GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1586, 24 May 1887, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Fii* day. The Employment of Females and Others Act Amendment Bill was thrown out by 13 to 12. The Council adjourned till Wednesday afternoon. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Tho House met at 2,30 p.m. on Friday. The Premier moved that the House at its rising bojjuiu lill Wednesday next at 2.30 p.m. Th« motion was agreed to, it being understood that only Government business will be taken on that day. Replying to questions it was stated that fines inflicted on employees of the Government for breaches of regulations are paid to the Public Trustee and fom the nucleus of a superannuation fund ; that if the totalisators are allowed they should contribute towards charitable institutions ; that it was not proposed to give long service medals to tommission'd officers of the Volunteer Force ; that the matter of promotion by a step in ank to officers who have sarved 15 years had been settled ; that the question of amending the present unsatisfactory state of the law as regards Acclimatisation Societies was under consideration ; that to reintroduce the system of return tickets on railway lines would result in a loss to the colony of £40,000 a year, and could not be entertained.: ' On the motion for the re-committal of the Representation Bill, Mr Mills said lie moved for its re-committal in order that the number of members should be reduced to 71. A leDgtby discussion ensued, after which the motion for re-committal was lost by 50 to 21;'and the Bill was read a third time and'passed. ' •. The Electoral Acts Amendment' Bill was read a third time »nd passed. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m., and resumed at 7.30 p.m. In Committee, the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill and the Local Bodies Loans Act Amendment Bill were passed with Hl'ght amendments. The Wellington University College Bill was further considered in Committee and got through without amendment. The Bill was then: read a third time by 31 to 18 and whs passed. The Infants Guardianship and Contracts Bill WBS passed through its remaining stages. The Kermadec Islands Bill was considered in Committee. A question was raised as to what would become of the lights of tho present residents 1 . Some membflrs argued that the Islands had s'mply been annexed in order to enable people to get a title which they could not otherwise obtain. The Premier said this was a matter the House would be ablo to investigate. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The Cambridge ajd Hastings Borough Bill paßsed through all its stages. The Employers Liability Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, the Premier explaining that it was designed to remove certain impediments to obtaining redress under the existina: law The Westland and Grey Education Boards Act Continuance Bill was read a second time without discussion. Tha adjourned debate on the West Coast Settlement of Reserves Act Amendment Bill was resumed, and after a short debate the Bill was read a second time. The Building Societies' Act Amendment Bill, the Counties Act Amendment Bill, and the Industrial School "Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the Tongariro [National Park Bill, reserving the mountain ot that name, along with' Ruapehu and Ngaruhue and land near them, as a national domain, in accordance vith the offer of the native chiefs. The area of the reserve was 62,000 acres, and the natives had promised to sign a deed handing it over as soon as the Act c ime into force. The indirect benefit to the colony at no distant date must be enormous, and the act was a most generous one on the' part of the natives, tor which they ought to receive the thanks of the country. Dr Newman congratulated the Minister on securing such an acquisition. Tho Bill was read a second time. The House adjourned at 12.30a.m.