GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1942, 12 September 1889, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, On Tuesday,

A report was received from the Managers, intimating that the Free Conference had agreed to the amendment in the Marine Insurance Bill, The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill and Kumara Channel Bridge Bill were read a first time.

The Attorney-General and Sir G. Whitmore feelingly referred to the death of the Hon. W. Robinson, a member of the Council, and the Council adjourned till the following day,

HOU3E OE EEPEESENTATIVE3.

On Monday, On the report of the Joint Library Committee that all persons be excluded from the library during the recess, excepting the Governor and members of Parliament, the Premier moved that tbe report be referred back for consideration. He entirely dissented from tbe resolutions embodied in the report, which, he thought, were altogether in the wrong direction,— Agreed to. The distillation Act Amendment Bill was introduced and read a first time.

The report of the Free Conferenc 6 on the Fire and Marine Insurance Companies Bill was agreed to. Mr Fergus moved the second reading of the Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteer Land Claims Bill, which was introduced to give effect to the report of the Select Committee on the subject.—Agreed to. The Kumara Sludge Channel Bill, Educational Endowment Bill, Karama Reserve Bill, and Orumakatea Title Empowering Bill passed through Committee without amendment.

The Ngarara and Waipiro Further Investigation Bill was considered in Committee.

In Committee the Ngarara and Waipiro Investigation Bill passed with several amendments and some new clauses. The Native Lands Frauds Prevention Bill was further considered in Committee and some amendments made.

The seven Bills passed through Committee were then read a third time and passed. In reply to a question, the Hon. T, Fergus said there was no truth in the report published in that evening’s Post, to the effect that officers who had recently been promoted by the Defence Minister were provided with uniforms obtained from England at a cost to the colony of £9OO. The Speaker called attention to the fact that an order signed by himself as Speaker for the payment of a member’s honorarium of two guineas a day had been refused payment at the Treasury. He thought the House should be made aware of that fact, 'ihe order was refused on the ground that the money would have to be reserved for other purposes. On the motion of the Premier a Select Committee was appointed to inquire into the matter. The Property Tax Bill was introduced by message and read a first time. The G-overnment Loans to Local Bodies Bill, enabling local bodies to pledge the third of their land proceeds as security for loan, and also to spend loan money for a ferry where there is no bridge or road, was read a second time and passed its final stages. Sir John Hall enquired whether Government would give the House an opportunity of dealing with the question of Female Franchise. Mr Walker hoped the Premier would give some information as to filling up the vacant seat in the Cabinet. Mr Turnbull would like to know whether there was any truth in the report that the Government meant to dissolve the House during the recess.

The Premier said he, like the member for Selwyn, was a’firm believer in woman’s franchise, and be would have been very glad to have an opportunity for discussing it if possible He was afraid, however, that the House would not listen to any such discussion at this stage of the session. The House had that day done very good work, and he thought they would be able to finish the business by the end of the week.

The House reseat 10.30 p.m. On Tuesday, Sir J. Hall brought up the report of the Select Committee appointed to enquire into the stoppage of a member’s honorarium by the Treasury. The report was to the effect that the Government be requested to take immediate steps for setting aside the 'Paymaster's order. It also stated that the honorarium of any member was not attachable by a process of any Court.—Sir H. Atkinson moved that the report be considered tomorrow, and after considerable argument this was agreed to. On the motion of the Premier, seconded by Mr Ballance, the House adjourned till 7.30, as a mark of respect to the late Hon. W. Bobinson.