GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1364, 11 July 1885, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Rabbit Nuisance Continuance Bill. He mentioned that the cost to the country last year for endeavoring to eradicate the rabbit pest was between £I3OO and £lsoo.—Agreed to. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill, saying he believed it would meet with the compliance of the Council. Sir F. Whitaker adversely criticised the drawing of the Bill. lie proposed the following amendment;—“ That a Committee be appointed to take into consideiation the present constitution, powers and procedure of this Council, with the view to suggest such amendments or alterations therein as such Committee may deem expedient or desirable ; such Committee to consist of nine members, and be chosen by ballet and report within three weeks.” . The Hons. Mr Scotland, Bathgate, and Barnicoat, supported the Bill and the Hons. J, B. A. Aclund, Chamberlain, Col. Brett, McLean, Phar.izyn, Dr Grace, and Reynolds opposed it.

On tbe motion of the Hon, Mr Holmes the debate was adjourned. The legislative Gouoeil met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday,

Mr Reynolds moved that it was essential for the proper conduct of the business of the Council that the Government should have two representatives in that Chamber. —Agreed to.

The Council then went into Coramitte to consider the Rabbit Nuisance Act Continuance Bill, which was read a third time and passed. The adjourned debate on the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill was resumed by Mr Holmes, who supported the amendment of Sir Frederick Whitaker that the Bill be referred to a Committee, so that it might be properly discussed.

After a debate, the motion for the second reading was thrown out, on a division, and Sir F. Whitaker’s amendment carried.

The following Committee was appointed by b allot :—Messrs Buckley, Pollen, Richmond, G. R. Johnson, Mantell, Meozies, Shephard, and Stevens. The Council adjourned at 5.20 p.m.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. Replying to questions Ministers said ; That Government would consider what steps to take to give effect to the action of the Legislature in 1881 in respect to a graving dock at Port Chalmers, if they received an assurance from the responsible body that the work woul*' be proceeded with within a reasonable time; that Government intended to take no steps regarding the petition of Samuel Yates, as no further evidence had been adduced ; that as soon as the debate on the financial measures had closed, Government would bring down proposals for a fresh contract for the San Francisco Mail Service ; that the Hon. Mr Richardson could not recommend the adoption of Mr Yaile’s scheme of railway reform to the Government, as it would result in great loss to the revenue; that Government would see that no vessels arriving from Sydney were now detained in quarantine ; that Government would grant long service medals to members of the police force entitled to them ; that Government could not see their way to subsidise the promoters of the Maori newspaper “Koromiko”; that Government were making enquiries into a recommendation of a Registrar of Deeds in Dunedin, that they should pay the representative of a deceased person the value of his property abutting on the town belt. Mr O’Callaghan moved for a return of all papers connected with the appointment of Dr Nedwill to the office of medical attendant to the Contagious Diseases Hospital in Christchurch, and of all correspondence in connection with his continuance in office.—Agreed to.

The Hoo. Mr Stout moved—“ That the business for Wednesday and Thursday last week be the business for Thursday and Friday this week, and that the business already set down for other Wednesdays and Thursdays be moved on one week,”—Agreed to.

Mr Fisher moved that there be laid before the House a return showing the amounts paid by the several Official Assignees in bankruptcy out of bankrupt estates for law charges, and to whom paid. —Agreed to.

Mr Macandrew moved his resolution re a Marine Survey, but on . the Hon. Mr Larnach stating that Captains Johnston and Fairchild, of the Government steamers, considered that there was no need for such survey, the motion was withdrawn.

Mr Turnbull moved the second reading of the Rating Act Amendment Bill. He explained thnl the object of the Bill was to exempt Friendly Societies from the Rating Act.—Agreed to.

Mr J. 0. Bucklaod moved the second reading of the Impounding Act, 1884, Amendment Bill. The object of the Bill was to place the Provincial District of Otago on the same footing as the rest of the Colony.—The Hon. Mr Stout opposed the second reading, as he did not think it wise to alter the law in the direction proposed by the Bill,—The Bill was read a second time and committed.

Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners Act, 1882, Amendment Bill (No. 2).—Agreed to. MFGuinness moved the second reading of the Armed Constabulary Act, 1867, Amendment Bill. He said the Bill provided that members of the police force and armed constabulary should exercise the right of voting at general elections. —The second reading was carried on a division by 46 against 22. The House mot on Wednesday at 3.20. Mr Guinness moved the second reading of the Miners’ Rights Fee Reduction Bill. —Agreed to. Mr Guinness moved the second reading of the Cofonera’ Juries Abolition Bill.— The Hun. Mr Tole said it would be rather a sweeping change to abolish Coroners’ juries altogether, but he hoped to be able shortly to bring in a Bill to reduce the number of men on those juries to four or six. Ho moved that the debate bo adjourned.—The debate was adjourned. The Evidence Further Amendment Bill and the Distress Bill were read a second time.

The House adjourned at 5,30 and resumed at 7.30.

Sir Julius Ycgel moved—“ That the House go into Committee of Ways and Means to consider the Tariff Resolutions.” Ihe House went into Committee of Ways and Means, and Major Steward took the chair.

Sir Julius Vogel said he intended moving the tariff item by item. The items were then put, and r the following were agreed to, the remainder being negatived: Spirits or stroig waters, 14s 6d the gallon ; Bitters, 14s 6d the gallon ; wines, 6s 6d the gallon ; sparkling wine, 8s the gallon ; Australian wine 4s 6d the gallon ; tea, 4d (as at present). The proposed duties on grindery, cornflour, farinaceous food, bananas, candles, butter and cheese, candles, carpet bags, etc., were negatived, and an animated discussion took place, whirh resulted in progress being reported, and the House adjourned. The House met at 2.30 p.m, on Thursday. Mr Stout said that in consequence of the maimer in which the Committee of Ways and Means dealt with the tariff resolutions last night, lie should ask the House to adjourn till half-past? p.m., in order to enable the Government to consider what steps should be taken on that subject. The House rose at 2.50 p.m., and resumed a' 7-30 p.m, The Hon. Mr Stout said that since the House rose, the Government had con-

sidered what hart taken place in Committefc of Ways and Means. They had consulted with their supporters, and had come to the conclusion not to ask the House to again go into Committee on the tariff resolutions.. They would ask the House to validate the resolutions already passed, by the Committee, and by the leave of thaf House they would move a resolution to that effect. He need hardly state the loss to the revenue by the action of the Committee would be £70,000. Government proposed to meet the loss by renewing for two years the £50,000 deficiency bills of 1883-4 and as to the other £20,000 it was proposed that the expense of Constabulary engaged in the defence works should be charged on loan. This would recoup the loss of £70,000 from duties. 4.8 to the measures the Government intended to proceed with, he said it was proposed to go oh with Local Finance and Powers Bill, which they considered a Ministerial Bill in the strictest sense of the term. They proposed to withdraw from the Bill the proposal for borrowing on subsidies, and they would not ask the House to fir any time for giving subsidies to local bodies. He said he regretted that the House had not yet granted the additional supplies asked for under the tariff. The duty would press fairly on all classes, and provided at the same time that local industries were not interfered with, in order that no injury should be done to the mercantile community. He asked leave to move a resolution which rescinded the Customs duties resolution of 20th June, except so far as lelated t of spirits, bitters, wines, sparkling wines, and 4ustralian wine. The resolution was put and carried on the voices. In reply to Major Atkinson, the Hon. the Premier said that they were not in a position to bring down the Customs Duties Bill at once, but that it would be ready by Tuesday next. The House went into Committee on the Christchurch Public Works Loan Validation Bill, which was reported, read a third time, acd passed. Mr Turnbull moved the second reading of the Tiraaru, Harbor Board Loan Bill.-j-Agreed to.

The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1881 Amendment Bill, proposed by Mr Hobbs, having for its object the suppression of consultations, passed its second reading. The Cemeteries Act 1882 Amendment Bill, and Postal Notas Bill, were read a< third time, and passed. The Hon. Mr Tole moved the second reading of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act 1867 Amendment Bill. He said his reason for bringing in the Bill was a case brought before Judge Richmond, in Wellington, in which he said he regretted ho could not grant the young girl petitioning a release from her husband.—Agreed to. The Industrial School Act Amendment Bill, The Municipal Corporations Bill, Miners’ Act 1877 Amendment Bill, and West Coast Settlement Reserves Act 1881 Amendment Bill, were rend a second time, and the House rose at 9.20 p.m.