GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1251, 11 October 1884, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Legislative Council on Wednesday, The Perpetual Trustees Estate and Agency Company of New Zealand Bill was referred to a Committee for the purpose of inserting a clause providing that two-thirds of the shareholders should be domiciled in the colony. Several Bills were read a second tune, and the Bills of Exchange and Salmon and Trout Amendment Bills were read a third time and passed. In the Council on Thursday, The Sharebrokers Bill, Chatham Islands Animals Bill, and Timaru Market Reserve Bill were read a third time and passed, progress being reported on the others. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Replying to Mr Newman, The Hon. Mr Stout said this colony was not connected with the Postal Union, and in the absence of such connection, which even yet was not considered advisable, postal cards could not be sent unless at letter rates to Great Britain. Replying to Mr Seddon, the Hon. Mr Stout said that Government would not this session attempt to make provision for the special taxing of land owned by Natives or Europeans benefited by the construction of railways and public work?. Replying to Mr Te Ao, the Hon. Mr Ballancesaid Government was not disposed to relax the restrictions on the issue of ammunition to Natives. Mr Steward asked if Government will provide in the Land Act Amendment Bill that purchasers of Crown lands shall have a right of access by road to the lands purchased by them ?—The Hon. Mr Richardson said that Government did not see their way to provide as suggested. On the motion of Sir Julius Vogel, a Bill to create the New Zealand InterI national South Sea Trading Company was introduced and read a first time. | On the motion of Mr Cadman, the I Workmen's Wages Bill was reported, read a third time and passed. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Newspaper Postage Abolition Bill.—-Mr Stout said it would entail a loss of £BOOO a year.—The motion was lost. Mr Fitzherbert moved that the House go into Committee on the Gaming and Lotteries Bill, but an amendment that it be committed that day two months was carried, and the Bill was lost. The Presbyterian Church of Otago Amendment Bill was considered in Committee, reported with amendment, read a j third time and passed ; the Justice of the Peace Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The District Railways Leasing and Purchasing Bill was considered in Committee i and amendments made. In the schedule Mr Tumbull moved an amendment that the Waimate railway be struck out. The line had been taken over by the Government some time ago, and then this Company resumed it again.—Mr Rolleston said that, practically, no Crown lands were benefited by the Waimate line; there was no public reason why this line should be taken over. It had served its purpose ;it had put £2 per acre on the lands of its promoters ; that was what they had pocketed, and now they wanted to get rid of the liability for the line.— The amendment was lost. In the House on Thursday, Replying to Mr Pearson, the Hon. Mr Stout said the Government would be quite willing to appoint a non-paid Commissioner to enquire into the individual cases of the unemployed.—A long debate took place on this subject. It was alleged that 4s 6d a day was not sufficient to keep married men with their families.— Mr Stout averred that some of the men who had gone on with piece-work had made as much as 10s per day.—Mr Levestam said that it was only in Canterbury that the cry of the unemployed was heard.

In reply to questions it was stated that the Government would be as liberal

as possible with Mrs Lintott (whose husband had been ki led by accident) and her family ; that the-Government would consider the propriety of remitting the tax on dogs belonging to natives. The Otago Harbor Board Loans Consolidation Bill was read a third time and passed, as was the Gold Unties Abolition Bill. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State Bill, but it was lost on a division. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Elective Justices of the Peace Bill.—The House divided : Ayes 21, Noes 32. The motion for the second reading was lost. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Constitution Amendment Bill. —The Hon. Mr Stout said that a majority of the Cabinet was opposed to the Bill.—Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of the debate : Ayes 25, Noes 19. The House rose at 1.15 a.m.