GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Temuka Leader, Issue 2562, 30 September 1893, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. Sir Patrick Buckley's motion to make a call of the Council on Tuesday next was withdrawn. On the motion for the second reading of the Land for Settlement Act Amendment Bill, Mr Oliver moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. After a short debate the amendment was carried by 17 to 14.

On the motion for the committal of the Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill, Mr Boweu followed up the hostile report of the Statutes Revision Committee on the measure, and moved that it be committed that day six months. After discussion the amendment was lost by 10 to 13. The Bill, was committed. On reaching clause 2 progress was reported with leave to sit again. The Government Railways Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee. On Mr Stewart's motion clause 3, providing for the appointment of a Minister for Railways, was struck out by 20 to 15. All the remaining clauses were struck out on the voices. This left the Bill with only two clauses, namely, the short title, and a clause extending the term of office of the present Commissioners for another year. The Bill was reported in this form, the third reading being set down for next day.

The Workmen's Wages Bill was considered in Committee, the amendments made by the Labour Bills C mmittee being agreed to. The Bill was then put through its final stages. Several local Bills were advanced a stage. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. The amendments made by the House of Representatives in the Criminal Code Bill were agreed to. The Government Railways Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed without debate. The Land Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee with amendments made by the Waste Lands Committee, and was.put through its final stages. The Cheviot Estate Payment Bill was read a second time.

The Electoral Law Amendment Bill was read a second time.— !vlr Shrimski gave notice that in committee he would move that the franchise .should not be exercised by women until January, 1894. The Mahinapua Creek and Lake Reserve Bill, the Westland Churches, Schools and Hospital Vesting Bill, and the Cheviot Estate Payment Bill were put through their final stages. The Industrial Conciliation Bill was further considered ia Committee. On Mr --tewart's motion a series of new clauses were inserted, their oiiaet being to give boards of conciliation power to "ummon witnesses, who must produce books al?' 1 papers for inspection, under a pwua'ty'nJt exceeding £2O, but euch information as they giva is; not to be made public. The Bill as amended was reported, and put through its final stages. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. After 2 a.m. on Wednesday, THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. Sir John Hall said since the present Government took office there had been a steady increase every year in the expenditure on public works. He complain, d that out of a total of £693,000 voted for the whole colony only about £IO,OOO was voted to the Canterbury district.

The Premier in the course of his reply said he thought that as Sir John Hall was about to retire from public life, he would have been just and fair in his criticisms of the Statement. There was nothing misleading in last year's state ment, and as to the contention that the loan conversion was really a system of borrowing, he gave that a direct denial, and s.iiu it was simply reducing the amount of annual interest payable by the colony. He declared that economy h*d been practised by the present Government such as had never been seen since the public works policy of 1870, and there had been a gradual tapering off since they came into office. As to the proposal to set up a Select Committee to settle public works expenditure, he thought that would never work, as it practically meant setting up an extra Ministry in the form of a Select Committee, and would lead to conflict. A proper system of local governmont, leaving the carrying out of public works to the local bodies, was the best solution of this matter. He declared that from present prospects there was no necessity for any borrowing, and lie could assure the hon. members opposite that there was no cause for anxiety. The Government would endeavour to act fairly to all par s of the colony in allocating public expenditure. Hon. members had complained that the Public Works Estimates had never been delayed until such a la'e period of the session, but he reminded them that the Ministry of which Mr Mitchelson was a supporter had actually put their Public Works Estimates, amounting to £1,800,000, while the whistle of the steamer which was to convey members to their homes was sounding. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then (2.40 a.m.) went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Public Works Estimates. Railways (new works) New vote, £BOOO for Te Aro (Wellington) goods station. Carried by 16 to 11. In the vote for roads on the goldfields, Mr Geo. Hutchison moved to omit the item of £SOOO for advances towards prospecting in deep levels. —Lost on the voices, and the item yas retained. In the vote for school buijdings. the Premier said in reply to Dr Newman that none of the money could go in repairs; it yy.pnld all be expended on new buildings. All the votes ou the Estimates were agreed to without alteration, nope of the items provoking much discussion. The House rose at 3.32 a.m. on Wed}i{3!;day, and resumed at 2.30 p.m.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that the Government did not intend to take any action with regard £,G paying compensation to ex-Judge Edwards ; th?.t if any reasonable oiler was made to the (ioyerjunent in regard to subsidising the HuudurjE, Parker Steamship Company to indue a New Zealand port in the timetable of the Canadian seryicsj f hey would favorably consider it; that Mr MeKerrow, the Chief Commissioner of Railways, is not entitled to a pension. ELECTORAL LAW BILL. The Premier moved the second r-ading of The Law Amendment Bill, to extend tho privilege of ejectors' rights to shearers and to coneet an ohq- mud* in 'i'ha Electoral Bill, 1893, with respeut to the inclusion of th-i woi d " Icssoholdo;'" jn the interpretation clause.—The second readi'ia; >yas agreed to on the v. ici's, and the Bill 5734 .committed forthwith, tho various cl.uixps being pa§se 1 without amendment.—On tho motion of &iv Kvht. Stout a new clause was added, limiting the time from fifteen days to five d;;y« in which the Registrar may make enquiries fti to any application for enrohnent.

CRIMINAL CODE BILL. The Criminal Code Bill was committed for the consideration of certain clauses only. Clause 112, having reference to disobedience of orders of courts of justice, was struck out. Clauses 114 and 115—Neglecting to aid a peace officer in suppressing riot and in arresting offenders, were struck out. Clause 138—Penalty for disturbing public worship was amended so as to make the fine forty shillings instead of forty pounds. Tho Bill as amended was reported. The House rose at 5.30 p.m., and resumed at 7.30. BILLS IMSSED. The Electoral Act Amendment Bill and the Criminal Code Bill were put through their final stages. NATIVB LAND BILL. The House disagreed with the amendments made by the Council in the iS'ative Land Validation of Titles Bill, and managers for a conference were appointed. CHEVIOT ESTATE PAYMENT BILL. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Cheviot Estate Payment Bill, to enable the Treasury to isiue debentures in payment for the purchase by the Crown of the estate known as Cheviot Hills. The Bill authorised the issue of debentures t > the amount of £250,000, but it is not compulsory to issue to the full amount. The Government would have to wait till the sale of the property before they were able to state the exact amount that would be issued. The second reading was agreed to. The Bill was committed forthwith. The Bill was reported without amendment, read a thiru time, and passed on the voices. INFANT LIFE PROTECTION" BILL. The Infant Life Protection Bill was committed without amendment and put throught its final stages. THIRD HEADINGS. The Land Drainage Bill, and Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Act Amendment Bill, were committed without material amendment, read a third time, and passed. WORKMEN'S WAGES BILL. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Workmen's Wages Bill were disagreed with, and managers were appointed to confer with that Chamber. The House rose at 12.45 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. COLONEL FOX'S REPORT. In reply to a question to Mr Palmer, the Premier Raid he thought Colonel Fox's report only fair criticism. As to the publication of such criticisms being contrary to the Queen's Regulations, he contended that Parliament had power to overrule the Queoii's Regulations. Mr Palmer, being dissatisfied with the Premier's answer, movea the adjourn me tit of the House. A large uuuiber of members took the opportunity of again discussing Colonel Fox's report. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. THE STOCK BLL. The Stock Bill was committed.

In clause 2, it was resolved that the Bill Bhould come into operation on the Ist January next. Mr George Hutchison proposed an amendment, which would provide that section 54, authorising stock to be driven only in the day time, should come into operation in any district only after a petition from a majority of the stockowners in that district. The amendment was agreed to.

In clause 42, annual dipping compulsory, it was decided that dipping should take place between Ist January and 30th April. Clause 72—The Governor may declare earmarks to be made only by puncturing. ..An amendment by Mr Buchauan to strike out the clause was lost by 32 to 22. Mr McKenzio said that this provision would not be given effect to for twelve month.", and if he found that the majority of the stock-owners were against it the Order-iu-Council would not be issued. Clause 72, having reference to firebranding, was struck out. The Bill as amended was reported, and put through its final stages.

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. Mr Guinness moved—" That in the opinion of this House it it expedient that the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Midland Railway Company be adopted."

Sir Robert Stout moved as an amendment —" That as there is no guarantee that if the contract with the Midland Railway Company be altered in the way proposed in the report of the Public Accounts Committee, the railway from JJelson to Reef ton and from Springfield to Hokitika will be completed, this House is of opinion that no variation should be made in the existing contract."

Mr Fcobie Mackenzie seconded the amendment. The Midland Railway was sanctioned on one principle, namely, that it should be constructed out of the colony's land, not out of the colony's money. Dr Newman, Mr Fish, Mr C. ET. Mills, Mr Reeves, Mr Buckland, Sir John Hall, and Mr Taylor spoke. The debate was still proceeding at 2 a.m. when the Telegraph Office closed.