GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1913, 6 July 1889, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

On Wednesday Several Bills were read a first time,

On the motion of Sir Frederick Whitaker a Select Committee was appointed to enquire into and report on each harbor of the colony under the control of a harbor board.

The debate on the second reading of the Medical - Practitioners’ Bill was adjourned until Tuesday.

On Thursday

The Patents Designs and Trademarks Bill was read a third time and passed.The West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Bill was committed and passed. HOUJE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On Wednesday Replying to questions, Ministers said that they did hot intend to introduce any amendment into the Gaming and Lotteries Act in the direction of limiting or abolishing totalisators; they did not feel justified in making any change in the present system under which coroners juries served without any remuneration; it was intended to move for a Select Committee to enquire fully into matters connected with 1 the position of Friendly Societies. The Minister of Defence produced the report ot Major-General Stewart, referred to by Mr Hutcheson last night, and moved that it be read. A lengthy discussion ensued as to the wisdom of making the report public, but ultimately it was read by the clerk.

A number of Bills were read a first time.

Under arrangement come to on Tuesday, Sir G. Gaey moved—" That in the opinion of the House it is not desirable that house allowance should be paid to any Minister who does not reside at the seat of Government.”— After some discussion the motion was agreed to on the voices. Mr. Ballance said there was an empty Ministerial residence in Wellington, which had been at the disposal of the Attorney-General. Mr Samuel moved the second reading of the Divorce Extension Amendment Bill, briefly explaining the provisions of the Bill, which were similar to those in the measure introduced on several previous occasions. The same power was given to the wife to petition for divorce as that now possessed by the husband. The wife or husband might marry again after a desertion of seven years, or imprisonment for a criminal offence for seven years.— Agreed to. The Pemier laid on the table the correspondence between Mr Piaher and himself.

The Premier, in reply tea question, said that he objected to the papers being printed without being first referred to the Printing Committee, as there were charges against public officers who could not defend themselves. He regretted nothing that he had written, but he regretted the cause, which was a disgrace to the

colony. Mr Fieher moved that the papers be referred to the Printing Committee, Carried by 39 to 36.

The House then went into Committee of Supply. —Class 13—A lengthy discussion ensued on the Volunteer vote. £28,912.

Progress was then reported.

On Thursday Beplying to questions, Ministers said that they would consider the advisableness of offering a bonus for tin discoveries on the basis of output. Correspondence from the AgentGeneral on the flax industry would be made public in a few days.

Several Bills were read a first time. The Waimea Blver Works Bill was read a second time. Mr Bhodes moved the second reading of the Town Districts Act Amendment Bill, which provides that every elector who is eligible to vote at an election of a commissioner should be qualified to! be elected as a commis-sioner.—-Agreed to. Major Steward moved the second reading of Triennial Licensing Committees Bill, providing that licensing committees shall be elected for three years. He said that a saving of nearly £20,000 .would be effected by the Bill.—Agreed to. Mr Taylor moved the second reading of ,the Eight Hours Bill, providing that eight hours should be-a day’s work, and forty-eight hours a week’s work.—Mr Buxton, Sir John Hall, Major Steward, Mr Yerrall, Mr Marchant, Mr Fulton, and Mr Turnbull opposed the Bill. Mr Fisher supported the measure. Mr Oadman, Mr Moss, Mr Taiwhanga, Mr Joyce, and Mr O’Connor were in favor of the measure. Mr Kerr opposed the Bill, and moved that it be read that day six months. The amendment was lost by 37 to 23, and the second reading agreed to.

Mr, Ballance moved the second reading of tHe.Hegistration of Births Extension Bill, which was agreed to on the voices.