GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1931, 17 August 1889, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE' COUNCIL. On Wednesday, A number of Bills were read a first time. The Native Meetings Bill was committed, and progress reported to allow the amendments to be printed. The Selection of Land Revaluation Bill and the Animals Protection Act Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. On Thursday, In committee on the Representation Act Amendment Bill, considerable discussion took place. Clause 4, “ one man one vote.” Messrs Reynolds, McLean, Robinson, Miller, and Dr Pollen spoke against the clause. The Council divided. Ayes 17, noes 11. The clause was retained. The third reading was carried by 17 to 12. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On Wednesday, The Premier replying to a question said that Government bad replied to the telegrams received from the ■ Premiers of several of the colonies promising to assist in procuring responsible government for Western Australia, but Government objected to the northern part of Western Australia being handed over to the Government of that colony. The Premier moved that for the remainder of the session Government business take precedence after 7.30 p.m; After some discussion the motion was agreed to by 39 to 22. The debate on the second reading of the Property Assessment Bill was then resumed and continued until 10.40 o’clock, Messrs Samuel, Kerr, Goldie, W. P. Reeves, McKenzie (Olntha), and Dr Newman being the speakers. On Thursday, The Minister of Lauds resumed the debate on the second reading of the Property Assessment Bill. He contended that the Laud Act of 1887 was generally popular throughout the colony, chiefly so because intending settlers were allowed a choice of tenure. Although the perpetual lease settlers had the right to acquire the freehold there had been but few instances in which they had availed themselves of that right. No fewer than 606 more persons were last year aided by Government to go on the land than in 1887, and 314 more persons took up land under other systems last year than in 1887. The cost of administration had been less by £22,000 than in 1887. A considerable sum was owing by village settlement settlers. The sum of £19,000 bad been advanced to village settlers, on which they had paid £865 as interest. In Auckland alone £9232 had been paid to village settlers, and the interest returned on this sum amounted to the handsome sum of £l3. Originally there had been 1196 village settlers in the colony, but now there were only 878, who had cost the colony £73,000. Many settlers went on to the land under this system who were quite useless as settlers. Mr McKenzie said that when the Minister addressed the electors he had stated that he had placed 2300 selectors on the land, but they found from his own report that that number was reduced by no fewer than 530, The present administration had encouraged Crown tenants to surrender their leases. The Minister of Lands had punished his opponents and rewarded his friends. The debate was continued by Captain Russell, Mr Humphreys, and Mr Harkness, who opposed the amendment, and Mr Hutchison, Mr Fisher, and Mr Fish, who supported it. At 10.40 p.m. the debate was adjourned, on the motion of Mr R. Thompson.