GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1358, 27 June 1885, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Hon. Mr Bithgate moved for a Select Committee to report how far it is expedient the credit of the colony should be applied towards making advances at a low rate of interest to settlers on the security of theT freehold lands, and also as to the best mode in which such credit may be so employed. Several hon. members opposed the proposal to pledge the credit of the colony in such a manner, pointing out that other classes who might be suffering from the depression were equally entitled to State assistance.

The Hon. Dr Grace moved an amendment, affirming the opinion of the Council that it would be impolitic to pledge the credit of the colony for the relief of the indebtedness of privatecitizens.

The Hon. Mr Mautell moved the adjournment of the debate. The division resulted in a tie, and the Hon. the Speaker gave his casting vote in favor of the .adjournment of the debate. The Canterbury and Oti.go Marriages Bill and the Patent Bill were afterwards road a third time and passed. The Council adjourned at 4.25 p.m. In the Council on Thursday, The Imprest Supply Bill was received from the Lower House and read a first lime.

On the motion of Mr Reynolds, it was agreed that a return should be prepared showing the amount of business transacted by the Land Transfer Department and the Public Trustee Department in each Piovincial District, also the gross revenue received or accrued.

Mr Reynolds moved for a Select Committee, to consist of seven members, to enquire into the working of the Government printing establishment. The motion was agreed to, and the following wore appointed Messrs Pollen, P. A. Buckley, Reeves, Dignan, Peacock, Bathgate, and the mover.

The adjourned debate on Mr Bathgate’s motion for a Committee to enquire into the granting of State assistance to settlers, by lending them money at a low rate of interest, was resumed, and the motion was carried by 17 to 15. The Municipal Corporation Bill and Mercantile Law Amendment Bill were further considered in Committee. The former was reported with amendments, and the latter was read a third time and passed.

The Council adjourned at 4.55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In the House on Wednesday, Replying to questions, Ministers said ; That Mr Oolenso had promised to have the first part of bis Maori Lexicon ready by the Ist January next; that the Government to received no information which had induced them to raise the duty on boots from 10 to 15 per cent,—it was imposed for purely revenue purposes, not for protection; that Government could not make provision for the payment of witnesses for accused in criminal cases ; that all railways should be constructed at the request of the local bodies under the Local Finance Powers Bill, such bodies being responsible for half the expense ; that Government had received no communication regarding the action of the Gniversity Senate in prescribing certain books to be studied by male and female students. A number of new Bills were introduced. A large number of returns were asked for and agreed to. Mr Brown moved that there be laid before this House within ten* days a return showing the number of policies in the New Zealand Government Assurance Association held in each provincial district; also the gross amount insured in each district. Mr Seddon moved for a return showing (1) the number of police in the colony, and cost per bead of maintaining the same ; (2) the number of counties and boroughs in the colony, and the. number of police in each county and borough separately. Agreed to. Sir George Grey moved for a large number of returns all of which were agreed to.

Mr Macandrew moved that for the re-, mainder of this session this House shall meet at 10.30 o'clock in the forenoon. Mr Macandrew said he saw no grounds for performing the business of the country at midnight instead of mid-day. He instanced the legislature of the United States, which met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 6p.m. He believed his proposals, if carried, would have the effect of shortening the session. As to sittings of Committees they might do business on Mondays and Saturdays, or even iu the evenings.

The Hon, Mr Stout said the objectionable part of the resolution as to the time for adjournment had been struck out. If the House decided to meet at half-past ten instead of half-past two, the Government would endeavor to meet the views of the House.

Major Atkinson cordially agreed with the motion as amended. There was no doubt their business would be conducted better by day than by sitting so late at night. He thought the country would benefit by the change, and it would certainly tend to expedite the business of the House.

Mr Downie Stewart also supported the motion. He thought, however, the better plan would be for the House to ait on Mondays and Tuesdays. Committees might sit on Wednesdays, and the House sit again cn Thursdays and Fridays. He would support the proposal.

Mr O’Connor moved as anamendment—“That the House shall rise not later than 12 o’clock.” He thought no useful work could be done at half-past ten in the morning. After discussion the amendment was put and lost.

Mr Rolleston moved that the Standing Orders Committee be instructed to amend the Standing Orders so as to give effect to the proposed resolution. The original motion as amended by Mr Rolleston was then put and carried by 37 against 31. Mr Fitalierbert moved that it be ap instruction to the Standing Orders Com. raittee to consider and report as to the desirability of some rule in the amendment of the Standing Orders in the direction that when the House had been counted twice during the speech of any hop. tppipber, such speech shall after the second counting be deemed to be pon r eluded, Thejmotioa was negatived.

Mr Fisher moved that a sum of £2OOO be placed on the Estimates for placing in repair the streets on the Thorndcl Reclamation. 1

Mr Stout opposed the proposal, and the debate was proceeding at the 6.30 adjournment.

Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Plurality of Votes Bill, which was carried by 37 against 25. Sir George Grey then moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners Bill. After discussion, the motion for the second reading was carried on a division by 30 against 28.

The Hon. Mr Stout moved the second reading of the Presbyterian Church Property Bill. He said the Bill amplified two former Bills. The question had been approved of by the General Assembly and he thought that with their authority there would be no objections to it by the House.

The Imprest Supply Bill was passed through Committiee, read a third time, and passed.

The Hon. Mr Stout moved the second reading of the Adoption of Children's Act 1881 Amendment Bill, which was agreed to. The House adjourned at 11.15 p.m. The House met ft 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. MrMacandrew brought up the report, (a favorable one) of the Standing Orders Committee on the proposal that the House should sit at 10.30 a.m. for the remainder of the session, and moved that it be considered at 7.30 p.m. -Agreed to. Replying to questions, Ministers said;— That there was no alteration of the tariff in respect to blasting powder ; that colonial powder had been tested and found to be inferior to the imported article, but that if colonial powder of equal quality to imported could be got it would be used in the manufacture of the cartridges recently contracted for in Auckland, if not imported would be used ; that the report of the Land Transfer and Deeds Registration Department for 1884 5 would be laid before the House in the course of a few days; that goods formerly admitted duty free and not mentioned in the new tariff would remain free; that Government had been communicated with regarding an alleged infringement of the telephone patent rights; that Government was not prepared to recommend that pastoral deferred payment settlers should be allowed the privilege of capitalising unpaid instalment, the same as were agricultural deferred payment settlers; that it is intended to appoint a torpedo corps of 40 men in each of the principal ports—and a torpedo instructor was now engaged in leaching men torpedo use. A number of new Bills were introduced. The Wellington Corporation Leaseholds Bill and the Christchurch Public Works Loan Validation Bill were read a second time, Mr Fulton moved that there be endorsed on every return presented to this House the cost of its preparation, and when_ a return is printed the number of copies printed, and the estimate of the cost of such printing separately ; also in capital letters the name of the member on whose motion the return is made.—Agreed to.

Mr Fulton also moved for a return rt the Shag Point Coal Company.

Mr Hobbs moved that a Seleet Committee be appointed to consider and make suggestions for the proper working of the Codlin Moth Act, 1884, with the object of checking the spread of this terrible pest. —Agreed to. Mr Macandrew moved that a Seleet Committee be appointed to consider and report as to how far it is expedient that the credit of the colony should be applied towards making advancec at a of interest to settlers on the security of thejr land, and also as to the best mode in which such credit may be so applied. In moving the motion, he said he would have preferred that the Government had taken the initiatiue in the matter, as it was one on which the future of the country greatly depended. The subject was at present exercising a large amount of attention among thoughtful men in the South Island. He hoped the House would grant the Committee. —Motion agreed to.

A motion for a Select Committee to enquire into the Working of the Government Printing Office was negatived. Mr W, J. Hurst moved for a return showing (1) the cost of all cablegrams to and from England during the last financial year, (2) the cost of cablegrams to or from England, from June 1880 to Junj 1885 in each year, having reference to loans and the conversion of debentures into inscribed stock.

The House then adjourned, resuming at 7.30 p.m. Mr Macandrew moved—“ That this House concurs in the report of the Standing Orders Committee brought up this day.” After a spirited debate the motion was lost by 37 against 33. The Employment of Females and Others Act Amendment Act iBBI, Amendment Bill, the Bank Note Securities Billj and the Mines Act Amendment Bill (reducing the miner’s right fee from £1 to 10s) were read a second time, and the House adjourned at 10.25 p.m.