GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2708, 6 September 1894, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 pjn. ou Tuesday.

anniversary day. A Select Committee was appointed to determine the proper date of holding the anniversary day of the colony.

SHOP AND SHOP ASSISTANTS BILL. Sir Patrick Buckley moved the Moood reading of the Shop and Shops Assistants BUI. '

Sir George Whitmore objected to the clause dosing hotels during the holiday. He also objected to small shopkeepers not employing assistants being compelled to close. He thought that as the. country had decided that there should .bo a holiday, it should be bn the same day throughout the colony. t Mr Reynolds, believing that the Bill would prove injurious to smsll shop* keepers, moved that the second reeding be taken tbat day six months. Mr Shrinuld supported the amendment. The BiU was cruel and tyrannical to the ■mall shopkeeper. Instead of making people self-reliant it wonld degrade then into the condition of serfs.

Mr Maogregor admitted that the present Act wss a faUure, and nnlssa the Bill was modified it would be certain to be a faUure also.

Mr OUver wonld not support the amendment, as the people had demanded the BiU or aomething approaching it, hat he reserved the right to emend the BUI in committee.

Mr Bigg supported the BiU. Mr Phsrazyn would. not oppose the BUI. ' ' ■ After further debate the second reading was agted to, and the BiU sent'to the labour Bills Committee. OAM ABU LEASING BILL. The Borough of Camera Leasing Bill was read a second time. ' , BILLS FASSBD. „ The following Bills passed their final stages—K aitan gate Belief Fond Transfer Bill, Eketahuna Cemetery Reserve Bill, InangahuA County ConnoU Empowering BiU, Meant St. John • Reserve Bill, Oreymouth Harbour Board Empowering BiU. The OooncU then adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met ,et 2.30 p.m, on Tuesday. LBATB or ABBBNCB. Leave of absence was granted to Sir George Grey for the remainder of the session. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it waa stated that the distribution of bankruptcy advertisements was not confined to a list of papers issued by the Government, in whibh Government advertisements are to be inserted; that the question of the most suitable rifle for the colonial forces had been submitted to Colonel Foz, and he had recommended the Martini-Henry rifle as being the best adapted for our cironmstances; that the Government were aware that negotiations were proceeding for amalgamation between the Colonial Bank and the Bank of New Zealand, that these negotiations had not reached the Government, but when they did they would be fully considered, and the House would be afforded a full opportunity of discussing the matter before any decision was arrived at; that if honourable members could give the Government any information as to the formation of w corners ’* to keep up the price of the staple commodities of the colony, the Colonial Treasurer would make full inquiries into the matter; that the Government would consider the question of a Tenants Bight Bill in conjunction with a Fair Bent Bill during the recess; that the Government would like to see the second reading of the Licensing Bill carried pro forma, and the Bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, but if the House objected to that course it could not be adopted. MOTION FOB ADJOURNMENT. Sir Robert Stout moved the adjournment of the House to enable him to refer to the Premier’s reply to his question respecting bankruptcy advertisements. The Premier said that formerly officers of the departments had sole control of the advertising, and the result was tremendous expense to the country. No country could afford to pay the amount that had hitherto been expended in Government advertisements, and the Government had, therefore, decided that the cost must be decreased. He held that there waa no occasion for the Government to advertise in two papers which virtually had the same subscribers. No business man would do it. He pointed out that in three years the Railway Commissioners had paid £II,OOO for advertising, and some papers had received £IOOO in that time. What the Government had done was in the interests of the colony, and was not done either to pnniu any newspapers or to purchase their support. After considerable discussion the motion for adjournment waa lost. FENCING BILL. On the motion of Mr McKenzie, the Fencing Bill, to regulate the erection and maintenance of dividing and rabbitproof fences, was read a second time, and referred to the Stock Committee. The House rose at 6.30 p.m. and resumed at 7.30 p.m. BATING BILL. The Rating Bill was committed. After considerable discussion on the interpretation clause, Mr Ward, at the request of the native members, agreed to report progress so that the Bill could go to the Statutes Revision Committee. GAMING BILL. A message was received from the Legislative Council insisting on their amendment in the Gaming Bill. Sir Robert Stout, Mr Lawry, and Mr Duucau were appointed to confer with the Council on the matter. BATING ON UNIMFBOVBD VALUE BILL.

Mr Buchanan resumed the debate on the second reading of the Bating on Unimproved Value Bill. He said that if the Bill passed a gross injustice would be perpetrated throughout the colony. Mr Hone Heke and Mr Parata objected to the Bill as one dealing with native lands.

The Premier stated that natives did not come under the Bill.

Dr Newman supported the principle of the Bill.

Mr Pirani and Mr Hogg heartily supported the Bill. Mr McKenzie (Clutha) said that the Bill was a most pernicious measure. Mr O’Regan heartily support ;! the Bill, but would prefer to see it made compulsory. Sir Robert Stout opposed the Bill, and said that the effect of it would bo to exempt from taxation £18,000,000 worth of property in town, £28,000,000 of property in the country. Those who would escape taxation were the owners of large offices, warehouses, banks, insurance offices, ete. Mr John McKenzie combated Sir Robert Stout’s arguments, and took exactly the opposite view to that gentleman. Mr Macintosh, Mr R. Mackenzie, and McGowan supported the Bill, and Mr Fraser opposed it. _

Mr J. W. Kelly, Mr Hall, Mr Thompson, and Mr Lang supported the Bill. Mr Massey and Mr Crowther opposed it

Captain Russell said that there could only be one reason for the introduction of this BiU, namely, to propitiate Mr O'Began on the question of single tax. Ha strongly opposed the Bill. Mr Stevens, Mr Harris, and Mr Willis supported the Bill. Mr Ward, in replying, said that they heard nothing during the debate from the Opposition to induce the Government supporters to change their views on this question. He said that a considerable demand had come from the local bodies for this Bill. As to Captain Russell’s statement with regard to the tax, he pointed out that this Bill was introduced last session before Mr O’Regan was in the House. •

The second reading was carried on a division by 37 to 4. The committal of the Bill was set down for next day. The House rose at 1 a.m.