GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2703, 25 August 1894, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. NOT EESIDENT PENSIONERS. On the motion of Mr Jennings a return was ordered, showing the amount paid by the Government annually m pensions to persona residing out of the colony, with the names and amounts. DIVOBOB BILL. • On the motion for the committal of the Divorce Bill, Sir George Whitmore moved its committal that day three months, on the ground that the Bill was not required. The amendment was lost by 18 to 15, and the Bill committed. Mr Pharazyn moved the excision of sub-section 1 in clause 2, placing the sexes on au equality with regard to obtaining a divorce for adultery. The amendment was lost and the clause retained. Progress was reported with leave to sit again. LAND YOB SETTLEMENTS BILL. The Land for Settlements Bill was read a first time. LEVELS COUNTY BILL. The Levels County Bill (Mr Feldwick) was read a second time. HABBOBS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Harbors Act Amendment Bill was referred to a Select Committee. COMPANIES ACCOUNTS AUDIT BILL. The Companies Accounts Audit Bill was committed. Clause 4, providing penalties for officers or agents of companies refusing to produce books or documents, was amended, making the penalty £SO or three months’ imprisonment. The amended clause was agreed to by 17 to 8, The Council then adjourned. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. COMPANIES ACCOUNTS AUDIT BILL. The Companies Accounts Audit Bill was passed through all its stages. GAMING BILL. The Gaming Bill was committed, and after discussion was agreed to, and reported with unimportant amendments. UNIVEESITY COLLEGE BILL. On the question for the committal of the Middle District University College Bill opposition was displayed by Mr McLean, who said that the Bill was an old friend, which had been previously thrown out.—Sir George Whitmore supported the Bill.—Mr Reynolds and Mr Kelly opposed the Bill.—The debate, on the motion of Mr Skrimski, was adjourned till next day. The Council then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House rose at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday. BEPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Hogg, the Premier stated that the matter of revision of the tariff had received the attention of the Government and they hoped to deal with the whole question in a systematic manner as early as possible. Mr Flatman asked the Minister of Education if he would recommend that all children attending the primary schools in New Zealand be supplied free of cost with one copy of each book required during their term in each standard.—The Premier gave an unfavorable reply. He said that money in the Treasury was scarce, and ‘for that reason the request could not be granted. Mr Flatman asked the Minister for Labour if he was aware that there were several workmen who are destitute at Arowhenua, South Canterbury, and would he inquire into the matter and report.— The Premier said that it was owing to the excessive fall of snow that work had been stopped in that district, but that as the summer advanced the Government would be able to put men at work aud thus relieve the distress. THE CIVIL SERVICE. The rest of the afternoon was spent in discussing a motion by Mr Duthie for a return in connection with persons employed in the Civil Service. The discussion embraced the whole question of appointments to the Civil Seivice, and the engagements of extra clerks. The question of the banquet given to Mr Rolleaton in Bellamy’s on Saturday night was also introduced into the debate, t; ou being taken by several members except— * the speeches delivered on to the tone o* - Md not finished the occasion. Tho debate *.... . dinner when the Jloilae took the usual **

adjournment. The House resumed at 7.00 p.ffl. SHJSABBBS* BILL. Major Steward moved that the third reading of the Shearers’ Accommodation Bill be postponed till next day, when the Minister for Labour would take the Bill up as a Government measure, which would, of course, give it a better chance of passing in the Council than if it were a private Bill.—Agreed to. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE BILL. Major Steward moved the second reading of the Elective Executive Bill to provide for the election of the Executive Council. He said that kis Bill might not pass its second roaui ll ? night, ho felt that the subj act shortly have to be faced, as public opinion was growing in its favour, lie pointed out that two Committees of the House had reported favourably on tho principle of his measure, and that the Royal Commission in Victoria appointed to consider tho subject had drawn up a report similar to the provisions of this Bill. The evils of party government were

now bo apparent that it was necessary to try some other form of government. After detailing at length the provisions of the Bill he said that if it passed government and the legislature would be raised to a higher plane and into a purer atmosphere. Mr E. M. Smith and Mr McKenzie (Buller) opposed the Bill. Mr Saunders strongly supported the Bill, and said that if they had an elective executive they would secure the best men, and men of equal minds. The present system of government led to a continuance of the system of one-man government, but the adoption of the Swiss system would alter that state of things. Mr W. P. Beeves could not admit that a strong argument had been made out for this Bill, which was really an academical question, and should bs discussed in an academic manner. If this Bill were passed it would take away direct power from the people through their representatives to remove any government at the shortest notice if that government misconducted itself. He denied that the Swiss were a happier, wealthier, or more moral people than the New Zealanders. If they were to imitate the Swiss at all it should be in the direction of its model self-government, which with its primary education had sent that country ahead, and not the establishment of its federal assembly. The proposal that a Minister may be removed by a secret intrigue was one of the worst in the Bill, and he hoped that at any rate that provision would be struck out. Sir Robert Stout said that Mr Beeves had not touched the Bill at all. He held that so far as the arguments from Switzerland or America were concerned, those countries could not be quoted against this Bill. No one could deny that paHy government had its own advantages, but the question was whether this was not a better system. It could not be denied that many reforms had been gained by party organisation, but owing to its abuse the people were being roused to see whether party government could not be revised and improved. The Bill provided that each Parliament coming fresh from the people should elect their own executive. Was there anything wrong in that! As far as independence was concerned, he submitted that Ministers would be more independent by this Bill than they were at present.

The Premier said that he had listened with considerable pleasure to the debate on this Bill, bat he was surprised at the speech just made by Sir Robert Stout, who had formerly spoken of the baneful effects that would result from non-party government. He quoted at length from one of Sir Robert Stoat’s speeches at Dunedin some years ago, in which he had stated that no government could be carried on without party. The Premier strongly supported party government, and said that all the best reforms were under that form of government. It had worked so well that they should not seek to alter it for a proposal of the kind brought down in the Bill. Ministers had been charged with practising “ spoils to the victors,” but he asserted that this colony was singularly free from a charge of that kind. The introduction of the Bill was injurious to the Liberal party who for years past had been fighting against class interests. On a division the motion for the second reading was negatived by 27 to 21, and the Bill was killed. The House rose at 1 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, it was stated that the question of granting village settlers advances on the value of their improvements was under the consideration of the Government, but it would have to be dealt with in a separate Bill; that there was truth in the report that Mr Charles R. Valentine, produce commissioner for this colony in England, was an officer of the New South Wales Government, and the Agent-General had been advised that Mr Valentine was an officer of that colony, and he was instructed not to allow the interests of this colony to suffer; that as there was some doubt as to who should receive licensing fees under the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, the matter would be put beyond all doubt in the present Act. BIVEBION HARBOR BOARD. The Riverton Harbor Board Empowering Bill was recommitted, and after a long discussion certain new clauses were added, providing for a poll of the ratepayers before the syndicate was approached.—On the motion for the third reading of the Bill, a debate took place, and was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. MARRIED women’s PROPERTY BILL. The Married Women’s Property Bill passed through committee without amendment. * THE FACTORIES BILL. The Factories Bill was committed. — Clause 52—Poe e? to inspect the accommodation for shearers.—Mr Reeves moved to add to the clause a penalty not exceeding £5 for every day during which non-compliance continues of the written notice by an inspector as to amending or enlarging the accommodation for shearers, —Agreed to. Clause 54 Restrictions in certain classes of employment. Mr Reeves moved to add the words “ no person shall employ in any factory or workroom any woman daring four weeks immediately after her confinement.”—Agreed to.

Clause 57—Persons under sixteen not to be employed unless they have passed the IV. Standard in the public schools.— Mr Beeves moved to add a provision that this section shall not apply to persons who have lived more than three miles from a school, and in the opinion of the inspector had no opportunity of complying with this section. Agreed to, —On the motion of Sir Robert Stout the following words were added —“ Or any equivalent examination to that prescribed under the Education Act, 1877.” The whole provision was put and carried by 43 to 13, and the clause passed.

Clause 61—Girls under fiftteen not to ivork as type-setters.—Agreed to. ClaUSti 63 —What holidays are allowed. Captain Bussell moved to alter the clause so as to make Saturday the compulsory half-holiday..—Sir Robert Stout strongly supported this proposal. -Mr Beeves hoped that the committee would not agree to this amendment. He held that the matter should ba loft to the option of the local bodies, and said that the present arrangement worked admirably.—After a lengthy debate Captain Russell’s amendment was lost by 41 to 12. The clause was amended on Mr Graham’s motion so as to allow work to be carried on in jam factories on Saturdays or other half-holidays for eight weeks during the fruit preserving season. Clause 64—Factories and work rooms , dosed on holidays, and no work 10 i -rein. Sir Bobert Stout permitted W. , thj|t all emp l oyoea moved a new proviso This was should have a *

carried by 23 to ID. Dairy factories, rabbit factories, and moat preserving works were exempted from the provisions of the clause.

Mr Pirani moved an addition that when the half-holiday occurred on any other day than Saturday it should not apply to morning newspaper offices.—Agreed to. Mr G. W. Bussell moved a proviso that employees should not be plaid for the half-holiday.—Agreed to. The remaining clauses were passed with slight amendments. SHIPPING- AND SEAMEN’S BILL. The Shipping and Seamen’s Act Amendment Bill was committed. [Left sitting at 2 a.m.]