GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2080, 2 August 1890, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Thursday, LAW OF LIBEL BILL. Sir Frederick Whitaker moved the second reading of the Law of Libel Bill. • After a debate the motion was carried, and the Bill was referred to a Select Committee. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL, • The Legislative Council Bill was further considered in Committee. Mr Eaynolds’ new clause, providing for ex-members of the Council retaining certain privileges after resigning, agreed to. " The Bill was reported with amendments, and the third reading fixed for Tuesday next. ■ The. Council adjourned at 3,55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House sat all night until 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning wrangling over the estimates in the AgentGenerals departments The accountants salary, £4OO, was reduced to £3OO, clerks and messengers, £929, reduced by £2OO, consulting engineer, £BOO, passed unaltered. On Wednesday, GOTEENMENT. THip;House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr'Fergus moved for the _ appointment ef a Committee to consider and report on the question of local government. Mr Moss moved an addition to the motion, to j the effect that the Committee should enquire into the desirability of establishing two or more Provincial Councils with the necessary functions granted to them, which wouhL relieve the House of certain responsibilities. 1 , • ■ f/[,r Moss’ amendment .Was lost by 45 to 18,' and the original motion was carried by 39 to 21.

t QUESTIONS. _ : Replying to questions, it was stated that the Government would take steps to Rave a Hill introduced next session to arrest the .disease ; known as “ foul >-brood*”"’/':>*mongßt: bees; that the Government bad not as yet sent a congratulatorytelegram to Western Australia Pa it's securing constitutional Government, but that no doubt the Cabinet would gladly do so when the matter -was brought under; its notice \, - ’ ,’ufTEECEPTING SUPPLY. Gn the inotien that the House go into Committee .of Supply. Mr Barron moved as an amendment “ That (1) it ia desirable that' the property tax, unless it can bo abolished at an earlier date, should be annually deceased so thvt it shall not exceed fd in the £ for • the present year, id for the year 1891, W for tie jear 1892, after whioh date it shall entirely cease, and Anat ’ anv deficiency in the revenue occurring thereby, should, be made good by further retrenchment in the public Service.” -He pointed out that when the Colonial Treasurer introduced the ■property tax in 1879 he had led the gouse to believe that it was not meant 3 Russell said that it was Utterly impossible to comply with the termed the amendment, as the Go•'Eminent could not do without the 10 Mr Thompson . (Maradea).’ Mr Hobbs. Mr toft, and , .Mr Taylor, spoke m favour ol the ““MrKobardson (Kaiapoi), and Mr Hamlin opposed the amendfueftt.

The Amendment was lost by 33 t© 24. DIVISION LISTAgainst Mr Barron’s amendment (33)Allen, Arthur, Beethami Blake, Bruce, Bryce, Buxton, Cowan, Fergus, Fulton, Hall, Hamlin, Hislop, Hodgkinson, Izard, Kerr McArthur, McKenzie (Mount Ida). Marchant, McGregor, Mitchelson, Richardson (Mataura), Ross, Russell, Samuel, Saunders, Seymour, Stewart (Dunedin West) 1 , Taipua, Tanner, Yalentme, Whyte, Wilson. For Mr Barron’s amendment (24) : —Barron, Brown, Cadman, Duncan, Feld wick, Fish, Fraser, Guinness, Goldie, Harkness, Hobbs, Kelly. Lawry, Moat, McKenzie (Waihemo), Monk, Moss, Pereival, Smith, Taylor, Thompson R (Marsden), Thompson T. (Auckland North), Ward, Withy. Pairs For the amendment: — Hutchison, Reeves (Inangahua), Buchanan, O’Connor,- Fitzherbert, Newman.

Against the amendment: —Rhodes, Humphrey, Walker, Grey, Dobson, Seddon. COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY.

The House went into Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates. Printing and stationary- —£22,798. Captain Russell agreed to the suggestion from Mr Thompson (Marsden), that the printing and stationary vote b© reduced by £1750. The vote passed as reduced. Miscellaneous services—£l7,4o9.

Mr Fish moved the first item, contingencies £BOOO be reduced, by £IOOO. . , v The reduction was carried on the voices. Mr Pish moved that the item, J. Outram, Otago, £IBB (a pensioner), be struck out.

The motion was agree*? to on the voices.

Mr Buchanan moved that the item, expenses under’ the Adulteration Prevention Act, 1880, £450, be struck out. The motion was agreed to on the voices.

Maintenance of the Manawatu gorge road—£Boo. Mr McKenzie (Waihemo) moved to reduce it by £IOO. Lost on the voices.

Mr Thompson (Marsden) moved to strike out the item “ Compilation of the ancient history of the Maoris, £400.” Carried.

A motion to strike out the item “New Zealand and Australasian Science Association, £500,” was negatived by 47 to 40, as also was a motion to reduce the vote by £250. Mr Goldie moved to strike out the item “ £l5O, payment to the Eev. H, C. M. Watson for expenses in connection with lecturing on New Zealand in England.” Item omitted by 32 to 25. The total, miscellaneous vote as reduced then passed. Crown Lands and Survey Department; Lands Department —£11,839. Mr Fish moved to reduce the item by £6OO and the salary of the Under Secretary £SO. - Carried by 27 to 26. Chief clerk—£37s. ■ Mr Fish moved to reduce it by £25. Agreed to on the voices. Five clerks —£940. This item was reduced by £35, the amount of the increases.

Mr Fish moved a reduction of £lO in the salary of the Wellington chief clerk, £2BO. The reduction was carried on the voices.

Progress was reported and the House rose at 11.5 p m. On Thursday the House met at 2.30 p.m. on

ME HUTCHISON’S CHAEGES

Mr Withy brought up an interim report of the Hutchison Charges Committee. It was to the following effect: —“Tour Committee has the honour to report that a difficulty has arisen in the conduct of its enquiry, resulting from the refusal of the Bank of Hew Zealand to produce a certain portion of the books and documents requisitioned for. This portion contains the private accounts of certain members of the Ministry.” Appended to the report is the correspondence between the chairman of the Committee and the President of the Bank of New Zealand on the subject. The report was ordered to be laid on the table.

Mr Withy moved that the report be taken into consideration to-morrow at half-past two o’clock, and that permission be given to the Bank of New Zealand to be first heard by counsel at the bar of the House.

In reply to Sir John Hall, the Speaker said that counsel would be beard before the report was considered.

The motion was agreed to BILLS PASSED.

The Borough of Brunnerton Bill and Auckland Hospital Reserves Bill were passed through Committee without amendment, read e third time, and passed.

GAEEIAGE OP SINGLE NEWSJfAPEES

Mr Reeves (Inangahua) moved—- “ That in the opinion of this House the conduct of the Railway Commissioners in making a charge for the transmission of single newspapers is vexatious and injurious to the best interests of the colony. The debate was interrupted by tbe 5,30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. . PAELIAMENTAKT MB BATMAN.

Mr launders said that b§ understood that tbe Parliamentary Librarian had : beep Eppmuted that day, and he

felt sure a majority of the House would not vote a salary for that officer. He merely wished to express a hope that the appointment would not be confirmed till after the salary was voted. dog registration bill. Major Steward (Waimate) moved that the amendments made in the Dog Registration Bill be agreed to. The motion was carried. The Bill was read a third time and passed.

QUINQUENNIAL PARLIAMENTS BILL. Mr Samuel moved the second reading of the Quinquennial Parliaments Bill to repeal the Triennial Parliaments Act, and to provide for the duration of future Parliaments to five years. He said that the Triennial Parliaments Act had had a good trial, and be thought that all would admit that it had been a failure. Under the present system the power of members was entirely neutralised during the first two sessions, and there was great power for evil in the third session, owing to the fear of offending the constituents. That of things would be remedied if Parliament was to exist for five years instead of three as at present. It would also be to the advantage of the poor man, who would be better able, to stand the cost of election every five years than under the triennial system. . Several members spoke for and against the Bill. The motion for the second reading was lost by 45 to 18,

AUCTIONEERS’ BILL

The House went into Committee on the Auctieneers’ Bill.

In clause 31, providing that no person shall sell by auction unless licensed, it was agreed to strike out the portion relating to a penalty of £lO, and to provide that the penalty shall not exceed £IOO.

Claused—Applioalion for certificate. Mr Downie Stewart moved to strike out the words which proposed to enable an auctioneer to choose whether he would take oat his license in the district where he resides or in that where he has his place of business. The motion was lost by 35 to 17. Mr Fish said he would sacrifice his voice and personal comfort to oppose the Bill, which was so injurious in its effects. After speaking at great length, he moved that the Chairman leave the chair.

The motion was lost by 31 to 21. After a very long discussion progress was reported;

EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES BIEL

The House went into Committee on the Employment of Females and Others Act Amendment Bill which was reported without amendment. The House rose at 1 a.m.