GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1374, 4 August 1885, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. In reply to Mr Chamberlain who asked the Hon. the Colonial Secretary if it was a fact that the Exhibition was to contain other than New Zealand products, the Hon, the Colonial Secretary said that some exhibits no doubt would be other than New Zealand products,hut preference would be given to purely New Zealand productions. Several new Bills were introduced. Dr Grace moved that if the condition of Seacliff Asylum is as deplorable as was described by the Inspector immediate steps be taken to put it in an efficient state of repair.—Agreed to. The Council went into Committee on the Public Works Amendment Bill and the Laud Transfer Bill. The former was read a third time and passed, and progress was reported on the latter. The Council adjourned atS p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE 51 . The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. The Hon. Mr Stout moved that the Tlonsn at its rising adjourn till Monday, at 7.30 p.m., for consideration of Government business only.—Agreed to. Several unimportant questions were replied to. Replying to Mr Turnbull, the Hon. St Julius Yogel said tint on Monday the Native Lands Disposition Bill would be pioceeded with, and on Tuesday the East and West Coast Railway question would he considered. Government hoped to bo able to go on with the Estimates on Friday, and the amendments made in the Local Bodies Bill would he brought down at the end of next week. After that Government would make a statement to the House as to the Bills intended to be proceeded with this session. It was agreed that Professor Black’s report of his tour through the goldfields of Otago should be laid on the table,.',; . On the motion being put (hat the resolution on the San Francisco mail servic.o ho reported from Committee, Mr Ormond said he regretted that ho had been from the House when the question had been , previously considered. He thought the Government should have stated the terms in which they ha I agreed for a better 'service which would be included in the^SO,ooo ; also Urn £7,000 from New South Wiles. H appealed to Urn that the House would he only doing its duly if they asked that tilts should be put in the resolution, so as to guide the Government'in carrying ouit'the contract. He considered that better terras could also be obtained than were got on a former occasion from the New Zealand Shipping Company. He moved—“. Thar the House again go into Committee to consider the resolution,” The Hon. Sir Julius Yogel said the understanding was that £30,000 was the amount to be paid for sending all our letters by the service. He thought it would be a'small concession on our part to leave the contractors whatever they could obtain from the United States. Ho proposed to ask belter terms for the .service than before,' so as to ask for an eighteen days’ service between Auckland aiffi San Francisco to stop at Auckland, and any service to Australia should be by a branch boat. Me thought no better terms could be made than had been made.

Mr Ormond asked whether the £30,000 included the coastal distribution. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel replied that the coastal distribution was not included. Mr Macandrew said that in deference to the wishes of members, he would move that the figures £20,000 be struck out, and £15,000 inserted. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel said if the amendment were carried, it would be of no use to cull for tenders. '"The House divided on the amendment, the result being that £30,000 waa carried by 53 to 25. The Mines Act Amendment Bill, the Stamps Act Amendment Bill, and the Deceased Persons Estate Duties Act Atnpn'-'mont Bill were read a third time and passed. i i,o liuo. Sir Julius Vogel moved the second reading of Hie Fisheries Encouragement Bill. He said th<“ Bill was brought in to encourage the most important local industry in the colony, as New Zealand had more valuable fisheries than any other country. He pointed out that enormous shoals of fish were to be found on the coast of both islands, and he thought an immense source of wealth should be obtainable from preserving these fish and canning them for export. The Bill proposed to give a special bonus for exporting tinned fish, and the idea of the Bill ,waa to open it, to all classes, and to encourage the fishing round Stewart, Island. He thought they should endeavor to carry out the provisions of the Bill, as the question of bonuses for this purpose came ;o them with very high recommendations. The fishing trade was an enormous one, and the value of the fisheries of the United Kingdom was three millions annually. He hoped the House would pass the second reading. Captain Sinter hoped something would be done towards getting herring ova into Hie colony. He contended that that was J infinitely more importance than giving a bonus for the encouragement of the other fish spoken of. The motion for the second reading was carried on the voices. The House went into Committee on the Savings Bank Act Amendment Bill, which was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel moved the second reading of the Mortgage Dobentures Bill. He said the Bill was an adaptation of an English Act which had worked for many years with unqualified success. . The Bill proposed to giro power to a Company to borrow money on mortgage debentures, and theaecuiitiee on which the. Companies wish to issue mortgage debentures were to be produced to the Registrar, It was proposed to insert a provision by which the Societies registered under the Building Societies Act shall be able to take advantage of the Act. He contended that such a measure as this would enable money to be obtained at a much lower rate than heretofore, and lie thought the Bill would act in the way of permanently cheapening money. Ha said there was an anxious desire in some parts of the colony for a measure of this kind. The Bill cast no responsibility whatever on the Government; of the colony, and he hoped the House would agree to its second reading. MrMaCsndrew said the Bill was very •complicated, and required great consideration. Ho said if the Bill were read not ft second lime now its committal would be delayed for a time longer. He thought the Bill did not at all meet the case, as it was too complex m its character. Ha hoped the Committee that was now sitting on this question would report in the direction of simplifying the borrowing of cheap money. He thought, however, the Hon. Treasurer deserved credit lor the care and attention ho had displayed in preparing the B 11. Mr Ivess said if the Bill passed into law it would have the effect of levoiutionisinj the rate of inlet est. He thought the chief opposition to I he mea.Mire came from the legal class. The scheme had been brought down by the Hon. Treasurer in consequence of representat ous made to him .by Canterbury people. He was sorry to s- e any opposition to the Bid, a# it was calculated to he of great bentfii to small settlers and the, agricultural population.

Mr Moss was in favor of the Bill, but p. inted out that no great result would follow from it unless people went to England for money. Mr Dargavido thought the Bill was net the simplest way of effecting the object which the Hon, the Premier hud in view. What ; was wanted was cheap money supplied injatt;direct a manner as possible to farmers, but he contended this would not be accomplished by the present Bill, lie thought they would ■ be conferring t great boon on people , i,n parts of the oniony at present suffering frmp depression if they could devise some, means of reducing the rale of interest. Ho would Support ihe second reading of tlie Bill. l)r Newman said Hie BdLwouli hardly cheapen the rates of money at all. He thought people who borrowed small sums had to p.*y enormous sums in legal charges and commission. If the,Ho,n. the Treasurer con.d devise some means of improving this state of things he would confer a Teal benefit on those interested. The motion for the second reading of the Bill was carried,on the voices. The Life Assurance Policies Amendment Bill, (he Auckland University College Reserve B 11, were read a second time. The House then went into Committee on the New Zealand State Forests Bill. In clause 8, providing for the borrowing of £50,000 or such other sum as Parliament may direct, an amendment was made that the amount be £IO,OOO and such further suips as Parliament may direct, Several other amendments were negatived and progress was reported. The House then went into Committee on the Tuakiioke acd; Kaitangata Lakes Bill, which was reported wi'h a new clause, read a tlvrd lime, and passed The House rose at midnight.