GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2236, 4 August 1891, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wellington, July 29. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. p.m, on Tuesday. replies to questions. . Replying to questions it was stated that the Government could not consent to put a sum on the Supplementary Estimates for the carriage of exhibits to the Launceston Exhibition; that the Government recognised the absolute necessity of a change being made in the licensing laws, but there was no chance of legislating this session, the Government, however, would take every step to prevent Sunday trading in liquor; that the Railway Commissioners had informed the Government that they could not agree to passenger tickets being sold at post offices, and other public offices, nor could they agree to the request to issue annual second-class railway tickets ; that it was intended to exempt savings banks from taxation under the Land and Income Assessment Bill. AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION. Objection was taken by several members to Mr Reeves’ motion that the House should meet on Monday night next.for the discussion of the resolutions dealing with Australian Federation. The motion'was eventually carried by 36 to 17, but several of those who had voted for it stated that if the proposal was brought forward to sit on every Monday for the remainder of the session they would not support it. UNHEALTHY APARTMENTS. Several members called attention to the faulty ventilation and draughts in the Chamber and hoped that the Government would attend ,to the matter without delay. Mr Bryce remarked that it was usual to adjourn on the death of a member, but he thought they should adjourn now to prevent the death of members. Mr Seddon undertook to engage an architect to report on the state of the Chamber. THE AUCTIONEERS’ BILL The Auctioners’ Bill was read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 5.30. p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. SELECTORS LANDS REVALUATION BILL. Mr KcKenzie moved the second reading of the Selectors Land Revaluation Continuance and Amendment Bill. He explained that agricultural leaseholders on the gold fields were not provided for by the Act of 1889, which expired in January last, and it was now thought necessary to continue that Act so that those leaseholders might get their holdings reduced in value. A provision was also inserted to provide against trumpery cases brought before the land boards, it being made necessary to pay a deposit on revaluations .which was forfeited if the case was not worthy of attention. The motion was agreed to. COUNTIES ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Cadman, in moving the second reading of the Counties Act Amendment Bill, said that the most radical change in the Bill was the introduction of the one-man-one-vote principle in county elections. The measure also provided that a county council may agree with fire brigades for providing the necessary plant and extra labor for extinguishing fires and for the payment of such bridages out of the general account, at such remuneration as the council thinks fit. Mr Thompson (Marsden) thought that the Bill was a very dangerous one, and if the ohe-man-one-vote principle were agreed to, it would destroy local government altogether. He would do his utmost to prevent the Bill passing in its present shape. Mr Bryce felt assured that a measure of this kind would produce a most uncomfortable feeling in the country districts. The one man one vote system would not be a success in connection with county elections, as it was essentially a sound principle that more representation in county matters should be given to men who held a large amount of property than to men who possessed a small amount. Mr Seddon said that his opinion was that as long as the present law continued the whole of the revenue would be expended in the vicinity of large properties, and not for the benefit of the district generally. The Government had well considered this question, and had come to the conclusion that so long as the present system prevailed the settlement of the country would not progress properly. A number of other members, while agreeing with the one-man-one-vote principle when applied to Parliamentary elections, could not support the proposal to extend the system to county elections. The majority of those who spoke agreed that in some respects the Bill was an admirable one, but some went so far as to say that they would sooner see it thrown out at the second reading than allow the one-man-one-vote principle to be embodied in it. Sir George Grey supported the Bill. Mr Rolleston thought that the measure on the whole was a very poor one. He felt that Ministers were acting against their own convictions in introducing the one-man-one-vote clause, which was simply meant to catch the gallery. In replying Mr Cadman said that plural voting at present exercised an

injurious influence in many "cases iand there was a demand for alteration on account of the harm it caused. If the second reading of the Bill was agreed to he should put himself in the hands of the committee as to what course they would take with respect to the one-man-one-vo!e clause. The motion for the second reading was,agreed to on the voices. The House rose at 1.2 a.m.