GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1772, 4 August 1888, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. j On Wednesday, ' Mr Richmond moved the adjournment of the Council in order to vindicate 'his clnnc'er relative to certain statements con ained in Mr Rusden’s book. After he had «pok< n nearly two hours thp debate was adjourned. On Thursday The Public Petitions Committee reported on the petitions praying for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act, and on a petition that the education sysUra of the colony be maintained intact. The committee reported they had no |recommondatioos to make in either o f the cases. The Contracts and Promises Bill was read a third time and passed. , The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Married Women's Property Extension Bl.—The debate was interrupted by the Speaker’s ai'entiou being called to 'he fact that there was no quorum present. |

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On Wednesday Mr Lance brought up the report of the Sheep Committee. He referred to it at some length, alleging that great dissatisfaction existed with respect lo the management of the department, and he said that although there were many dp hie men in it ..the head of it nas not tit for his position. He moved that the report lie on the table.—Mr McKenzie (Waihemo) moved as an amendment that Government be requested to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee. —The motion as amended was agreed to on the voices. Mr K lly brought up the report of the Native Affairs Committee on the petition of Arthur Owen. The report was to thie effect that the charges made against the Chief Judge and officers of the Native Land Court were not substantiated.—Mr Hamlin moved lhat the report be printed, and that the presentation of the report be deferred to next day.—Agreed to. Replying to questions, it was stated that it was proposed this year to pay local bodies subsidies out of ordinary revenue, and not out of tea duty ; that it was not advisable to terminate the forty-eight hours' weekly task of linemen on Government railways at noon on Saturday ; that no unnecessary harshness was used in handcuffing the Chinese arrested in the gaming house in Wellington recent'y, and that the charges against them were properly laid ; that no record had been kept of the number of cattle and horses killed on the Bluff-lovercargill line since its opening; that if the Auctioneers Bill came before the House this session a provision would be inserled in it requiring auctioneers to keep a register of the brands of sheep sold by them, and tha names of persons by whom they were sold, in order to check sheep stealing; if the practice of shooting on Sundays at times and places to the annoyance of the public was persisted in, Government would endeavor to prevent it. The Premier moved the second reading of the Grown and Native Lands Rating Act Repeal Bill,—After a long debate the Bill was read a second time.

On Thursday Replying to questions, it was stated that the substitution of electricity for hanging in executions for murder would be considered during the recess; that it was considered that tha regulations with regard to net fishing were sufficiently stringent, but that some attention would be given to the matter; that nothing had been shown at present to justify Government in taking steps to impose an export duty on rough or unsawn kauri timber, but that the matter would be carefully watched during the recess. A lengthy discussion ensued on the motion for the adjournment of the House with respect to enforcing the regulations for net fishing.—After a debate Mr Fisher pointed out that a Bill bad been introduced by Government for the protection of the indigenous and non-iodigenous ti»h of the colony, but had not been proceeded with because of the request of the Acclimatisation Societies that it should cot bo pressed at present. That bi 11.,, however, would be circulated amongst those societies and the local bodies during the n cess. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Walker moved as an amendment—*' That in the opinion of the House it is not desirable that the Representation Act, 1887, should have force and effect uutil after the census had been taken ; that a respectful address be presented to H.s Exceheocy t be Governor pmying him not in the meantime to d reel the Repiesentation Commissioners to act under the provisions of the sections as altered by the Representation Act Amendment Ac, 1887.”

The Premier said that Mr Wulk-rs amendment could only be taken ns a want of confidence motion, and he intended to accept it as such. Ho complained ihut no notice whatever had been given to the House, and charac'erhed Mr Walker’* action as a spec men of low cum Jug, A long debate ensued,and o:i the mot on being put that the Hou*e go into Sappy, Mr McGregor called fur a division—Ayes 51, nnes 20. The amendment was lust. There ware twelve pairs. The estimates were then comilered. Class 4, Justice Department, was taken first. (Left Si'iiog).