GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2391, 27 August 1892, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Arms Bill, the Fisheries Encouragement Bill, the Aliens Act Amendment Bill, and the Tahoraiti Titles Validation Bill were read a second time.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. The Aliens Act Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 2—Power to reduce the naturalisation fee in the case of Chinese, was amended, so as to place Chinese on the same footiug as other aliens seeking to be naturalised. The Bill as amended was reported, read a third time, and passed. The Oamaru Racecourse Trustees Empowering Bill was read a second time. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr McGuire, the Premier said that the Government would have great pleasure in submitting the question of endowments granted by Parliament for New Plymouth Harbor to the Public Accounts Committee, or to any other committee that might seem desirable. In reply to Mr Houston, the Premier said that the opinion of the Government Insurance Department was that it was not advisable to extend the benefit of Government insurance so as to include a railway accident insurance scheme. Replying to Mr Shera, Mr Seddon said that the Government could not recommend Parliament to guarantee to a company 31 per cent, interest on the cost of the construction of a railway to complete the connection between Auckland and Wellington, as that would be indirect borrowing. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. A Select Committee was set up to enquire into the working of the Government Printing Office. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. On the motion of the Premier it was decided that for the remainder of the session Government business take precedence on Thursdays. EMPOWERING BILL. The Otago School Commissioners Empowering Bill was read a second time. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m., and resumed at 7.3 Q. FRUIT GROWING. Mr McKenzie moved the second reading of the Wellington Fruitgrowing Association Leasing Bill, to authorise a grant to the Wellington Fruit Growing Association qf a perpetual lease of a block of land of 8729 acres for the purpose, of special settlement. Several members objected to the Bill on the ground that the Government in treating with a special body of men for land in this way were not doing justice to others who wished to obtain land, It was also urged that a matter of this kind should be a part of the general law, and should be put into the Land Bill. Mr Seddon expressed surprise to see so much opposition to the measure, especially as there was no country in the world in which fruit-growing was so much neglected as in New Zealand. After a large number of members had spoken on the measure a motion for the adjournment of the debate till Tuesday was agreed to on the voices, MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY. Mr Cadman moved the second reading of the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Application Amendment Bill, to extend the time of purchase of land under the Bill for three years, and also to extend the area. Strong or position was shown to the Bill, among those who spoke against it being Mr Rolleston, Sir George Grey, and Mr Taipua. Mr Seddon pointed out that by enlarging the area speculators weie prevented from getting land under the Bill, and it was very necessary in the interests of the natives themselves that the measure should pass. After a lengthy debate the second reading was agreed to, and the House rose at 1.35 a.m, The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Ward for ten days, in consequence of illness in his family. REPLIES TO QUESTION^. In reply to Mr E. M- Smith, the Premier said that the Government did not intend to take up the Divorce Extension Act introduced by Mr Jackson Palmer. Replying to Mr Rolleston, Mr Seddon said that the Public Works Statement and Estimates would be brought down when some progress had been made with the General Estimates. Mr Fergus moved the adjournment of the House. A Jong clispussio" ensue 4} the co-operative system of public wqrkj beinff exhaustively pritjo,ise4 b.V '• members/ ' - rfCVoral

Second readings. Iho Otago Harbor Board Empowering Bill, the Kaitangata Kelicf Fund Transfer Bill, the Dempsey Trust Bill, the Liu

coin School <;f Agriculture Empowering Bill, the Petone Corporation Bill, the Riverton Harbor Board Empowering Bill, the Mount Ida Water Race Bill, the Patea Harbor Endowment Bill, the Ohinemuri County Riding Bill, the Hukarere Native Girls High School Bill, and the Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Act 1887 Amendment Bill were read a second time.

The House adjourned at 6.15 p.m., and resumed at 7.30.

The Auckland Harbor Board Empowering Bill was read a second time. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners Bill, to regulate the admission to practice in the courts of law.—The motion was agreed to. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the law Practitioners Bill, to make provision for the better security of moneys deposited witli persons practising the profession of the law. —The motion was agreed to. Mr Scobie Mackenzie moved the second reading of the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, 1881, Amendment Bill, to amend" The Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, 1881," and limit the cost of Parliamentary elections. —The Premier said that the Bill was brought in with a good intention, but it seemed to him that although the Bill intended to prevent corruption it failed to attain that object. He thought that the present law put as many restrictions on candidates as the present Bill did. —After a long debate the second reading was agreed to on the voices. BILL DISCHARGED. At Mr Fisher's request the Law Practitioners Act, 1882, Amendment Bill was discharged from the Order Paper. INEBRIATES HOMES BILL. The Inebriates Homes Bill was further considered in Committee. Clause 8— Male and female wards to be separate. Mr Shera said that if the Committee passed the Bill he should hand it at once to the Government, and let them take the responsibility of it.—Mr Fish, Mr Fergus, and others, objected to this farce being carried on any longer. After a long discussion progress Avas reported. The House rose at 12.45 a.m.