GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2564, 5 October 1893, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

legislative council. The Council met at 230 p.m. on Monday. The Electoral Law Amendment Bill passed its final stages. In Committee on the Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill a new danse was added, by 18 to 11, with the object of preventing workmen engaged in gasworks .and waterworks from suddenly ceasing work without notice. The Stock Bill was read a second time on the voices, and the committal set down for next day. The Council met at 2.30 p.m, on Tuesday. Managers were appointed to draw up reasons for the Council insisting on its amendments in the Workmen’s Wages Bill and the Land Act Amendment Bill. After a short debate the Rating Act Amendment Bill was read a second time.

On the motion of the Attorney-General, the Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill was discharged from the Order Paper. Reasons were received from the House of Representatives for disagreeing with the Council’s amendments in the Electoral Law Amendment Bill. The At-torney-General moved that the Council do not insist on its amendments. The motion was lost by the casting vote of the Speaker, the numbers being—ayes, 13; noes, 13. Mr Bowen, Mr McLean, and Sir George Whitmore, were appointed managers to draw up reasons for insisting on the amendments.

The Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Act, 1877, Amendment Bill, was read a third time and passed. The Stock Bill was considered in Committee. Clause 53—“ Stock to be driven only in daytime ” —was amended to provide that stock could be driven to and from any public saleyard after nightfall, such stock to be driven only along public roads, and the distance t > bo limited to six miles. A further amendment was agreed to, giving auctioneers power to permit stock to be driven at other hours than between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in winter, and 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. in summer. A new clause was added, providing that all expenses and charges of carrying 1 his Act into execution, and all money to be paid by way of compensation for destruction of stock, shall be borne from sums of money to bo appropriated from time to time by the General Assembly. The Bill was reported and put through its final stages.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Mo u day. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. The debate on the Midland Railway proposals was resumed. Mr Meredith, Mr Thomson, Mr George Hutchison, Mr Fisher, Mr Saunders, Mr Blake, Mr James Mills, and Mr Duthie spoke. Mr Rolleston said that the Bill making this contract was brought into the House and carried through by the Stout-Vogel Government. He thought that the colony was bound to endeavour to come to some reasonable agreement with the Midland Railway Company, and he felt that, fhe company had considerable grounds <«f complaint on account of the way in which they had been treated in respect of the land grants. He was surprised to see that the [people who made the contract were now trying in every way to discredit it. The present proposals would not settle the question at all, and the only way to settle it would be by an Act. Mr Wilson and Mr Eamshow having sj oken, the motion for the a ioption of the report of the Public Accounts Committee was put and lost by 31 to 17. The Premier moved the amendment of which h$ had given notice last week. Ho sail that it must be very clear after the division just taken that the House was not prepared to grant 15 per cent.- tQ the company in addition to giving debentures in lieu of land grants. He had taken up that view from the first. The Government had proposed a reasonable compromise in the matter, but this was afterwards altered in Committee. The House should carefully weigh the position in which the colony was placed. He did not think it wise to make a damaging statement against the company, such as bad been made that afternoon. The claims of the company to an extension of time could not be resisted, and involved the honour of the colony. He had no fear of the thieatened litigation, but he held that if the contract were not modified the credit of the colony would be affected at Home. It could not be argued that the Government had treated the company unfairly, for though the Government had had ilie fc® 750,000 acres of the land for miniiip reserves, they had taken only 250,000 acres. admitted that a great mistake had been maJj whe “ \ he col ™y agreed to allow these works b 0 un “ er ' taken on the land-grant system. uw that they were committed to the contract, the very fact of getting the land back for the purpose of settlement should induce members to support his amendment.

The House divided on Sir Robert Stout’s amendment, which was negatived by 24 to 26. Mr W. Hutchison said that ho would move another amendment, that the question be referred to the next Parliament. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. and resumed at 7.30. THE ELECTORAL LUV BILL. The Premier moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Electoral Law Amendment Bill be disagreed with. He explained that tho principal amendment made was the insertion of a new clause, providing for electoral rights for women. As thousands of women were already oa tho rolls, he thought that it was too late for any proposal conferring electoral rights. Mr Rolleston asked why ho considered it was too late. He considered the electoral right question was one that was worth giving a fair trial.

After discussion the amendments were disagreed with, and Messrs Hutchison and Guinness and the Premier were appointed a committee to draw up reasons. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

The Premier read the copy of a letter he had received from Mr Wilson, general manager of the Midland Railway Company, stating that the company’s board were prepared to accept the terms stated in the report of tho Public Accounts Committee as a compromise for settlement. Mr W, Hutchison resumed the debate, and moved an amendment referring the proposals of the company to the new Fa-Lament. Bethought that Sir Sob t Stout’s proposal was too drastic, and that it would be well for the House to close tho door against compromise.

Tho House divided on Mr W. Hutchison’s amendment with tho following result ;—Ayes—27 ; Noes—27. The Speaker gave his casting vote with the noes, in order that that the House might have an opportunity of further considering the question, and declared the amendment last. After considerable debate the Premier’s ’■psolutions were put and carried by 'll to 26. MAGISTRATES COURT BILL. The Magistrates Court Bill was recommitted. Clause 15 was altered making iiKu istrates to hold olilco at the pleasure

of the Governor instead of during good behaviour. Clause 3, “ extendeded jurisdiction,” was amended so as to provide that this jurisdiction shall not include actions for false imprisonment, illegal arrest, malicious prosecution, libel, slander, seduction, breach of promise of marriage. The Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 12.45 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. DUNEDIN TEAM WAY COMPANY. A lengthy oistu ion arose on the report of the Public Petitions Committee on the Dunedin Tramway Company. The report recommended that that the Government should not have the exclusive right to the use Of the ground as a return circuit in cities, and that they should not claim the establishment of such right by prior occupation. Mr Pinkerton moved that the Government take steps to give effect to the report of the Committee. The motion was agreed to. BILLS DISCHARGED. On the motion of the Premier the fnllnwincf frAni tlio

On the motion of the Premier the following Bills were discharged from the Order Paper.—Tramway Act Amendment Bill, Roads Validation Bill, Distress Amendment Bill, Betterments Bill, Shearers Accommodation Bill, Arsenic and Cyanide Carriage Bill, Sale of Poisons Bill, Tongariro National Park Bill, Foxious Weeds Bill, Auctioneers Act Amendment Bill, Co-operative Works Bill, Labour Department Bill, Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill, Legislative Officers Salaries Bill, Road Boards Act Amendment Bill, Pharmacy Bill, Manual and Technical Elementary Instruction in Public Schools Bill, Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill, Coroners Inquests Bill, Direct Veto Bill, Alcoholic Liquor Importation or Manufacture of Intoxicating Liquors Prohibition Bill, REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr Robert Thompson, the Premier said that the Shipping and Seamen’s Act Amendment Bill was now so much altered that they might not be able to proceed with it. In reply to Mr Rollestou the Premier said that if members really assisted the Government to dispose of the remaining business on the Order Paper, they might get away by Friday next. Replying to questions, the Premier said that he intended to make enquiries with respect to the alleged discontent among the police force in regard to promotions, and that the Government had decided to expend £IOO in repairing the graves of the soldiers buried at Rangiriri.

Mr Rollestou asked what the Government intended to do with regard to the Government Railways Act Amendment Bill.

The Premier said that the Legislative Council, in striking out the clauses on the Railways Bill, and directing the House to appoint certain persons as Commissioners for another year, had offered the House one of the greatest affronts he had ever known of. The Government had determined to att in constitutional manner with respect to the matter, but he would remind the House that it was not yet reduced to such a position that it could bo dictated t“> by a nominee Chamber. MINING BILL. The various clauses in the Mining Act Amendment Bill passed with verbal amendments and the alterations made by the Goldfields’ Committee. The Bill was put through its final stages. NATIVE LAND PURCHASE BILL. On the motion for the committal of the Native Land Purchase and Acquisition Bill, Mr K>pa spoke at great length in condemnation of the measure, and urged that it be postponed till next session. Tfie Premier, Mr Thompson, Mr Mackenzie, Mr Taipua, Mr Parata, Mr CajToJl, Mr Mitchelson, Mr Richardson, Mr Rolleston and Sir Robert Stout spoke. In the course of his reply the Premier said that the Natives were being dealt with fairly by the Bill, and Parliament could no longer stay its hand, as the whole country was being kept back by this Native land difficulty.

The motion for the committal was carried by 22 to 10, [Left sitting at 2 a.m.]