GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2257, 22 September 1891, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wellington, September 18. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, The Council met at 2.30 p.m, on Friday. BILLS PASSED. The following Bills were put through their final stages:—The Municipal v , Corporations Act Amendment Bill, the ' School Committees Election Bill, the Water Supply Bill, and the Light from Crown Lands Restriction Bills. The Coal Mines Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Mines Committee. : i The, Rabbit ; Nuisance Bill was put, through its final stages. BILL THROWN OUT. On the motion for the second reading of the Land for Settlement Bill, Dr Pollen moved an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. After a short debate the amendment was carried by 15 to 8, the Bill thus being killed. The Council rose at 10 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [Following is the continuation of the report of Thursday’s sitting.] Vote' of £19,005, for the RegistrarGeneral’s Department passed unaltered, several motions to reduce salaries or cut off increases being rejected by large Majorities. Progress was reported and the House rose at 4 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. BARRISTERS BILL. Sir George Grey introduced the Barristers BUI, and it was read a first ■ time. THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES, j The Premier moved that Mr Rees be chairman of Committees for the remainder of the present Parliament. Mr Blake nominated Mr Guinness. After some discussion Mr Guinness withdrew his candidature. Mr : Blake said that he had only nominated Mr Guinness at his own special request. Mr McGuire moved that Mr Fisher be elected chairman. The amendment was debated at some length, and was negatived by 36 to 29. Mr O’Conor moved that the appointment date from the beginning of next session in order to avoid the payment of nine months’ salary for a few days’ service. . The amendment was lost by 46 to 12. ' The Premier’s motion that Mr Rees receive the appointment was agreed to on the voices. NORTH ISLAND RAILWAY. Mr Cadman moved the second reading of the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Application Act Amendment Bill, extending the operation of the Act of 1889 for two years longer, in respect to the purchase of native land along the line of the railway. The motion was agreed to. The House rose at 5.40 p.m. and resumed at 7.30 p.m. BILL PASSED. The North Island Main Trunk Railway BUI was passed through committee with slight alterations. Mr Hutchison (Waitotara) moved a new clause to enable the Government to spend money raised by loan in the Taranaki district as weU as Auckland. Lost by 31 to 13. The Bill was read a third time and passed. INTERCEPTING SUPPLY. On the motion that the House go into' Committee of Supply, Mr J. Kelly moved an amendment to the effect that the banking account of the colony should be divided among the banks trading in the colony instead of confined to the Bank of New Zealand, and that the Government be requested to take immediate steps to give effect to this resolution. , The Premier could hot support the amendment, as he had not sufficient information as to the working of the associated banks system in other colonies. He should, however, make all possible enquiries during the recess and would probably be able to give the House some definite information on the subject next session. After a lengthy discussion the amendment was lost by 34 to 20. THE HOUSE AND THE COUNCIL. A messi&age was received to the effect that the Legislative Council insisted on its amendments in the Land Bill, Electoral BUI, and Public Trust Office BUI, and managers were appointed to confer with that chamber. IN COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply. Agent-General’s Department, £4410. ' Mr Buckland moved to reduce the salary of Agent-General (£1250) by £IOOO, but after a couple of hours’ discussion he withdrew the motion. The total vote for the Agent-General passed without alteration, attempts to reduce the salaries of the Agent-General’s ; secretary and the Consulting Engineer being unsuccessful. . Colonial Treasurer’s Department, £42,596 ; Customs and Marine, £67,654 ; Stamps and Deeds, £18,440 ; were passed. Native Affairs, 18,630. This vote was reduced by £l, as an indication that there should be a considerable change in the present system of conducting the Nat;ve Land Court business. Mines and Land Department, £40,412. Agreed to. , 4 "Defence Department aiid Police, £153,361. In reply to a question Mr Seddon said he intended to submit a resolution to the House on the Volunteer question before the session closed, which he hoped would have the effect of •impelling the Idea among the volunteers that he was not in sympathy with the volunteer movement. The total vote passed unaltered. Government Life Assurance, £38,744. Agreed to. Public Trust Office, £8697. Included in this vote was £2500, expenses of the Royal Commission, and Mr. Seddon said in reply to Mr Rolleston that he thought . the gentlemen who had sat on the Commission had been paid for their services. Mr Rolleston remarked that this was news to him, and he urged that progress should be reported, so that the matter could be gone into fully at reasonable hours, when more members would be present. The motion to report progress was lost by 23 to 10, ,

Mr Seddon then offered to withdraw the whole class and this was agreed to. Rates on Crowi Lands £ISOO. Agreed Department of Lands and Surveys, £95,465. Agreed to. This finished all the estimates except those of the Puclic Trust Office. The House at 8 a.m,