GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2063, 24 June 1890, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The House met at 2.30 last Friday. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced: —A Bill to Define the Hours of Labour within New Zealand. A. Bill to Amend the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act, 1885. Patea Harbour Bill. School Committees Election Bill. A Bill to repeal the Contagious Diseases Act, 1869. Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill. A Bill to Amend the Law Relating to Divorce. Todman Land Grant Bill. Sheep Bill. Cattle Bill. Auckland Roman Catholic Reserves Bill. Qimmerburn Forest Reserve Bill Registration of Electors Bill. Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill. ADDRESS-IN - REPLY. The address-in-roply was moved and seconded by Messrs Tanner and Eoss respectively in a few words each. Mr Ballance, speaking on the address, criticised the actions of Ministers. He deplored the absence of all reference to the great question of labour which was now agitating the whole world. Touching on the settlement of the land, they were told that the colony now possessed choice of tenure, but the present Minister for Lands had done his utmost to render the village settlement scheme odious in the eyes of the people. He condemned the laud administration, for although the Minister had parted with large quantities of land he was year by year putting asmalleruumberof settlers on it. The fact of such a large exodus having occurred in our population was due to the people being unable to obtain land for settlement, and the manner in which the laud administration was at present conducted was likely to lead to such dummyism as they never heard of before. As t® the acquisition of native lands, he admitted it was desirable to acquire those lands, but Government had used the vote of £29,000 given for this purpose for the benefit of speculators and uot for the benefit of the public at large. Alluding to Major-General Edwards’ report on defence, he said that be was not a high Imperial officer giving a professional opinion, but simply a tout for one of the Governments of Australia. There were some remarkable appointments made during the recess, which were not mentioned iu the Speech. He contended that Mr Edwards could nol take his seat on the Bench until his salary had been fixed, which could not be done until a special Act was passed by Parliament. Colonel Trimble’s appointment to the Native Lands Court would have to, bo legalised” by Act, and his salary had, in consequence, been paid out of uaauthorised expenditure. There was a universal desire expressed last session for a dissolution, and he thought Government now regretted that they had not adopted that course. He regretted that they were to waste their time this session doing nothing, and ho thought even now the Government ought to go the country on their policy and obtain an expression of opinion on it.

Mr Hiffiop, m reply, denied that was any necessity in the Speech for allusion to the organisation of labor, Mr Balia nee had bo right to assutno to himself all the virtues with respect to the settlement of lands, and it was no particular credit to him (Mr BaUance) to put twelve hundred people on the land in one year at an expenditure of £65,00Q. They would be able to prove by figures that the administration of the present Minister of Lauds was infinitely more successful than that of the late Minister. Government had considered the appointment of a Supreme Court Judge a very sacred matter, and not one to bo treated lightly. ('oloncl Trimble’s appointment had given great satisfaction, and ho further contended that sufficient matters were mentioned in the Governor’s Speech to occupy the Housie profitably this session, Sir George Grey gave notice in the course of his speech that he intended proposing an amendment sit the proper time to the third paragraph in the Governor's Speech praying His Excellency to dissolve Parliament without delay and cause the writs, to be issued for the election of the new Parliament, Major Steward moved the adjournment of the debate and it was carried. The House adjourned till to-day.