GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1259, 30 October 1884, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

In the Legislative Council on Monday, The Trustees, Executors and Agency Company Bill was read a third time and passed. * The House went into Committee on the East and West. Coast (M. 1.) Railway Bill. In clause 4, the words “by Arthurs Puss route ” were struck out altogether. In clause 5 the words " that the Governor may contract to take over and work the railway in consideration of receiving a percentage of the proceeds, ’* were struck out on a division. Several other amendments were made and

the Bill was reported. . The Council then went into Committee on the Fisheries Conservation Bill, Waikato Confiscated Land Bill, and the Supreme Court Registrar (L'aranaki) Empowering Bill. The two former were read a third time and passed. The last-named Bill was reported, and the third reading was made an order for

the next day. The Council rose at 8.20 p.m.

In the Council on Tuesday, A message was received from the Governor stating that ho had been pleased to restore to the Council the Hon. George Buckley, who bad forfeited bis seat through being absent

for two sessions. . , Mr McLean moved the adornment of the Council, and made a few remarks on the Statements made by the Premier and Colonial Treasurer in the House. After the Colonial Secretary had replied, the motion for adjournment was negatived. ' The Government insurance Bill passed its .mi Westport H.rb« Hills passed their second readings.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 on Monday. The Hon. Mr Stout introduced a BUI to unite certain City Electorates. The Hon. Mr Stout moved tnat Government business take precedence on Thursday for the remainder of the session.—Agreed to, 3ir George Grey moved the adjournment of the House, in order to bring up the subject of the Ministerial Statement by the Premier on Friday night. He said that the Statement was totally uncalled for and calculated to interfere with the freedom of debate in the House. He had merely moved in the matter to elicit some expression ot ° P rp^ n Hon. Mr Stout said he could not understand why the matter had been referred to The Government were not going to remain on the Benches merely for the sake of passing the Appropration Act, and f * policy Bills were to be interfered with in the other House, the Government must take a definite course in the matter. There was a large preponderance of North Wand members in the Legislative Council, The Governmentdid not intend to carry measures merely for the benefit of one portion of the colony only, and if they could not pass their measures they would not remain on the Benches, and he thought that other Governments would have pub the matter far more strengly than the present one had done. He did not think any other explanation as to the statement he made on Friday night was De jf f defended the action of the Government. He thought the Legislative Council had shown great want of consideration in rejecting the District Railways Bill. That Bill was a matter of necessity. Although he bad resisted the Bell in 1879 he thought there was no other course but a dissolution if the policy Bills of the Governmant were rejected by the Council. Mr Rolleeton thought older members of the House should enter their emphatic protest against the course taken by the Premier on Friday night. Tbe words used on that occasion were the word, of the Premier, but the hand was undoubtedly that of the Colonial Treasurer. He thought the explanation maae on the present occasion had made matters far worse than before. The Government had introduced a very objectionable feature, patting the North Islnnd against the South. Ho thought the rejection of the District Railwavs Bill had nothing at all to do with uSSSh Mirf Tnint E.a r y. That ~1way had been settled in 1882. present Government were entitled to no credit at all with reference to that railway. That was a question of the past. The present Government had not oven decided on the route. He held that anything that was done to promote settlement in any part of the co “ ntr J the utmost interest. The Premier had told them that in consequence of the action of the Council they were to have a dissolution, and that was ft very improper threat to make. The District Railways Bill had been forced on the House without giving the information which members had sought for. That Bill was bronghtin in the interests of the Agricultural Company, in "h lch the Colonial Treasurer was so largely interested. It was absurd for the Government to say they would go to the country on such a measure as the District Railways Bill. Captain Sutter thought the discussion that had ensued was altogether out of place, and he. hoped the debate would not be further pr °| r r a made along speech on the. •object aul expressed the opinion that the Council had a perfect right to reject the Bdl if they thought fit. The Government had only t hemselves to thank for it. Messrs Bryce, Levestam, Pyka Barron, 3rigg, South, Seddon, Shnmski, Sir JuliuSir George Grey spoke on tbe subject, and"the motion for the adjournment of the House was put and negatived. The Bankruptcy Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. Mr Sedduu moved- the recommittal of the Police Offences Bill with a view to reconsider clause 13, providing penalties for Sunday trading, bu. after a short, discussion the proposal was negatived and the Bill was read a third time and passed. Ihe Land Act 1877 amendment Bill was considered in Committee. In the House on Tuesday, Replying to Mr Macandrew as to whether the Government will consider and report as to what alteration, if any, should be made in the law regulating the currency m New Zealand and the aovieabi ity of establishing a Government land banic, whereby advances may bo obtained upon fieehold land at a low rate of interest, the Hon. Sir Julius Yogel ■aid the first part ot the question required very careful consideration, as a Royal Commission might do more harm than good. As to the second part, there was no evidence available on the matter in the colony. He thought before the Government took any ■fens they should send Home to England or to India tor information on the subject. A number of other questions were also ” Sir Julius Yogelmoved the second reding of the New Zealand International South Sea Trading Corapans’s Bill. After a dr bate the Bill was lost, 28 voting for and 39 * g Oaths’ mol ion of the Hon. Sir Julius Yogel the amendments made in tbe East and West Coast Railway Bill were agreed to. Sir Julius Voael however, disclaimed all responsibility if the Act did not wmk, and said if such were the case the Canterbury members would not be content till another measure was passed. The Jdf’U'O w**nt imo Connniltee on the Road Boards Act Amendment Bill, which passed with verbal amendments and the *idition of new clauses. jhe Laud Act 1877 Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee.