GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2565, 7 October 1893, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. Managers were appointed for the conference with the House of Representatives on the Electoral Law Amendment Bill, The Rating Act Amendment Bill was committed. In clam. 2 an amendment was made giving local bodies the option of assessing on the capital or rateable value. Clause 10, which gave local bodies three years in which to collect their rates, was struck out on the voices. Clause 21, which provided for rating on the unimproved valuas of land was struck out by 15 to 19. Several clauses which depended on this clause were also struck out on the voices. New clauses were added to the Bill—(1) obviating the necessity of local bodies when suing a batch of defaulters proving the striking of a rate in each individual case; (2) providing that buildings un ten anted for six mouths in any one year shall only be rated accordingly; (3) and exempting from rating lands vested in School Commissioners unless the same be let. The Bill was reported and put through its final stages The Council met at 2.30 p.m on Thursday, The Government Life Insurance Acts Amendment Bill, the Public Trust Office Act Amendment Bill, the Land and Income Tax Bill, the Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill, the Maori Real Estate Management Bill, and the Kyngdon Laud Grant Bill were put through their final stages. The Gimmerburn Forest Bill was thrown out on the motion for the second reading by 14 to 9. In Committee on the Native Land Purchase and Acquisition Bill, a new clause was added providing that the Act shall not come into operation till the Ist January, 1894. The Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. The Mining Act Amendment Bill, the Colliery Railways Vesting Bill, and the Drainage Bill, were put through their final stages.

The second reading of the Local Authorities By-laws Bill was set down for next day.

The Council met at 10.30 a.m on Friday. To the motion for the second reading of the Local Authorities Bye-laws Bill, Mr Oliver moved an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. After a short debate the amendment was carried by 15 to 9, the Bill being thus killed.

ATTACKS ON THE COUNCIL. On the motion for the committal of the Public Works Appropriation Bill. Mr Stewart referred to the attacks which had been made on the Council beciuse they refused to pass without alteration every Bill that came before it from the House of Representatives. If the Council was to become a mere recording machine he should be strongly in favour of an elective chamber.

The Attorney-General, having remarked that the last speaker never lost an opportunity of abusing the Government, said he hoped that during the recess the matter of abuse of the Council by member of the House of Representatives would be considered, and probably a Message might be sent to the House of Representatives of a character which might at any rate teach some members in that place to abstain from abusing members of the Council. The Bill was p"t through its final stages, and at nooil th© Conncil adjourned until 5 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE^. NATIVE LAND PURCHASE BILL. After 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning, the rernainiog clauses were passed without material amendment. Several new clauses proposed by the Native Affairs Committee were agreed to. On Sir Robert Stout’s motion a new clause was added, providing that any proclamation made under the Act shall not remain in force longer than three years. The Bill was reported, and after a short debate put through the final stages by 18 to 6. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. BILL DISCHARGED. Mr Reeves moved that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill be discharged from the Order Paper. He referred to the extraordinary treatment which fthe Bill had received from tlx© Legislative Council, and said that there was not the slightest chance now of getting it passed m a workable form. If he were to accept the wretched abortion sent back by the Legislative Council it would prevent any useful Bill being passed for three years. It would now be for the people to consider at the coming election whether the people themselves should rule or whether they would be ruled by domineering nominees in the Upper House.

Mr Rolleston resented the remarks of the Minister for Education, and said that they were opposed to every notion of propriety, be protested against such wholesale condemnation of Upper House by a Minister of the Crown, and said that it came with very bad grace from the member of a Government which had appealed to Downing Street to crowd the Legislative Council with their own nominees. He (Mr Rolleston) felt convinced that the industrial classes of the colony would never again allow themselves to be led by designing politicians into another strike, and he was glad that an opportunity would be shortly afforded the working people of the colony of seeing who were their real friends. A large number of members having spoken, the motion was carried on the voices. SECOND HEADINGS. The Government Life Insurance Accounts Amendment Bill, to prevent delay in dividing surplus profits between policyholders, was read a second time. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Companies Act Amendment Bill, to enable companies to increase their capital by the issue of preferential shares wot exceeding the amount of ordinary shares for the time being issued by the company. —Agreed to. The Land and Income Tax Bill—the usual measure introduced year hy year to provide for the imposition of the inx—already carried by the House, was read a second time.

The Public Trust Office Act Amendment Bill, which Mr Ward explained was largely an amending measure, ;md would afford greater advantages to those radjo had the use of the Public Trust Department, was read a second time. The Wnnganui Harbour Endowment Reserve Bill, the Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill (providing that coal includes shale under the Mining Act) the Public Works Act Amendment Bill (to amend the law relating to the working of roads over railway crossings) were read a second time.

All these Bills were subsequently committed without material amendment, aud put through their final stages.

BILLS PASSED. The Gimmorburn Forest Bill and Kyngdon Land Grant Bill were rend a third time and passed. The Collier}' Bailways Vesting Bill, the necessity for which arose from the position of the Fernhill railway and Shag Point railway in Otago, was committed, and put through its final stages. THE EDUCATION BILL. The Education Amendment Bill (No 2) to take the onus of prosecution from local school committees and throw it on Education Boards in cases where parents neglected to send their children to school regularly was read a scond time. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. In committee on the Education Act Amendment Bill, Clause 9, which gave a police officer power to prosecute under the Act was struck out by 29 to 19, leaving the prosecution with the Education Boards. Mr Fisher moved a now clause to the effect that all scholarships should be open to children attending public and private primary schools.—The clause was agreed to by 29 to 16, Eventually progress was reported on the Bill.; THE ELECTORAL LAW BILL. The Premier brought up the report of the conference on the Electoral Law Amendment Bill, and said that they had removed some serious difficulties under which the seamen of the colony laboured with respect to voting. The House would also be glad to hear that the con ference had agreed that the question o electoral rights for women should be held over till after the General Election and that it would then be considered* whether electoral rights should be granted to all women or only those in certain districts. He moved that the report of the conference be agreed to. The motion was carried, REPORT. The Premier moved the adoption of the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the alteration of the Public Works Statement with the exception of the last paragraph to the effect >hat the Committee are of opinion that in altering the text of a Ministerial Statement after it had been laid before Parliament, and without even informing the Minister of what he had, Mr Blow committed a grave indiscretion ; they consider that no alteration of any Parliamentary paper after it has been laid on the the table of the House can properly bo made without the sanction of the House. He (the Premier) asked Mr Bolleston to with draw the charge that he (the Premier) had altered the figures silently, secretly, and surreptitiously, the Committee having shown that the charge was unfounded. As to Mr Blow, he had only followed a practice that bad obtained for years. Mr Bolleston held that the Premier should have made the correction in the Public Works Statement in the most public manor, and not have allowed Mr Blow, the Under-Secretary, to lie under the charge so long. The debate was adjourned till next day, the Premier promising that it would be made the first order for the day. THE SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. The House went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Supplementary Estimates. THE ESTIMATES. In the discussion on Mr Earn shaw’s motion to strike out the vote of £2OOO as a bonus to aid the flax industry almost every speaker supported the retention of the vote. The motion was lost on the voices. Mr Shera moved to strike out the vote of £BSO for payment of the honorarium to 12 members of the Legislative Council fr®m the date of appointment.—The motion was lost by 25 to 16. Mr Tanner moved that the item of £3OOO the widow and daughter of the late w lla ” ce be struck out He said he had oppose* 1 a Similar vote .on last year’s Estimates, and tins v ht9 was just the same violation of the principle—The vote was retained by 32 to 5. Mr Pinkerton moved that the vote of £3OOO grant to the Wellington Hospital Trustees (£ for £) bo struck out, —After considerable discussion the item was retained by 30 to 8. On the item £ISOO grant for female refuge work, Mr Beeves said in reply to Mr Earushaw that enquiries would be made into applications received for assistance under this head, and on the result of these enquiries the money would be divided as fairly as possible.—Mr Earushaw asked whether the Magdab Asylum, Christchurch, which had received a grant of £SOO lust year would participate in this vote.—Mr Beeves said “yes, certainly.”—-The vote was passed. On tho item £2oo® for a State farm, Mr Mackenzie said in reply to Mr Earushaw that the site of the first farm, on which this vote would be expended, would be either at Waverley or Horowheuua. It was quite possible that the Government would select a piece of land for a State farm on tho Cheviot estate, and a site for a farm would be chosen near the Taieri lake when the Otago Central railway reached that locality. All votes in the unauthorised expenditure account for 1892-93 were passed without comment, and progress was reported. The House rose at 5.45 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. REPLY TO A QUESTION. Beplyiug to Mr Bolleston, the Premier said that nothing would appear in the Appropriation Bill but what was sanctioned by the House, and nothing would be found in that Bill to affect the Bail way Commissioners, as there was no necessity for it. As to what the Government would do with respect to the Commissioners, the people of the colony would have an opportunity of considering the whole matter before tho term of office of the Commissiruers expired. The Government would keep strictly within tho law in any course which they pursued respecting the Commissioners. They did not intend to procee I with the Government Railways Bill this session. BY-LAWS BILLMr Beeves moved the second reading of the Local Authorities By-laws Bill, under which every by-law made by any loe Si authority, prohibiting the playing of musical instruments by any person or persons conjointly, and whether or not as part of any procession in any street, or road, or public place, is declared Rvalid. Nothing contained in the Bill, however, shall construed to permit the playing of musical instruments i-, a minn-r so that public traffic in jtjhe streets shall be stopped or impeded. Mr Beeves ex plained that the Bill was brought ;,a to provide for the case of certain Salvation- 1 jets, who were recently fined at Milton for playing mu,?'cal instruments. Sir Robert Stout thought that, the Bill was badly drafted. It did n.9,t refer to the Salvation Army at all, and it miglu i open the door to all sorts of annoyances, j Mr Alien and Mr Fish concurred. j

The Premier said that the Salvationists had done excellent work in the c >lony, and it would be a reflection upon Parliament if it separated without dealing with this question. It was a. standing blot on

the colony that Borough Councils should have the power of intefering with the religious rights of these peoplo. Several other members having spoken, the second reading was agreed to on the voices.

The House went into Committee on the Bill. Clause 2 was amended ho as to provide that the playing of any naval, military, or Volunteer band, or band belonging to any recognised religious, or social organisation, or band in a public procession, or band engaged by any circus or theatrical company, should be permitted, unless it obstructed the public thoroughfare or annoyed any sick person. The Bill was read a third time and passed. BATING BOIL. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Rating Acts Amendment Bill were agreed to. RAILWAYS AUTHORISATION BILL. A motion by the Premier for the Committal of the Railways Authorisation and Management Bill (which was lost the previous night) was again negatived, the voting being Ayes 18, Noes 22, BILLS DISCHARGED. The adjourned debates on the Old Soldiers Claims Bill and the Tramways Act Amendment Bill were discharged from the Order Paper. LIBEL BILL, The Premier moved the second reading ®f the Libel Bill, which had already been passed by the Legislative Council. He thought that they could with safety give greater scope to the press of the colony than it now had, and in saying that he did not forget that ho himself had been subjected to attacks by the press for years past. The second reading was agreed to on the voices without discussion, and the House went into Committee on the Bill forthwith. After Mr Fisher had spoken at great length on Clause 2, the Premier agreed to report progress on the Bill. THE STANDING ORDERS. The Premier moved that the present Standing Orders of the House continue in operation until the 14th day after the commencement of next session and no longer unless otherwise ordered by the House. The Standing Orders as at present framed obstructed business instead of facilitating, it and he intended going into the whole matter during the recess. Several members having ente ed their protest against any alteration being made in the Standing < 'rders, the motion was carried by 30 to 19. After the division had been taken Sir Robert Stout said that he felt it his duty to point out that this resolution would be inoperative. THE APPROPRIATION BILL. The Appropriation Bill and the Public Works Appropriation Bill were read a second time. The House met at noon on Friday. THE FINAL PROCBEDTNQS. The report of the House Committee was adopted. The Premier said he hoped to effect some material improvements during the recess in the grounds surrounding Parliament buildings and also in the ventilation of the Hf use itself, and the Speaker returned his most grateful thanks to the House for the honor it had done him in electing him to the office of Speaker, and that ho had honestly endeavoured to carry out his duties to the best of his ability.

Mr Saunders said that Parliament should be called together earlier in the year. Mrßolleston ngreed with Mr Saunders, and said that Ministers were bound to convene Parliament as scon as possible after the election. Mr O'Conor and several other members also spoke.

Mr Ward announced that Ihe revenue of the colony was still keeping up, and that the receipts were £4631 in excess of those for the corresponding period last year. Dr Newman said the Colonial Treasurer was very careful to let the House know the receipts, but declined to give information about the expenditure. At 1 o’clock the House adjourned till 3 pm. to await the Governor’s assent to the Appropriation Bill. THE APPROPRIATION BILLS. The Appropriation Bill and the Public Works Appropriation Bill were read a second time. The Public Works Appropriation Bill passed through Committee without amendment. In Committee on the Appropriation Bill Mr Rolleston called for a division on clause 14, which provides for the ) aymeiit of the honorarium of recently appointed members of the Legislative Council from the Ist January up to the date of taking their seats in the Council. The division resulted in a tie—Ayes 18, Noes 18, The chairman gave his casting vote for the ayes, and declared the clause retained. The Bill was reported without amendment. The Public Works Appropriation Bill was put through its final stages. On the motion for the third reading of the Appropriation Bill at 2 10, Mr Kolleston protested against the Bill being gone on with at such a late hour. Mr Duthie shortly criticised the Bill, and was followed by Mr Richardson and Mr Buchanan. Mr Ward replied, and in conclusion said hon. members opposite, it appeared to him, were anxious to paint the financial credit of the colony in tho blackest manner possible, and were en* deavouring to damage the colony in England through the columns of the financial journals. The Government had no reason to be ashamed of the record of the session, having placed on the Statute Book some very useful legislation. The Bill was then put through its final stages, aud at 4.10 a.in. the Mouse adjourned till noon.