precedence of all other business on Wednesday. Ihe Chattels Securities Bill was reported from the Upper House with amendments, which were agreed to. The Hon Mr Conolly moved the second reading of the Settled Land Bill. The object of the Bill was to do away J 3 with the possibility of tying up lands for any great length of time by way of entail. It was substantially the same as the Alienation of Lands Bill, introduced into the Legislature last session, hut, which was not passed. Since then the British Legislature had dealt w'th Ui * same subject in the same direction, and the measure now before them was substantially a transcript of the English Act.

Mr DeLautour did not consider the Bill met the desire expressed during tlic last few years to aboli-di the law of entail and settlement. He denied that the tenant for life had power to dispose of the land.. Every pound so realised had to he invested for the purpose of the trust. He ventured to say that they did not desire to encourage these settlements, That wag not- the purpose of the Bill introduced by the Premier two years ago. In introducing the measure into the English of which this was said to be a transcript, it was distinctly stated that the sole object was to popularise these settlements and not in any way to abolish them. He moved an amendment— That this House do not desire to encourage the making* of settlements of this class in New Zealand, and that the Government be advised to withdraw the Bill. He said he would introduce a measure as soon as possible more in accordance with the spirit of the A'ienation of Lands Bill of the previous session, Messrs Seddon, Sheehan, Sutter, Macandrew, Moss, J. W. Thompson and Fitzgerald spoke against the measure, and on the motion of Mr Suiter ‘he debate was adjourned till Thursday. Mr Montgomery wanted to know if the Government would bring down the Premier’s Bill instead cf tho one now before them. That Bill had been circulated, and they had been led to expect it. The Hon Mr Itollestcn promised a reply on Thursday. The Land Act Amendment Bill wu then considered in Committee.

In the Legislative Council on Tuesday,

Mr Reynolds moved— 1 That the expenditure on the Council ought to be reduced by at least L600.* Ha wished to strike off LIOO each from the Chairman of Committees, the Clerk, and the Clerk’s assistant ; to strike off the second Clerk’s Assistant altogether, and the 1.500 set down for the Chairman of the Petitions Committee, etc. The expenses of the Council, irrespective of honorariums, were L 3200, whereas those of the Otago Provincial Council, with much greater business, were only LOOO a year.

The motion ivas rejected by 27 votes to five.

In the House of Representatives on Tuesday,

The Hon Major Atkinson moved that Government business take precedence to-morrow and on the Wednesday fol-

lowing. Mr Montgomery said that this simply meant that private members were to be allowed no more time for their business. Ho did not desire to stave off the end of the session, but this plan was so highly inconvenient for the despatch of tha business of the country, that it was simply impossible for them to transact it here. If they were to do tha business properly which Government band set down it would take them at the very least a month. That being so, ho diet not see how private members could be asked to forego their day. The motion brought them face to face with one of two alternatives, either members were not prepared to do their duty, or if so, than the plan was so utterly inconvenient that it was quite impossible to do the business. Mr Sheehan asked the Government to state what Bills they proposed to drop. Sir George Grey thought this closing of the session as proposed was a wrong proceeding. Private members had been enabled to do nothing. He had one measure put on the Order Paper at the opening of the session, and now it was at the end. They got a large pay for sitting here, and for a short session like this, the pay was too large. Another view of the case was this. It meant that they were not to have proper information as to the affairs of the country. The administration was to be carried on in,secret. They might fairly ask for a few days longer, so as to allow private members to do their business. Mr Macandrew thought the proposal a very dangerous one in principle, The Hon Major Atkinson said that if private numbers chose they might remain as long as they pleased after the Government business was done. The fact was they had got into the u habit of attempting to do irf three months what properly done would take six, What the Government proposed doing was perfectly resonable. They thought all that was necessary fo* the real good of the country could be done in a fortnight, but it lay with the House to say whether it concurred in that opinion on not. He would take an early opportunity for stating what measures the Government proposed to drop. The House then divided—Ayes 47, Noes 27. On the motion for going into Committee on the Native Land Amendment Bill, Mr Moss objected to the Bill, contending that it would seriously retard the settlement of the North Island. Mr Sheehan made , a long speech on the subject, tracing the progress of the Native Lands Legislation from 1840. He opposed the Bill. Mr Turnbull thought the Bill amounted to locking the stable door after the horse had been stolen. Last Session a private member had brought down a Bill ot similar purport, and it was bitteily opposefK by the Native Minister. This -showed whattke Bill was worth. Mr Stevens moved as an amendment that the Bill be read that day six months, but this was negatived by 52 to eight. The House then went into Committee on the Bill. The Bill was ordered to be recommitted on Thursday next.