GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2410, 11 October 1892, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. THE ELECTORAL BILL. The Manager*.' reported that the second conference on the Electoral Bill had proved abortive.—-Dr Pollen moved th it the Council's amendments be not insisted on.—Mr Stewart, Mi* Stevens, and Dr Grace Baid that the Managers of the Council had done the bc«i' in their power to bring about a compromise. They yet hoped that wiser counsel.', ivould prevail with the House.—Eventually Dr .Pollen "withdrew hi 3 motion, and the subject dropped. JIILLS PASSED. The Westlaad and Nelson Coalfields Act Amendment Bill, the Native Lands Validation of Titles Bill, the Wangaiiui Uiver Trust Amendment Bill, and the Patea Harbor Endowment Bill went. through Committee and passed their final stages. SECOND READING. The Public Keserves Vesting and Sales Bill was read a second time. At 5.30 p.m. the Council adjourned till next day. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday. THE FACTORIES BILL. Dr Pollen, Mr Stewart, and Sir George "Whjtinore, were appointed Managers to

THE INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION BILL. Mr Oliver, Mr Pharazyn, and Mr Johnston were appointed Managers to the Conference ou the Industrial Conciliation Bill. THE SHOP BILL. Mr Oliver brought up the report of the Conference on the Shop and Shop Assistants Bill. The report stated that the Council's amendments had beon accepted with the exception of those in clause 2. The Conference had agreed to a clause that shop assistants should mean shop assistants, apprentices, or improvers.— The report was agreed to. THE LAND AND INCOME TAX BILL. The Land and Income Tax Bill was put through all its stages. THE ELECTOBAL BILL. The House of Representatives desired a third Conference on the Council's amendments in the Electoral Bill.—The old Managers, with the exception of Mr Stevens, who had left the town, were appointed. BILLS PASSED. The Public Reserves Vesting and Sale Bill, the Manure Adulteration Bill, the Law Practitioners Bill (No. 3), passed their final stages. FIRST READINGS. The Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Bill passed its first and Becond readings after some debate. —The Bill was ordered to be committed on Monday. The Council at 5 p.m. adjourned till 11 a.m. on Monday. The Council met at 11 a.m. on Monday. ViWW'K FRANCHISE. Mr Oliver, in bringing up the report of the report oi t,he Council Managers on the third Conference on the Electoral Bill, explained that they made every concession within their power, but all their efforts proved useless. Mr Pharazyn confirmed the observations of Mr Oliver. The Managers had done all in their power to get the women's franchise passed. He expressed a hope that the country would distinctly understand that the Council's representatives had done their best to save the Bill. The Colonial Secretary said when the Bill was before the Council he had warned the Council that their amendments would have the effect of killing the measure. Personally he was opposed to women's franchise, but he could assure the Council that the Government had been and were very anxious that the Bill should pass. Mr Reynolds moved that another conference be sought, and that Messrs Johnston, Stewart, Whyte, and Reynolds be the Council's managers. The Speaker ruled that as the Electoral Bill was in the House of Representatives at the present time, he could not put Mr Reynolds' motion. Mr Stewart suggested that a message be sent to the House intimating that the Council was willing to assist at still another conference. (Voices : Oh, no ; that would be degrading !) After further discussion, the subject was dropped. NAVAL AND MILITARY SETTLERS AND VOLUNTEERS BILL. The Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Bill was read a second time, a hostile amendment by Mr McLean being rejected. Mr McLean spoke strongly against the measure on the motion for committal, and said that he would do his best to prevent the Bill becoming law. The Council adjourned at 1 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. THE CHEMIS CASE. The Public Petitions Committee reported that while they were unable to j obtain sufficient evidence to justify them | in advising any definite action in the I Chemis case they recommsnd that the I case should be carefully considered by the I Executive.—The chairman of the Com- ! mittee (Mr C. H. Mills) wished to make \ a statement of the case, but was not al- ' lowed to do so. He said that he wished i to proclaim to the Hcuse aud the world ■ that he had come to the conclusion that the convict Chemis was innocent of the crime for which he was suffering. THE STOCK AND RABBITS COMMITTER. The report of the Stock and Rabbits Committee congratulated the colony on its almost entire immunity from stock disease. There would very booh be a clean sheet as far as cattle were concerned They were pleased to learn from the Minister of Agroultuve that it Was his intention to appoint a Government entomologist to deal with inseot pests. They recommended the introduction of elementary agricultural teaching into State schools, and that the Government take immediate steps to deal with the rabbit pest. The Committee understood that at the Australasian Stock Conference to be held here shortly, the colony will receive a clean bill of health in regard to scab. —After a long discussion the report was adopted. THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. Mr W. Hutchison presented the report of the Special Committee appointed to enquire into the Government printing office. It contains a number of minor recommendations, but the one of chief public interest is that the Government printer be instructed to refrain from taking private work and from placing the office in any way in competition with private offices. The Committee also recommended alterations in the office to cost £4OO, to secure a better light for the compositors. BEI'LIKS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated_ That the Government were of opinion that it w;i« not desirable to appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into the case of ex Judge Edwards ; that the Government will make enquiries with a view of cutting up the Auckland islands into small grazing runs ; that steps would be taken to give effect to the report of tha Commissioner of Police relative to a new classification of the force; that the Government would do their best to push on thts Government railway line through the Forty M'iie J3ush in vievr of continuous slips on tuo Manawata Gorge line. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m., and resumed at 7.30. THE SHOrS AND SHOi' KILL. Mr Reeves brought up the import of the conference of both iiou.es <»n the ■ Shops' and Shop Assistants Bill, assdsiid ihat the amendments undo by the Couucjl in the measure liid bijou accepted by the House Managers, an addition being made to include apprentices and improvers among f.hose who come under the provisions of like Bill. He had accepted the Council's amendments under protest, and he did so with the belief that the Bill, in its present shape, would not remain long ou the statute book of the i eokmy. In its present form the measure was » poor and feeble compromise, and it would .almost have been better if the Council ha<i rejected it altogether.—The report was agreed, to. THE FATE OF THE ELECTORAL BILL. Mr Seddon reported that the conference on the Electoral Bill had failed to arrive at a compromise. He regretted to say that the measure must, therefore, bo dropped. The Managers from the House lju4 dQH§ *\\ Miat lay in their power- tq

meet the Malingers of the other branch of the Legislative without departing from the great principles that were at issue. The responsibility for the destiuction of this Bill rested with the Legislative Council and he felt sure that the couutry would endorse the stand taken by the Bouse of Representatives. He moved that the report of the Managers lie ou the table. Mr Saunders said that they were asked td-night to sink a great principle and to drop the most important Bill that had ever been brought before the House, because of a difference of opinion in regard to some details. Ho moved as an amendment that the Bill be not dropped, and that the amendments of the Council in the women's franchise clause be agreed to A debate lasting several hours ensued. At 12.15 a.m. Mr Duncan moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr Rolleston said that this was no doubt an attempt to stifle debate, and if members had any independence in them they would not allow such conduct to be perpetrated. It was evident that the Government wanted to adjourn this debate in order to get the Standing Orders suspended, aud keep them there till the Governor's message was received proroguing Parliament. They had better have a "star chamber" at once than government of this kind. Mr Seddon said that there was no occasion for Mr Rolleston to lose his temper, as the Government had no idea of suspending the Standing Orders. He submitted that there was very good reason for an adjournment, as it was possible the Council might give way to-morrow, and allow the Bill to pass as it left the House.

After further discussion the motion for the adjournment of the debate was carried by 34 to 23. Mr Duncan moved that the debate be resumed on Saturday. Mr Rollestou moved as an amendment that the resumption of tho debate be made the first order for next sitting. Mr Seddon reminded the leader of the Opposition that it was for the Government to arrange the Order Paper. Mr Bees said he was forced to believe that if the Council withdrew all their objections to the measure, the acting Premier would not pass it. The Hon. Mr Reeves repudiated the charges hurled at the Government several times during the evening, that they were acting with the grossest insincerity on the female franchise question, and said the Premier had really injured his health in his endeavours to pass the Electoral Bill. He appealed to the supporters of the Government to stand by them and refuse to accept Mr Rollestou's amendment. After a very animated discussion Mr Rollestou's amendment was lost by 34 to 19, and Mr Duncan's motion was carried. At 2.30 a.m. the House adjourned till 2 p.m. On resuming Mr Seddon stated that, with respect to Electoral Bill, he proposed to ask the House to agree that the Council should be asked to grant another conference with fresh Managers. He hoped that the Council would meet the House in a fair and conciliatory spirit. He moved that Mr Meredith, Mr C. H. Mills, Mr Duncan, and Mr John McKenzie, be Managers for the House.—The motion was agreed to. BILLS PASSED. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Land and Income Tax Bill, providing for fixing the amount of the land and income tax. It was proposed that the land tax be Id in the £; the income tax of companies Is in the £ ; the income of persous up to £IOOO, Od, exceeding £IOOO, Is. I'he motion was agreed to. The Bill passed through committee, and was read a third time and passed. The Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Bill was put through itsfinalstaget. The North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Application Act Amendment Bill was committed, read a third time, and passed. At 4 p.m. the House adjourned till 7.30 p.m. The Law Practitioners Bill (No. 2) was committed.—The fee of five guineas for admission as a barrister and solicitor was struck out, and the words "fee prescribed by law " inserted. The Bill was rea ' o third time and passed. The Public Works Act Amendment Bill was committed, and caused a very lengthy discussion. lite Bill was reported with amendments, ffittd a third time, and passed. »WE ELEdTORAti BILL. Mr J. McKaufsie brought Up the report of the Managers on the Electoral Bilh The report was to the effect that the Manngors of the H mse had met the Managers of the Legislative Council, and were unable to come to any agreement. Mr McKenzie said that the House Managers approached the Upper House with every desire to meet the gentlemen in a fair spirit; but it was evident from tho outset that the Council's Mangers would not come to any compromise, and that there was not the slightest chance of any agreement being arrived at. It was quite apparent to his mind that the Council did not intend that the female franchise should be granted this year. He moved that the report lie on the table.

Sir John Hall regretted to hear the Minister for Lauds make that statement. He would like to know what disposition h«d been shown on the part of the House Managers to come to a compromise, aud pointed out that every concession had been made by tho Council and not a single one had been conceded by the House. There was no doubt that the result arrived at was a triumph for brewers and publicans ; but he would tell those gentlemen that the position they had taken" up over this question would drive many peoolo into the ranks of the prohibitionists! who at present held moderate views.

Mr Saunders did not want to take up the time of the House over this matter, but lis would move as an amendment to the effect tj;,at the amendments in the Electoral Bill that were still insisted on by lim Legislative Council were not of sufficient importance to justify the rejection of such a largo constitutional measnro affecting so largely the full, equal, political, and just representation of all daises find conditions of the New Zealand, population. He hoped they would obtain a straight out v »te on this question, and that they would not be hampered by any such questions as adjournment of the House.

After a debate Mr Saunders's amendment was put and lost by 34 to 24, and the report of the conference wa3 ordered to lie .911 the table. THE iNIWS-TRIAL CONCILIATION BILL. Mr W. P, Reeves brought up tho report of the Conference on the Industrial Conciliation Bill to the effect that the House Managers had failed to come to an agreement with the Legislative Council on the Bill. He said that whilst the Managers of the Council were perfectly courteous, they were also absolutely unyielding, and at this last stage oi ili« session wws v,q fcvjjq of

proceeding further with the Bill. The | responsibility of postponing the Bill till next„session was, therefore, cast on the Legislative Council. After some discussion the report of the Conference was ordered to lie on the table. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. Mr Guinness brought up the report of the Midland Railway Committee, and said that although lie had signed -it as chairman he did not at all approve of its contents. THIRD READINGS. The Printers and Newspapers Registration Act Amendment Bill, the Police Ofiences Act Amendment Bill, and the Offensive Publication Bill were committed, read a third time, and passed. ADJOURNMENT. • Mr Seddon moved that the House at its rising do adjourn till 11 o'clock on Monday. The motion was agreed to. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Supplementary Estimates. Legislative Department, £llsO ; Colonial Secretary's Department, £4095 ; Minister of Justice, £535 ; Postmaster-General's Department, £2970 were passed. Mr Seddon moved that progress be reported. The motion was agreed to and the House rose at 11.55 p.m. The House met at 11 a.m. on Monday. Mr Seddon said he had unintentionally given the House the impression on Saturday night that he did not intend proceeding with the Supplementary Estimates, and he should, therefore, ask to recommit Class 2, in order that members who wished to speak on that class could do so. Mr J. McKenzie stated that the Council did not insist on its amendments in the Selectors Land Revaluation Continuance Bill.