GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2526, 8 July 1893, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. POISONS BILLS. The Poisons Importations and Carriage Bill and the Sale of Poisons Bill were referred to a Select Committee. PEBMISSOBY OATHS BILL. The Permissory Oaths Bill, which obviates the necessity of the mayor of a municipality being re-sworn on his election, was read a second time. LIBEL BILL. Sir Patrick Buckley moved the second reading of the Libel Bill, which he regarded as an old friend of his. A similar Bill had passed in the two previous sessions, but had been slaughtered amongst the innocents in another place at the end of the session. He explained that it was a transcript of the Imperial Act. He hoped that the Bill would pass, and thus do away with every blackmailer without hording licence to the press. Mr Rigg spoke in favor of the Bill. The motion was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council adjourned till next day. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. INCOME TAX BBTUBNS, Sir Patrick Buckley refused, unless the Council ordered otherwise, to furnish Mr Kelly with returns showing the amount of income tax paid by joint stock companies or banking companies in the colonies. He said that all banking returns were gazetted, and could thus be seen. Mr McLean moved the adjournment of the Council in order to assert that the returns could be got at without the authorisation of Parliament. Mr Stevens failed to see why companies should bo summoned by the Tax Department differently to private individuals. Sir Patrick Buckley retorted that the Government could not be too strict in guarding the privacy of the actions of trading companies. Mr McLean considered that it was but fair that Parliament should b* in a position fo see what the incomes of foreign and colonial companies severally were. The subject then dropped. THE PEBMISSOBY OATHS BILL. The Permissory Oaths Bill passed the final stages. The Council rose at 3.15 p.m.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ou Wednesday. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. At the request of the leader of the Opposition, the Premier agreed to extend a Kq time for opening the debate ou the FinancT Statement from Friday to Tuesday night. , COLONEL FO?’S » EFO » T * . In reply to Dr NewmaC, ths Prchiier said that after the House had discussed Colonel Fox’s report he would say whether or not the Government intended to give effect to the recommendations contained in the report. THE TOTALISATOR. Mr W. C. Smith moved—“ That, in the opinion of this House, the totalisator should be abolished, and that the Government be requested to bring in a Bill to give effect to this resolution.” Mr Blake and Mr Valentine opposed the motion, and Mr Fisher spoke in support of it. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed ae 7.30 p.m.

SMALL DEBTS PnEVENTION BILL, Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Small Debts Prevention Bill, vto prevent the recovery by retail tradesmen of debts not exceeding £LO on account of goods supplied on credit. He held that the credit system was a curse to any community, and although he had no hope of passing the Bill on the present occasion, ho trusted that the matter would some day receive serious attention. Mr W. Hutchison seconded the motion, as he considered the principle of the Bill was entirely sound. If the credit system were abolished it would be one of the greatest reforms ever introduced into the country. A short discussion ensued, the general opinion expressed being unfavorable to the measure which, it was urged, would entail hardship on many sections of the community. Mr Fish moved an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr Ward regretted that the Government could not support the Bill. If passed he was afraid that it would do very serious harm to the class it was intended to assist, and would entail hardship on many deserving people who •'ild be prevented from getting credit. j^ r said that in the face of the opposition o ; +llG Government he would not press the motioif & the Becolld reading. , The amendment was carried on voices, the Bill thus being shelved. THE INTOXICATING LIQUORS BILL. Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Intoxicating Liquors (supply to children) Bill, providing that liquor is not to be supplied to children who are under the age of 13 years. The penalty under the Bill is fixed at £lO for every offence, and if the person convicted is a licensed victualler his license is to be suspended for six mouths, and in case of a second offence he shall be liable to have his license forfeited.

The Bill was generally approved, and the motion for the second reading was agreed to on the voices. CORRUPT PRACTICES PREVENTION BILL. Mr Scobie Mackenzie moved the second reading of the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, 1881, Amendment Bill, to limit the cost of Parliamentary elections. He said that the main features of the Bill were—firstly, that all payments at election time were to be made through a candidate himself; secondly, that a candidate must get a receipt for all moneys expended, except when the amounts were under 30s; and, thirdly, that the total expenses of an election must not exceed £IOO. The Bill was ou the same lines as a measure introduced by him last session. The second reading was agreed to. CONSERVATION OF RIGHTS BILL. Mr Ward moved that the Conservation of Ilig 'ts Bill be read a second time. The Bill provides that District Judge Ward, who has two or three times acted as a Supreme Court Judge, shall not by that circumstance forfeit any of the rights accruing to him in the Civil Service. The motion was agreed to. OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD EMPOWERING BILL. The Otago Harbour Board Empowering Bill was read a second time. REPRESENTATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Heddon moved the second reading of the Representation Act Amendment Bill, which he explained merely provided for printing the rolls of the new electoral districts when the House prorogued. He said that if the Bill were agreed to it would result in a saving to the country of about £IO,OOO.

Sir John Hall suggested that the General Election might be held in March or April next, instead of November or December, which was a very inconvenient time in many cases. A short debate followed, during which the Boundary Commissioners came in for condemnation for the manner in which they had done their work. Mr Seddon said that the Government had given the point raised by Sir John Hall some consideration, but the result of their deliberations was against extending Parliament. They saw no reason why the date of the General Blecsion should be postponed till March or April. As to calling Parliament together after the General Election, if the country decided against the Ministry, Parliament should, of course, be summoned at once. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. The House rose at 11 p.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. ANSWER TO QUESTIONS.

In reply to Sir John Hall, as to how the Government prt poses to increase the graduated land tax so as to produce the increase of £19,000 mentioned in the Financial Statement, Mr Ward said that it was intended to obtain that amount by an additional | from £IO,OOO up to £25,000, and an additional two-eighths from £25,000 upwards. .Replying to Dr Newman, Mr Ward said that Dr Newman would find that the Public Revenues Act of 1892 gave the Government full authority for expending £200,000 of Treasury bills for the purchase of the Cheviot estate. CONSERVATION OF FORESTS. Mr McKenzie moved—“ That in order to conserve our beautiful forests and preserve our rare native birds in the fiord and lakes country, the Government should without delay appoint reliable local residents to act as rangers and conservators, and that the clauses of the Laud Act relating to the cutting and firing of native bush, and the clauses of the Animals Protection Act, for the preservation of native birds, be strictly enforced ” A long debate ensued, the principle of the resolution being generally approved. The debate was not finished when the House took the usual 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. LAW PR V GTITIONERS ACT AMENDME N T BILL. Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill, to provide that solicitors admitted before the Ist January, 1887, may be enrolled as barristers if they apply for admission within three months of the passing of this Act. He said that the Bill had on a former occasion passed through all its stages in the Lower House, but had been blocked in the Council.

The motion for the second reading was negatived on a division by 52 to 19. TIED HOUSES. Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Holding of Publichouses by Brewers Prohibition Bill. He said that the Bill was not intended as an attack on brewers. It had the support of two-thirds of the brewers of the colony, but was opposed by wealthy members of that class who had several “ tied ” bouses on their hands. It was drafted in the interests of the respectable publican, and was meant to place the publichouses on the true basis of hotels. He pointed out that there were 55 hotels in Wellington, and nearly 50 of them were in the hands of two brewers. The Bill provided that a brewer could divest himself of his property within three years, but if the House desired, it could extend the time to five years. After a short debate the motion for the second reading was carried by 28 to 26. BRANCH REGISTERS BILL. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Companies Branch registers Act Amendment Bill, to provide that the shares of deceased shareholders domiciled in the United Kingdom shall not be liable to duty in Zealand. The motion was agreed to. BILLS PASSED. The Representation Act Amendment Bill and Payment of Members Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee without amendment, were read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 11.30 p.m.