GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1372, 30 July 1885, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

' ... LEGISLATIVE IOUNCIL. j> The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Criraioal Code Bill was read a third time and passed ; the Distress Bill, and Presbyterian Church Bill were read a first time ; the Law Practitioners Amendment Bill was thrown out-by 28 to 9 ; Progress was reported 'on the Administration Bdl ; and the Evidence Further Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Council adjourned at 4.10 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE^. The House met at 7.30 p.m. on Mon*day. Mr Grace the member for Tauranga, took the oath and his seat. The 11 on.” Sir Julius Vogel introduced a Bill to amend the Savings Bank Act 1858 and the Parcels Post Bilk The Distress Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. The House went into Committee on the Bank Notes Security tiill after a debate ’ and division. The Hons. Mr Stout and Sir Julius Vogel opposed the measure, i Mr Fitzherbert moved the second reading of the Gaming and Lotteries Act Further Amendment.—The motion was negatived on a division by 32 against 24. Mr Beethain moved the second reading of the Adulteration Prevention Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the Bill was intended to provide what properly should be called fancy bread, and was brought in to remove an injustice which was at present felt by bakers, —Agreed Air O’Connor moved the second reading of the Friendly Societies Bill, He said the Bill was introduced at the request of several Friendly Societies, It provided that everything over 5 per cent of the surplus funds of the Lodge should be at the disposal bf the Lodges and go into the >- General Management Fund.—The debate was adjourned till Thursday. The House went into Committee on the Police Offences Bill. Clause 6, providing for a penalty on the frequenters of disordely houses was struck out. A motion to report progress was negatived, and Mr G. F. Richardson then moved that the Speaker leave the chair. This was carried -and the Bill was thrown out. Mr Wakefield moved the second reading of the Unclaimed Land Bill. He r said the object of the Bill was >o transfer lands to ioivx fide owners. There were jUimy’portions of land in different parts of the country in a false position now, and this led to great frauds being perpetrated. He,thought no injustice would 1 be inflicted on anybody by the Bill, as if ■an absentee owner should return within ,20 years he would be allowed to recover it with 5 per cent added. He contended that the Bill was greatly to the benefit of the State and was also a benefit to the i absentee owner. The Hon; Sir Julius Vogel said the subject was a most important one and wanted vary .careful consideration. He considered every attempt should be made to discover; who the owner of the unclaimed land was. He suggested that the ; Bill be withdrawn for the present, and have it more carefully prepared. .■ Mri Garrick hoped the House would not agtce to the Bill. He pointed out that already there was a power under the Rating Act to sell unclaimed land for

”, ' fates; AJx t Seddon moved the adjournment of ' tbe debate. ' The Hon. Air Stout agreed with the principle of the Bill, but he thought a few ' amendments were necessary. The attention of the Government had been called to this matter, and it was intended to ' introduce a PubHc Trust Bill to deal with y it. A i - ■. ■■ • ■■ The motion for the adjournment of the ; debate was carried, and the House rose at 12.50 a.m. 1 ■ : The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Keplying to questions, the Alinisters •ajd ; That , it is not the intention of the Government to increase the survey staff of the Wellington Waste Lands district; that the Government do not see their way to place a sum on the Estimates to secure the success of the importation .AX'fcf salmon, to the colony; that the Government : were considering the advisability of amending the Lunacy Laws; ; that the'total cost of the Wellington Industrial Exhibition, after deducting (he amount for the sale of buildings and admission money, would be between . £3OOO and £4OOO, and the sum of £IOOO had been voted for the total cost of the .music. . The Hon. Mj Richardson moved the second reading of the Public Works Act Jimendineut Bill, He explained that the Bill was brought in in consequence of the recent probability of the outbreak of war, and its object was to authorise the Government to take land in the various parts of the country for the erection of fortifications.—Agreed to. __ On the motion for the committal of the Bcapital and Charitable Institutions Bill Mr'Obre,protested against the injustice proposed„lo be inflicted on. large, centres of population under the Bill.—Mr Sutter thought it was time that property should be taxed for the support of the poor. He hoped that the Bill would be carried through Committee.—The motion for the committal of the Bill was agreed to on a 1 division by 59 to 16. The House went into Committee on the Whitmore Enabling Bill, which, after a long debate, was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The House went into Committee on the Public Works Act Amendment Bill. The clause referring to land taken up for'de- I fensive purposes aliened a long dissuasion. It provides that compensation lor the land shall be settled by a Compensation Court, but no person shall have any claim to compensation by reason of the firing of artillery. Several amendments were proposed and negatived and the remaining clause passed with verbal amendments. The House wept into Committee on the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill, and after a slight amendment had been made in clause 2, rose at 2 a.m.