GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2408, 6 October 1892, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. BILLS PASSED. The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill, the Factories Act Amendment Bill, the Native Land Purchase Bill, the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill, the Customs Laws Consolidation Act Amendment Bill, and tho Servants Registry Office Bill, passed their final stages. CONCILIATION BILL. The Industries Conciliation Bill was further considered in committee. The proposal contained in the Bill for the establishment of a Court of Arbitration was struck out by 13 to 6, on an indirect division, and by 10 to 6 on a direct division. The clause subjecting the Railway Commissioners to the C our t of Arbitration, was struck out by 12 to 3. The Bill as amended was reported, and the third reading fixed for next day. The Council rose at 4 p.m. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. THE LAND BILL. Mr Stewart, Mr Stevens, and Sir George Whitmore, were appointed a Committee to draw up reasons for the Council’s insisting on their amendments in the Land Bill. BILL PASSED. The Industrial Conciliation Bill passed its final stages. SECOND READINGS. The Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill, Selectors Lands Revaluation and Continuance Bill, and several local Bills were read a second time. , At 4.30 p.m. the Council adjourned till 7.30. p.m. After agreeing to reasons in support of their amendments to the Laud Bill they adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. PETITION. The Public Petitions Committee reported on the petition of Parker and Maddock, contractors for the Dashwood contract of the Awatere railway, to the effect that the petitioners had no claim against the colony. —Mr Buick spoke strongly against tho action of the Committee over this petition, and moved that the report be referred back to the Committee for further consideration. —After a debate, lasting nearly the whole afternoon, the motion was agreed to on the voices. reply to a question. Replying to Mr Richardson, Mr Ward said that the amendment made by the House in the Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill, and the concessions granted, amounted to between £20,000 and £23,000. THE COUNCIL AND THE HOUSE. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill were disagreed with, and Mr Kelly, Mr J. McKenzie, and Mr W. P. Reeves, were appointed a Committee to draw up reasons. The amendments made by the Council in the Factories Act Amendment were disagreed with, and Captain Russell, Mr Sandford, and Mr W. P. Reeves, were appointed a Committee to draw up reasons. NATIVE APFAIRS COMMITTEE.

The debate on the report of the Native Affairs Committee, on the petition of Here Winui Te Toko, was resumed by Mr Cadman, who gave a version of the transaction from a Government point of view. He said that the petition presented by the natives surprised him as much as anybody, as he had been two days in the district occupied by the natives and had not heard a word about it. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m, adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The debate on the report on the petition of Here Winui Te Toko was continued at great length, Mr Kapa inovod as an amendment that in the opinion of this House the Government should compel John Lundon to refund the £783, illegally obtained in connection with the purchase of the Kaitaia block. Several speakers referred to Lun don’s transaction as a rascally one, while Mr Carroll admitted that the person chiefly responsible for the discreditable affair was Lundon. Mr Soddon agreed to accept the amendment, although he could not admit that the Government were to blame in the matter. After the debate, lasting nearly six hours, the amendment was carried on the voices. The House rose at 1 a.m, , The House met at 2.30. p.m. on Tuesday. THE CHEMIS CASE. Mr Hamlin asked the Speaker wnether he was aware that the Public Petitions Committee had that morning proceeded to the public goal in Wellington to take the evidence of the prisoner Chemis without the knowledge or consent of the House. —The Speaker siad that no doubt according to precedent the proper course would have been to bring the matter before the House, and obtain the Speaker’s warrant before taking any such action. After discussion Mr Hamlin moved that a breach of the privileges of the House had been committed by the examination of Chemis in Wellington gaol.—The moti -u was agreed to on the voices. THE PAYMENT OK MEMBERS BILLS. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Payment of Members Bill, to provide for the annual payment to members of the Legislative Council of £l5O and to members of the House of desirable that the members should receive payment for their services, month by month, and in taking the present course the Government were only following the example of the other colonies. A Bill of this kind was necessary, and he contended that it would be much more economical to pass a measure which provided for an annual payment of £240 than to leave the law as it stood at pio-ent, namely the payment of £l5O for each Mr Rolleston opposed the Bid, and urged that it was not necessary to affirm the principle, as it was already affirmed. It was not the state to provide the people with moans to act as agitators during the recess, and it was not likely any handicraftsman could earn more in four months than was proposed by this Bill. Further he did not consider that the present was a proper time to pass the Bill, as he believed very hard times were coming in the colony during the recess. The wheat harvest would be reduced by nearly £250,000, the price of wool was lower, and he believed that working men would not be able to obtain employment in consequence. Mr M i mre, Mr 11. Thompson, Mr Allen, Mr Wilson. Mr George Hutchiscn, Mr Mr fcalse» and iJuthiUiioi,

spoke against the Hill; :uul Mr itees, Mr (J. H. Mills, Mr E. M. Smith, Mr Camcross, and Sir George Grey iu favour of it. Mr Seddon having replied, the second reading was carried by 32 to 28.

The following is the division list: — Ayes, 32—Buick, Carncross, Carroll, Dawson, Duncan, Earnshaw, Fish, Grey, ,i Guinness, Hall-Jonea Hogg, Houston, J. Hutchison, Joyce, Kapa, J. Kelly, W. Kelly,Mackintosh, J. McKenzie, McLean, Parata, 0. H. Mills, Pinkerton, Bees, R. H. J. Reeves, W, P. Reeves, Sandford, Saunders, Seddon, Shera, E. M. Smith, W. 0. Smith, Ward. Noes, 28 . Allen, Blake, Bnico, Buchanan, Backhand, Duthie, Hall, G. Hutchison, Lake, M. J. S. McKenzie, McGuire, Meredith, J. Mills, Moore, Newman, O’Connor, Rhodes, Richardson, Roileston, Saunders, Swan, Taiaroa, Tanner, R. Thompson, T. Thompson, Valentino, Wilson, Wright. Pairs for : Cadmau, Fraser, Ballance, Taylor, Fisher. Against: Mitchelson, Russell, T. McKenzie, La wry, Harknsss. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. VALIDATION BILL. The motion that the Native Lahti (Validation of Titles) Bill be committed was debated for some time. —Mr Carroll replied, and the motion was agreed to on the voices. PAYMENT OP MEMBERS BILL. The Payment of Members Bill was committted. An amendment to the Interpretation clause, providing that the Bill should not come into operation until January 1894, was negatived by 29 to 15, and the clause passed. Clause 4, which provides for £l5O to be paid to Legislative Councillors, and £240 to members of the House, passed as printed, after considerable debate and several amendments had been negatived. Several members took exception to clause 6, which provided that the Native member of the Executive was to receive £240 in addition to £4OO. Ultimately the acting Premier gave an assurance that Mr Carroll would not draw double salary and the clause passed. Mr Dawson moved a new clause, protecting members’ honorarium during the session, except for expenses incurred during such session. On a division the numbers were 24 for and against. The chairman gave his casting vote with the ayes.—The Bill passed through Committee and was reported. VALIDATION BILL. The Native Land Validation of Titles Bill was committed. Tho Bill passed with slight amendments, but one or two clauses were hold over for the consideration of tho Crown Law officers. payment op members bill. The Payment of Members Bill was read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 1.45 a.m.