GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1530, 10 July 1886, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Legislative Council on Wednesday, , .. , Mr Shriraski pressnted a petition from the Oamarn Council praying for relief with respaot to certain lands taken by Gpvernment for railway purposes. Sir Frederick Whittaker moved the second reading of tke Friendly Societies Amendment Bill.— The motion was agreed to. One Tree Hill Bill was committed and reported with amendments. Sir Frederick Whitaker’s resolution regarding the New Hebrides question was carried.

Tho Council adjourned at 10 p.m. In the Legislative Council on Thursday, The Mining Companies Bill was read a third time and passed. Tho Harbors Act Amendment Bill was read a second time.

The Council went into Committee for the further consideration of the Native Reserves Empowering Bill, Native Equitable Owners Bill, Mnnicipal Corporations Bill, and Local Bodies Loans Bill, all of which were reported with amendments, and the Council adjourned. The Council in the evening passed the Municipal Corporations Bill with amend-: ments, aud further considered the Local Bodies Loan Bill, adjourning at 9.5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Before the flonso rose on Thursday morning, tho Native Lands Administration Bill passed its second reading. The House met at 2.50 p.ss. on Wednesday. Replying to questions it was stlsted that steps would be taken during the recess to obtain suitable books for primary schools, on sgriculture, horticulture,; aid arboriculture, that the reports in tbs newspapers as to the no satisfactory nature of the New Zealand Exhibits nt i th* Indian and Colonial Exhibition werelcoo'tradicted by privats letters received by the Government, that .enquiry had beeo made by cable aud a reply was expected in a few days ; that Tawhiao had ;been offered a seat iu the Legislative Council which was refused, but the offer was hot still open. , The Native Lands Court Bill wsareported from Committee, read a third time and passed. The Gisborne Prison Bill, the Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill, the (object of which was to snable th* wife to give evidence against her husband, or the husband against the wife), and the Animals Protection Act 1860 Amendment Bill, the (object of which was to gat over a difficulty with regard to the word“game”in thp, original Act), and the Codlin Moth Act Amendment Bill, were read a second time. , ; ■

The Defence BUI (firing the Government power to call out the volunteers for active service if necessary, and dealing with the classification of persons liable to serve in the militia), the Police Force Bill (enabling the police to be put on ths electoral roll), and the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Amendment Bill (proVid- * ing for increasing the subsidy on voluntary contributions to 2is were rsad a second time.

The Counties Bill was reported from Committee, read a third time, and passed.

The Premier moTed the eecond reading of the Civil Service Reform Bill. It provided that no one should enter the service except aa a cadet, with certain exceptions la the case of experts. They must also pass an examination eqnal to the fourth standard before they could obtain a salary of more than £IOO a year, Nomination* were to be left to members of the House. The system was followed in America with excellent effects. Every civil servant was to pay five par cent of hia salary Into a fund to provide for retiring allowance, and was to be under three months notice. The Post and Telegraph Depantment, involving mechanical and technical work, as well as clerical, would be dealt with by special regulation. A commission was to be appointed to adjust the scale of salaries, independently of Parliament. The Bill also proviileil for the employment of women in the service. He commended the measure to the attention of members as the first real attempt to deal with the Civil Service in a systematic way.

Mr Connolly opposed the measure, and moved that it be read that day six months.

Messrs Kerr, Joyce, Samuel, Montgomery, Hatch, Gore, Bruce, Richardson, (Jowan, and Dr Newman, spoke more or less in favor of the measure. Mr Rolleaton agreed that Government deserved credit for having courage to introduce the Bill, for he regarded it as a most extraordinary production to deal with such a. large subject, He referred to certain appointments which it w«« found had been made by the Government in certain departments for which the persons appointed had no qualifications whatever. lathe Native Department two gentlemen of large experience had recently been superseded. He would ask the Government not to trouble the House any further with such useless Bills after that evening. Sir R. Stoat replied to some of the arguments against the Bill, fle was surprised at Mr Rolleston listening to idle rumors, and denied that such improper appointments had been made as reported. One appointment which was evidently referred to resulted in a saving to tha colony of £SOO a year. He said be was in earnest about the Bill', as he thought it would iesnlt in great reform. Mr Ballence supported the Bill, and one or two other members having spoken the amendment was lost, and the Bill passed its second reading by 27 to 7. The House then rose. In the House on Thursday, Replying to questions, it was stated that if the Canterbury people provided a sum for a rifle range Government would furnish an equivalent sum for the purpose ; that if any persons were found willing to undertake ostrich farming Government would assist.

The debate on the New Plymouth Harbor Loan BUI wae then resumed, and the Bill passed its second reading by 39 to 33.

The Otago Harbor Bridge Bill, the Waimate Racecourse Trustees Empowering Bill, the Oamaro Htrbor Loan Bill, (he City of Christchurch Municipal Offices Bill, and the Auckland Harbor Board Loan Bill were.read a second time. The amendments made by the Council in the Miners Act were agreed to. Mr Macandrew moved the second.reading of the'Poblid Advances on Land BiU»

Although more properly a Government measure he pleaded with the House to consider the matter seriously, «nd he was prepared to face any. amount of ridicule if he could only gee the subject taken up in earnest. All must admit the sgricultural aud pastoral interests .were greatly crippled by the high rate of interest, and his Bill set forth a very simple and in* telligible plan whereby the : credit of the State could be so applied that advances on land might be obtained at a much lower rate. Ho detailed the machinery, clauses, and the precautions - tskeo to _ guard the security of such advances. No " one was to be-allowed to borrow more than half the value of his land.up to a limit of £2OOO, and the rate .Sf interest was to be 4i per cent. Advances were to be made payable in New Zealand debentures, convertible into State pro*'—<s missory notes. After a debate the House divided— Ayes 32, noes 18, and the Bill was read a second time, The House rose at 12.40.