GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1937, 31 August 1889, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Wednesday, The Waipa Order in Council Validation : Bill, and Certificate o£ Title Issue Empowering Bill were read a third time and passed. The Port of Thames Definition Bill was passed. On Thursday, The new clause proposed by the Governor in the Public Reserves Bill, giving power to exchange a reserve for any other land contiguous, and a new clause in the Triennial Licensing Committees Bill, referring to extraordinary vacancies, were agreed to. The ' Chinese Immigrants Act Amendment Act Continuance Bill, making . the Act of last session permanent, was read a second time.

HOU3E OF REPRESENTATIVES. On Tuesday, in Committee of Supply, the following were passed:—Customs offices and service, £32,920; Customs, miscellaneous services, £1838; Marine and‘.harbors, £20,705 ; Marine, miscellaneous services, £14,375 (reduced by.£so) ; Government Insurance Department, £45,617; Public Trust Office, £5954. Replying to questions, Ministers Said that the Government were considering whether further proceedings should not he taken against Bing, Harris and, Co. for frauds upon the Customs revenue. The House went into Committee on the Chattels Transfer Bill. The Bill asatn ended by the Select' Committee was agreed to, and the Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time and" passed. A message was received from the Legislative Council, disagreeing with the amendments made, by the House in the, Fire and Marine Insurance Companies Bill.—The House insisted upon its amendments, and appointed a Committee to draw up reasons. Several Bills were received from the Legislative Council and read a first time.

The House then went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates, and the following votes were passed:—Education Department, head office £2085 ; Public Schools, £334,750; Native Schools, £15,750, j Industrial schools—£l3,l2l. School for deaf mutes —£3055. Miscellaneous Services —£521. (Reduced £1). Progress was reported and the House rose at 3.10 a.m. On Thursday, Replying to questions, Ministers said that they could not admit “ plush ” f free of duty. There was no intention on the part of the Government to abolish the beer tax; it was more •dikely to be increased.

The Premier moved that local Bills be referred to the Local Bills Committee to ascertain what measures were not likely to be opposed, and which could without inconvenience stand over till next session.— Agreed to. On the motion of the Premier a Select Committee was appointed to consider what steps, if any, should be taken towards assisting to establish responsible government in Western Australia. Mr Macarthur moved that the report of the Public Accounts Committee, placing the power of investing Post Office Savings Bank’s funds in the hands of a board, be adopted.— Carried by 34 to 24. Mr Perceval moved the adoption of the second resolution passed by the Public Accounts Committee, to the effect that no loan be made out of trust funds, Post-office bavings Bank funds, or the public debt sinking funds, upon any other than securities of the colony of New Zealand or other Government securities, or by way of loans under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, or upon bank deposit securities, and that there, shall .be at least one third of the amount to the credit of

the Posh Office Savings Bank account invested in New Zealand Government Beenrities, the interest on which is payable in London, and that such securities he deposited in London to he used in case , of any financial emergency in the colony.—Agreed to, after a discussion, by 38 to 31.

The House went into Committee on the Public Works Act Amendment Bill, Clause s,,claimant not to recover for matters not particularised in hia claim, and clause 7, liability of local authority over roads, etc., to continue notwithstanding alteration, etc., to roads, were struck out on the voices. Progress; was reported, and the House rose at 11.15 p.in.