GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1146, 8 September 1883, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

In the Legislative Council on Wednesday, The Hon. the Premier introduced a Bill to enable Land Boards to enquire into cases of dummyism, which was pa srd tlirough all its stages. The Companies Act Amendment Bill was also passed through all its stages. The following Bills were also read a third time : —Justices of the Peace Bill, Special Powers and Contracts Bill, South Island Native Reserves Bill, Harbors Act Amendment Bill and Wanganui Bridge Bill.

The Hon. the Premier laid on the Table the Government Bill for the reconstitutiou of the Council to bo considered by members during tin recess and debated next session. He said the Government did not intend to propose the passing of the Bill until after the general election. "Ihe Bill provides that the Council shall ballot half its members out in 1885, when 22 others are to be elected. It 1890 the remainder of the present members go out and 22 others are to be elected. The Council will only consist of 44 members, and three . Maoris (to bo nominated by the Government), and half will retire every five years, thus making the duration of the seat ten years. The members are to be elected on the Hare system, and the wholo colony is to constitute only two electoral district, each island being one, E\ery ■■' male person aged 21 or over will be qualified to vote. Each island is to have 22 members, and casual vacancies are to be filled up by election by the Members of the House of Representatives. Whenever a Bill is passed by one House and rejected by the other, both Houses may sit jointly, the Speaker of the Council to preside, and the Bill on receiving a majority is to pass, In the House on Tuesday, In Class D, Legislative, the following proposed increases to permanent salaries of officers of the Legislative Council were struck out on the voices :• Chairman of Committees £IOO ; Clerk of the Council, £IOO ; Clerk's Assistant, £SO ; Second Clerk's Assistant, £ls. In the House of Representatives, increases of £SO to the Second- Clerk's Assistant and £SO to the Reader, were carried, and the item Sergeant-at-Arms was passed on division. The total vote, Legislative vote £4l,s6B,'including honorarium for both Houses, £24,500, was passed without further debate.

Vote chargeable on the Government Insurance fund, £39,203. Mr J. Buchanan, in referring to Major Atkinson's remarks in replying before going into Supply, repudiated with scorn the insinuation that he was in any way influenced by, or interested in any way in a private insurance company, and, addressing Major Atkinson, he said,' You have been charged that you are the slave and tool of a particular institution, and you could not disprove it.' Major Atkinson moved that the words be taken down and reported to the Speaker. This was done, and the Speaker said to Mr Buchanan that there were three courses open to him, V'Z., to explain the words, retract them or apologise for them.

Mr Buchanan adhered to his remarks and was asked to withdraw from the Honse, when the Hon. W. Itolleston proposed a motion censuryinghim,but on the advice, of Mr Montgomery Mr Buchanan was brought in again and he then withdrew the objectionable words.

The House then considered the Supplementary Estimates, when all the items passed. The Hon. Major Atkinson stated ifc was not intended to proceed with the liussell Land Bill this session, as several members seemed to feel.strongly about it. Full reflection and enquiry, he was sure would convince them that it was a just and necessary measure. Ho inferred the Railway Improved Lands Bill would not he read a second time this session, but it would be circulated to-morrow. With regaid to the reorganisation of the Civil Service, lie regretted that the Government had not been able to obtaain the advice and assistance of the House, but they would not shrink from the responsibility of dealing with the subject during the recess. They would carry cut the reorganisation as far as possible during he recess, and submit tho entire scheme to the House next session. The Bill to alter the Constitution of the Legistative Council would be on the. Table before the House rose. He had been so busy during the session that he had not had time to fully revise the National Insurance Bill, but as soon as ever he could do so he would forward copies to all Members. A report from the Public Accounts Committee was, after an. acrimonious debate, on the motion of Major Atkin-

son referred back. During the evening an amended report was brought up and the motion that it lie on the Table and be printed was then put and carried. The Companies Act Amendment Bill in Committee passed without amendment, was read a third time and passud. The Justices of the Peace Act 1882 Amendment Bill in Committee passed without amendment, wan read a third time and passed. The following Bills were also rend a third time and passed:—Land Hoards Empowering Bill Amendment, Property Tax Amendment Bill, Public Revenues Bill. In the Legislative Council on Thursday, The. Property Tax Bill and the Public Revenues Bill passed through all their stages. In the. House, To satisfy objections , made by ; the Auditor, the Hon Major Atkinson moved that the fares of members and their wives, residing more than a few miles from the seat of Government, be defrayed by the Government for attendance at Pa»liament. The House divided-Ayes 29, Noes 15. In Committee of Ways and Means Sir George Grey moved that the resolutions bo not agreed to until a copy of the agreement between the Government and the Bank of New Zealand belaid on the table. The motion was negatived, Major Atkinson slating that the Government did not posses a copy of the agreement., The Appropriation and Public Works Bills passed through all their stages. The remainder of the sitting was taken up with the Dargaville Enquiry report, in the course of which Mr Dargaville maSe a speech and stated that the report was .an unfair and onosMed one. He quoted from the evidence to show that the charges he made were substantiated. He also staed that the past and present Solicitor-General had stated that the investments in the JBank of New Zealand were illegal and in fact reiterated his charges over again. The motion for the adoption of the report was carried. The House adjourned till 3 p,m. to-day when, it will be prorogued.