GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1740, 22 May 1888, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. The Address was presented by the Speaker to his Excellency. The Loan Bill was received and passed through all its stages, though not without strong opposition. It had a very narrow escape on the second reading, the ayes being 14 and the noes 12. Sir Frederick Whitaker urged the passing of the bill, saying that the colony’s finances would be in fearful contusion unless the money was obtained. The Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. Replying to questions it wasstated that blocks of land had been set aside under the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions let 1885 ; that a bill would be introduced to amend the Chattels Securities Act; that a bill was in preparation allowing any person charged with an indictable offence, or the wife or husband of such person, as the case may be, to give evidence if he or she desired; that a scheme was under consideration for obtaining taxation for the sum of £5,000,000 lying to the credit of depositors in the various banks doing business in the colony; that where possible good characters should be given to persons dismissed from the Civil Service ; lhat steps would be taken to prevent foreign goods being imported, as colonial flannels, Mosgiel tweeds, etc. ; that it was not intended to open the seal fisheries this season, but the matter was under consideration ; that the Public Revenues ( Bill would probably make provision for imposing a monetary penalty on any Minister who may incur liabilities above the amount authorised by the Appropriation Act, After a short debate, the House went J into Committee on the Chinese Emigranis , Act Amendment Bill, and a long debate ensued. A number of amendments were proposed, but were all lost, the Premier stating that be would not answer for the Governor consenting tp-Vhe Bill if its provisions were made more severe. The Standing Orders were suspended, and the Bill passed through all its stages. The House adjourned at 10.30.