GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1363, 9 July 1885, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Counnii met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary formally moved the second reading of the Whitmore Enabling Bill, to provide that Sir G. Whitmore’s seat in the Council should not be vacated by his receiving a salary as Commander of the Military forces of New Zealand, but that his seat should meanwhile remain dormant. — After debate, the Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council then adiourned,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Replying to questions, Ministers said ; That it was not intended to resume the nominated system of immigration at present, but Ministers would probably make a statement on the matter during the session ; that the natives interested in the Report of the Native Affairs Committee dated the 15th June 1884 should assert their rights in a court of law ; that Government knew that two females had been confined in the Wellington Lunatic Asylum since the 27th and 30th June last without medical certificates as to their insanity being issued, and the Magistrate who had committed them would be called upon to make a report on the subject; that as far as possible Government would find employment, as messengers or otherwise, for men who had lost an arm, but who were in other respects strong and capable ; that before bringing down the Estimates, Government would consider the advisability of continuing the railway line from the end of the present contract near Woodville, to the Awapura railway bridge, just completed, thereby opening np a valuable block of Grown land ; that it was intended to dispose of the Mangaitermoko block (just acquired) for bona fide settlement as soon as possible. After the Speaker had read a letter from Mr Gillies resigning his seat as Member for Bruce, the Hon. the Premier moved that a writ be issued for the vacant seat, and the motion was agreed to. The Hon, Sir Julius Vogel said he desired to make a short Ministerial statement as to the course intended to be taken by Government on their Tariff Bill. He said the Government had considered carefully all the suggestions and criticisms upon the question of the proposed alterations in the tariff. They had also considered how far it was possible to suggest modifications in the tariff, consistent with the primary object of raising revenue. He said the alteration in the tariff could not be dealt with quickly, and very great care would be necessary in regard to any alteration in the duties. He would therefore ask the House to give them till Wednesday evening to deal with the question. It was very important it should be dealt with without further loss of time in consequence of the uncertainty prevailing in business circles as to the proposed duties. The Government would be able to come down on Wednesday evening and state what modification they proposed to make to the House. If private members agreed to give np Wednesday for this purpose, Government would concede them Friday evening for private business.

The Hon. Mr Stout said if the House agreed to the course suggested by the Treasurer, he should move that the Orders of the Day for Wednesday and Thursday next be placed a week further on on the Order Paper.

After some discussion on the advisableness of adopting the Premier’s suggestion, the Hon. Mr Stout moved that Government business take precedence on Wednesdays, which was agreed to.

The Administration Act 1879 Amendment Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed, as was also the Adoption of Children Act 1881 Amendment Bill,

The House rose at 2.30 p.m,, and resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Stout moved the second reading of the Cemeteries’ Bill. He said the Bill was intended to allow local bodies to appoint their own trustees and to give them management of their cemeteries altogether.—The motion was agreed to. The adjourned debate on the second reading of the New Zealand State Forests Bill was then resumed, and after debate it passed its second reading, Members reserving to themselves the right to veto the clause with regard to borrowing on the third reading. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel then moved the second reading of the Post Office (postal notes) Bill. He said the object of the Bill was to issue Postal notes in the colony. He explained the Bill was not a new one; it had been tried in England and in Victoria with ranch success. It was intended by the Bill to supersede the money-order system, and it would be much more convenient and less costly than that system. The Bill also contained the necessary clauses for protecting the post offices from fraud or foigery. The motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned at 8.55 p.m.