GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1383, 25 August 1885, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. Mr Q. U. Johnston announced that the Government Library Committee recommended the appointment of Mr Collier to fill the position of Librarian to the GeDeral Assembly. The Christ's College (Canterbury) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Distress Bill was also passed. In reply to a question, the Colonial Secretary promised to take the opinion of the law officers as to whether a Resident Magistrate had any legal authority, without preliminary inquiry, to commit any individual to a lunatic asylum. The House went into Committee on the Employment of Females Bill.—lt was resolved, on the casting vote of the Chairmau, to retain the clause providing that persons working overtime should receive additional wages.—The Bill was reported with amendments. Mr Menzies moved the third reading of the Presbyterian Church Property Bill. — The Bill was eventually adjourned till next week. The Otago Harbor Board Leasing Bill was further considered in Committee, and was reported with amendments. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Otago Dock Bill. —Agreed to. The Council then rose. HOUSE OF KEPEESENIATIYES. The House ot Representatives me* at 2.30 on Friday. It was decided that the report of the Committee on the Napier Gas Company's Act should not be agreed to, and a fresh Committee was appointed.! The Hon. Mr Richardson said he hoped to be able to deliver the Public W.orks Statement on Tuesday evening next at 7.30. The Hon. Mr Stout laid on the Table papers connected with the late proceedings at the Wellington Hospital.—Mr Samuel said aa the Premier had given him an assurance that he would cause a Commission to be appointed to enquire into the Hospital proceedings, he did not intend moving the motion he had put on the Order Paper for appointment of a Committee. Several unimportant questions were replied to. The Hon. Mr Stout moved that the House at its rising this day, do adjourn till Monday at 12 noon for private members' business, the Government business to take precedence at 7.30 p.m.—Mr Hurst moved as an amendment, that the House meet on Monday, at 7-30 p.m., for Government business only.—The &m& 1ment was carried: The Land Bill was further considered in Committee, for the consideration of the postponed clauses. Sir George Grey moved to strike out of clause 34, relating to the establishment of Land Boards, the word " appointed" and to insert "elected." Mr Fulton suggested that the matter should be left in the hands of the Government, oq condition that they should

next aeasion bring; down a Bill making the members of Lsnd Boards elective. After some further discussion Sir G. Giey withdrew his amendment in favor of the suggestion made by Mr Fulton, which was that the Land Boards should only be appointed till the end of next session. Mr Smith moved a proviso after clause 41, to the effect that sections 34' to 41 should continue in force until one month after the termination of next session, but no longer.—Agreed to. In clause 131 a, providing that the area under the deferred payment system may be extended, if of inferior or second class land, a long discussion took place. The clause was eventually carried. Clause 131 b, providing that the price may be reduced, was opposed by Mr Rolleston, who considered it extremely objectionable, contending that the minimum price Bhould be fixed at say 20s per acre instead of 10s." The Hon. Mr Ballance agreed with the suggestion, which however was lost by 31 to 28, and 10s was therefore retained as the minimum and the clause was agreed to. Clause 164 a, providing that free grants of laud not exceeding 10 acres may be given to persons who are. unable to find employment, provided they comply with such conditions of occupation and residence as the Oovernor may prescribe, was opposed by Mr Scobie Mackenzie as being utterly unworkable. Mr Macandrew strongly defended the clause, contending that it would be a great boon to the unemployed. Mr Fulton moved an amendment to strike out the words " such persons as may be unable to find employment."— Agreed to. Mr Hislop moved a further amendment to strike out the words "male adult" from the clause and to insert "each person." The amendment was lost by 37 to 32, and the House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.20 p.m. in Committee on the Land Bill. Mr Pyke moved an amendment to clause 146, to the effect that lands granted should be inalienable by sale and not liable for seizure for debt. The clause, as amended, was carried by 42 to 28. Clause 16a, providing that land may be acquired for village settlements, was opposed by Mr Kolleston on several grounds. Mr Bryee objected to it on the grounds that State interference would result in the State get'ing the worst of it. The Hod. Mr Stout said this clause would only be necessary for some districts. The principle of it was that the Crown ought H) lease more land than it had in the past, for it was an undoubted fact that if tliey were to settle the colony the State must own more land. The very fact of their having to debate this section strengthened that argument. Mr Donald Beid supported that clause, but for different reasons to those advanced by the Premier. He thought it might do some good, and could do no harm. Mr Kolleston asked if the Premier would alter the clause so that the land could be taken under the same conditions as land taken for public purposes. The Hon. Mr Stout said that would be putting the matter out of the control of Parliament altogether. Major Atkinson said he would vote against the clause with some regret. The subject was a large one, and would have to be faced shortly, but the present Bill was not the proper place to insert it. Several other members spoke on the clause, which was finally read a second by 42 to 30. Mr Macarthur moved a proviso to the clause, that the price to be paid to the owner of a block of land shall not exceed the property tax valuation by more than ten per cent. This elicited another long discussion but was lost on a division by 38 to 36. Mr Rolleston moved a-further proviso that no amount should be expended in any one year over such amount as had been sanctioned by the previous session of Parliament. This proviso was also negatived on the voices, and the clause was carried by 40 to 28. The remaining new clauses Were passed with slight amendments till clause 318 was reached—providing for contribution from endowments for roads. This clause was retained on a division by 33 to 17... - A long discussion ensued on a new clause, providing for improvements, which was finally carried on the voices. Mr Guinness moved to introduce a new clause, making the perpetual leasing system apply to,rural and town lands, which ■ was negatived.; , ~, • In Appendix C, Mr Hursthouse moved an an-endment to eliminate that portion which provided that Land Boards should first sanction, expenditure of rents in opening up lands, which was, agreed to. The remaining appendices" were agreed to without alteration. The Bill was reported with amendments read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 3 a.m.