GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1762, 12 July 1888, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

On Tuesday, Mr Wilson moved a proposal in opposition to the proposal of tha Colonial Treasurer in Ihe Financial Statement to appropriate the assurance fund of the L-md Transfer Department, which would, he stid, constitute a breach of faith with such of the public »a hire transaction* with the Department.—The AttorneyGeneral moved the adjournment of the dobatt till Thoisday, when ha would make a full statement on tli9 subject.— Tlk deb«<e was adjournad. Mr Waterhous», Mr Richmond, M' Shrimski, Mr He'mM, and Dr Pollen *ere appointed managers fur the Council to meet managers from the House of Representatives on the Chinese Immigration Act Amendment B 11. Mr M tevens moved the second rending of the Customs Duties and Excise Bill.— The debate was adjourned. The Fencing Aet 1881 Amendment Bill was committed and repotted without amendment.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE?. , On luesday, Mr Rimlin, io tha absence of the Speaker, took the chair. Replying to questions, it was stated that it was intended to charoo local bodies for the audit of their accounts ; that the Agnews had been dealt with very liberally, and had no claim whatever against the colony ; that the qu-.'stion of appointing a district tribunal to de'ermine »p----pea's against iha decinion of Native L*nd Courts wan unier consideration ; that if de6nite information were, not received shortly from the Midland Railway Cr>mp4ny, Government would take steps to define the time in which the contract sh.mld be signed ; that the total cost of the new survey for tl)9 North Island Trunk Railway now being made would not exceed £BSOO, and that the amount was taken out of the allocation for new lines in the Loar. Act, nnd under ihe authority given for the survey «.f new lines.

Tho Premier moved tint for the remainder of the session Government business taka precedence on Wednesdays.— Agreed to.

Mr Richardson moved th* second reading of.the Land Act Amendneni B'll. Hi said that the Bill did Dot propoaa to a'ter the present land laws of the colony, but was brought in mainly to deal with pastoral leases which fell in in 1890, as well as with a few other points that |required amendin•-. The B'll also proyideri for the powers of Land Boards being vested in Commissioners of Crown Lands in the various districts. He thought that would be moi-e satisfactory than the present system. He naid that 720,000 acres had been brought undor the Act of Inst year, and that tho result of sales had been so far satiifactory.—Mr Ballance said the Treasurer would have to adjust the finances, as the revenue from land sties was now lower than it had been for many years past. He approved of the proposals for classifying pastoral lands, but tlought that the House should have an opportunity of reviewing the whole position respecting these leases before anything wis done in that direction. With respect to Land Boards, he differed altogether from the Minister of Lands when he said that the functions of those boarde had ceased, The cost of the boards was a mere bagatelle considering the important duties they had to perform, If the nominated system wera not satisfactory the boards ought to be made elective. Mr Turnbull thought that this would be a very different Bill wh6n it came back from tho Waste Lands Committee. He understood that Government did not intend to subdivide the runs in the Mackenzie Couotry, when leases fell in in 1890, and this was a great mistake. Nothing hindered tho progress of the country more than these huge estates, most of tliem heavily mortgaged. Canterbu'y had to nod a million of money every year for interest. He did not expect Government to deal with the question of breaking up the big', runs. It was more than their seats were worth. After a rathsr long debate the Bill was read a second lime without division, ani was referred to the Waste Laads Committee. The Ualifornian Thistle Eradiction Bill was committed, but af'er an hour and a quarter's discussion no progress was made. The Houie then adjourned.