GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2544, 19 August 1893, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Oauiaru Loans Consolidation Bill was read a second time after a debate. Mr Stevens moved " That the 16th section of the Police Offences Act be amended so as to enable farmers and others to prosecute work of necessity on Sundays, and that the Government be requested to bring in a Bill with that object."—After discussion the motion was agreed to by 15 to 14. The Wellington City Empowering Bill was read a second time without debate.

The Mining Bill (No 1) passed through Commit'oee with a verbal amendment in the title.

The Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act Amendment Bill passed its final stages.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. The Mining Act Amendment Bill and the Wellington City Empowering Bill passed their final stages. Sir Patrick Buckley, in moving the second reading of the Juries Act Amendment Bill, explained that its object was to enable the Judges in criminal cases where there was no chance of a jury agreeing to discharge them, after being locked up for six hours.—Agreed to. The second reading of the Electoral Bill was adjourned till Friday. Dr Pollen moved the second reading of the Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Bill, which had passed through the Lower House. He believed that the BU if passed would afford great relief to many persons. They had the Mosaic law for their guidance, for under that dispensation a man was compelled to espouse the widow 'of his late brother and provide for his nephews and nieces under penalties for non-compliance. Sir George Whitmore said that he would go still further, and would support a Bill making all marriages of affinity legal.

Mr Stewart warmly opposed the Bill, as he viewed with alarm all attempts to alter the existing marriage laws. He moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. The amendment was agreed to by 20 to 18 the Bill being thus thrown out. HOUSE OF BEPRESENTATIVKS. SUPPLY. After 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning the Customs and Marine Department v-jte of £63,671 was passed without alteration. Mr Rolleston drew attention to' an item of £ll7O, " hire and working expenses of dredge for New Plymouth harbour," and pointed out that last session the vote was • reduced by £1 as au indication that the Government should not spend any more money on this harbour. The Premier explained that the amount contained on this year's estimates was incurred because the dredge was detained, and could not be returned by the contract time, besides which repairs to the vessel had cost a large sum. Sir John Hall moved to strike out the item, but it was lost by 21 to 12. In reply to a question Mr Ward said it was intended to reorganise the whole of the Marine Department, and the wages of lighthouse keepers would be taken into consideration in the proposed reorganisation. Considerable economy could be effected without impairing the efficiency of the service. Government Insurance Account £62,lßß.—Agreed to. Public Trußt Office, expenses account —£8076. The total vote was passed without alteration. Progress was reported and the House rose at 3.30 a.m. On resuming at 2.30 p.m., REPLY TO A QUESTION, Replying to a question, Mr Mackenzie said that the question of giving assistance to some of the larger Horticultural Societies, so as to encourage tree-planting, would receive consideration. A DTXNEMN QUEST TON". The greater part of the afternoon was spent in a discussion raised by Mr Fish on a local matter affecting Dunedin. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. and resumed at 7.30. ASKESTING SUPPLY. On the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply, Mr Fisher moved that the complete correspondence relating to the retirement of Mr Fisher from the Atkinson Ministry be printed.—The Premier opposed the amendment, which on a division wa3 carried by 27 to 25. On the question again being put that the House go into Committee of Supply, Mr Duthie complained of the offensive nature of the reply given to his question that afternoon, respecting the small farmers who arrived by the Ruahine He thought that the Government should not encourage this class of immigration. —The Hon. Mr McKenzie resented the manner in which Mr Duthie had referred to him, and said that the newcomers had means and would probably make good settlers.—After some discussion the subject dropped. SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Esti* mates. '

Colonial Secretary's Department. £72,368.

Mr Rolle3ton asked when ifc was proposed to fill up the Portfolio of Native Minister?—The Premier said that he hoped to make a statement shortly ou that subject Speaking on the Printing and Station* ery Vote, Sir Robert Stout said that there was a gross waste of money in this department because of the unnecessary printing A great many of the reports that were printed were mere padding.

Some discussion arose on the vote of £250 to the New Zealand Institute. Several members regretted that the Government should reduce an item of that kind, but Mr Ward explained that the reduction was made owing to the necessity of cutting down expenditure wherever practicable.

After one hour's discussion the total vote for the Colonial Secretary's Depart* ment was agreed to without alteration. Post and Telegraph Department £292,815. The vote was passed without alteration after very little discussion. Stamp and Deeds Depirtraeuc—£l9,27o. The voie elicited practically uo discussion, aud was passed as printed.

Education Department Passed without alteration. Progress, was reported, aad the House rose at 1.35 am, The House met at 2.30 p.m. ou Thursday. BILLS PASSED. The William Robertson Estate Trusts Bill was put through its final stages.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

Replying to Mr Guinness, whether the Government would authorise the children educated at private schools to compete for all scholarships wh,iqh children edu,-, cated in State "schools are enticed to compete for, Mr Reeves Baid that th Government did not intend to bring in any amendment cf the Education Aofc Ui:o gesojoq j,u the direction/asked, fo?,

Mr Guinness moved the adjournment of the House, and contended that every encouragement should be given to children attending private schools. He felt sure that more would be heard of this matter before next session. Mr Fish and Mr W. Hutchison took a similar view, and said that there was another Bide of the question: If they were to make scholarships free to all it would confer enormous advantages to the rich man's children's to the disadvantage of those of the poor man. Sir John Hall thought it was a great hardship that the children attending the Church of England and Roman Catholic schools should be excluded from the scholarships because their parents did not Bend them to the public schools. After further discussion, Mr Reeves pointed out that not only in this but in other respects there was want of uniformity, inasmuch as one system was followed in one district and another system in another. As to the general question raised by Mr Guinness, he thought blame should not rest upon the Minister because the administration of the Act was left to the Education Boards of the colony.

The subject then dropped. KAIAPOI VESTING BILL. The Kaiapoi Borough Council Vesting Bill was put through its final stages. BILLS ADVANCED. Progress was reported on the Egmont County Bill and on the Riverton Harbor Board Empowering Bill. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m., and resumed at 7.30. MONOPOLIES BILL. Mr Shera moved the second reading of the Monopolies Bill, to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies. He said that the Bill contained no new principles. It had been for many years the law in England, and was only repealed during the reign of the present Queen. He was bound to say that the Bill had been condemned by the Press, but, although the Press was very enlightened, it did not understand the nature of the Bill. He quoted several extracts to prove that if the f'ill was passed into law it would not interfere with ordinary trade and commerce. Mr Reeves protested against the Bill, and said that its effect would be to confine every, member of a trade union in gaol and render every member of a prohibitionist society liable to a fine of £SOO or imprisonment for a year. He hoped that the House would not agree to the second readiug. Mr Fish moved that the Bill be read that day six months. Mr Fish's amendment was carried by 34 to 17, and the Bill was lost. the gumfields bill. Captain Russell resumed the debate on the Gum aud Gumfields Bill. He strongly opposed the Bill on the ground that it would prevent a man from digging for gum till he had been twelve months in the colony. It imposed a license fee of Is on a British subject aud £5 on foreigners.

Mr Buckland moved that the Bill be read that day three months. Mr Reeves moved the adjournment of the debate until the report of the Gumfields Commission was received. The motion for the adjournment was carried by 41 to 14. The House rose at 10.10 p.m.