GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2552, 7 September 1893, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met ait 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. BILLS PASSED. The Mangatu (No. 2) Empowering Bill was passedB AN KING BILL. The Banks and Bankers Act Amendment Bill was read a second ttme. THE LIQUOR BILL. Sir Patrick Buckley moved the second reading of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale and Control Bill. He briefly explained its provisions. Mr Stewart moved the adjournment of the debate, in order that members might have more time to consider the Bill. The division resulted in a tie, the Ayes being 19, and the Noes 19. The Speaker gave his casting vote with the Noes, and declared the amendment lost. Dr Pollen hoped that the Bill would be thrown out by the Council, in order that the constituencies might at the General Election give an imperative voice as to whether the public desired such a Bill. He moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr McLean hoped that the second reading would be allowed to proceed. He did not agree with the principle of compensation but he thought that retrenched publicans should be gently dealt with. Mr Olliver supported the amendment. If the direct veto clause of the Bill passed, it was possible that a small minority would rule the majority. Mr Bolt moved the adjournment of the debate. Sir Patrick Buckley opposed the adjournment. The Government laid great stress on the Bill, and he thought that it should be proceeded with without delay. The amendment was carried on a division by 22 to 17. The debate was adjourned till next day. THE. ELECTORAL BILL. The [Electoral Bill was further considered in Committee. Clause 61.—A motion by Mr W. C. Walker, to give bush-fallers electoral rights, was lost by 22 to 16. Ineffectual attempts were made to have the system of electoral rights extended to monthly nurses, gum diggers, men engaged on co-operative works, and lighthouse keepers and their families. Amendments were proposed in several of the succeeding clauses but without avail, and when the last clause was reached, progress was reported, it being agreed to defer consideration of Mr McLean’s new clauses with regard to women’s franchise until next day. The Bill has passed through Committee so far practically without amendment. HOUSE OF EBPEESENTATIVB3. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. THE CHEVIOT BILL. The Cheviot Estate Dieposition Bill was reported from Committee, read a third time, and passed. MAGISTRATES COURT BILL. Mr Beeves moved the second reading of the Magistrates Court Bill, which he stated was to a large extent a consolidating measure. It was intended to consolidate and amend the law relating to the jurisdiction of magistrates and justices of the peace in civil matters. By the Bill all magistrates would have jurisdiction in the ordinary way up to £IOO, and the extended jurisdiction proposed would give them special powers to deal with cases up to £2OO. The Bill had already passed the Legislative Council. —Agreed to. CRIMINAL CODE BILL. Mr Beeves moved the second reading of the Criminal Code Bill, explaining that it had passed the Council four times, had been read a second time in the House three times, but had always failed to pass through Committee. He could assure the House that with one exception not a single new punishment was embodied i n the Bill, whilst a number of punishmen ts were modified. After some debate the second reading was agreed to on the voices. DISTRICT COURTS BILL. Mr Beeves moved the second reading of the District Courts Jurisdiction Bill to extend the jurisdiction of Distric Courts in civil cases and in certain criminal cases. The most important part of the Bill was the clause providing that every District Court shall have jurisdiction over all cases of a civil nature in Which the claims shall not exceed £SOO, and also oyer all partnership accounts and disputes between parties in which the claim or value of interest in the property shall not exceed £SOO. The motion was agreed to. THE SUPREME COURT BILL. Mr Reeves moved the second reading of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act Amendment Bill, to confer certain powers on Registrars of the Supreme Court iu certain cases—Agreed to. CIVIL SERVICE BILJh Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Civil Service Officers Guarantee Bill, to provide a more extended system of the insurance of the fidelity of officers iu the Civil Service. Under this Bill all officers of the Civil Service would coutribute iu the case of defalcations by any member of the Service. —Agreed to, LAND DRAINAGE BILL. Mr McKenzie moved the second reading of the Land Drainage Bill, to provide for the drainage of agricultural and pastoral lands. After a short debate the second reading was agreed to and the Bill referred to the Waste Lands Committee. LAND BILL. Mr McKenzie moved the second reading of the Land Act Amendment Bill, He said that the Bill did not contain any questions of policy, and it was simply intended to remedy the mistakes which had crept into the Act of last year.— Agreed to, FOREST bili. Mr McKenzie moved the second reading of the Gimmerburn Forest Bill, affecting I some land in the Otago district. —Agreed to. (COALFIELDS rill. Mr McKenzie moved tne second reading of the Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Act, 1887, Amendment Bill, which places the tenure of the Westport colliery reserves on a more equitable basis—Agreed to. J)UACK*U£J3 bill. The Hals well River Drainage District Bill was read a second time. WEST COAST SETTLEMENT BILL. The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee without material amendment and was put through its final stages. The House rose at 1. 10 a,m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. GOLDFIELDS COMMITTEE. A lengthy discussion took place on the report of the Goldfields Committee, which was finally referred back to the Committee for further consideration. TEE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, In reply to a question, the Premier said that the Public Works Statement would

probably be brought down early next week. PHOTOGRAPHING PRISONERS Considerable discussion arose as the result of a question asked by Mr Palmer with reference to the practice of photographing persons committed for trial. Mr Reeves promised to look into the matter. ' ‘ ' The House rose at 539 p.m., aud resumed at 7.30. BILLS PASSED. The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passsed. The Post Office Acts Amendment Bill was passed through a committee without material amendments, aud put through its final stages. The Civil Service Officers Guarantee Bill was committed. Clause 1 was amended so as to make the Act apply to the officers of the Government Insurance Department aud Official Assignees. The Bill was reported, read a third time aud passed. * STAMP ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Stamp Act Amendment Bill was committed. The clause, providing that foreign policies’of sea insurances shall be stamped, was strongly opposed aud elicited a lengthy discussion. Eventually Mr Reaves agreed to strike out a clause. The Bill as amended was reported, read a third time, and passed. SHOPS AND SHOP ASSISTANTS BILL. On the motion that the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill be committed, Mr Duthie moved as an amendment that the Bill be committed that day three months. A long debate ensued, the Bill being strongly opposed by Mr Fish, Mr Rolleston, Mr Saunders, Mr Bucklaud, Mr Wright, Mr R. J. Thompson, VlrM. J. S, McKenzie, and several others. Mr Duthie’s amendment was lost by 20 to 12. (Left sitting at 2 a.m.)