GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2719, 2 October 1894, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BILL. The School Attendance Bill passed its final stages. BATING BILL. The Bating Bill passed through Committee without material amendment. RiTING ON IMPROVED VALUE BILL. The debate on the motion for the second reading of the Bating on Unimproved Value Bill was resumed. Mr Kelly, Mr Bolt, Sir George Whitmore, and Mr Kerr spoke in support of the Bill, •ad Mr Stevens, Mr Williams, Mr Oliver and Mr Reynolds against it. The debate was farther adjourned till Monday at 2.30 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The following is the conclusion of Thursday night’s report:— Sir B. Stout’s new clause was thrown out on the voices. The Bill was then reported with amendments, which were ordered t > be considered at next sitting. Progress was reported on the Foreign Insurance Companies Deposit Bill. LATE SITTINGS. On the motion for adjournment of the House at 2.45 a.m., Mr Buchanan entered • protest against late sittings. The Government were pushing members beyond endurance altogether, and the time would come when the country would speak to the House on this question with no uncertain sound. Mr Hall said they ought to have got away iu reasonable time, but for ,hou. members opposite, whose attitude was very like that of obstruction. Mr Allen said there was no obstruction under the new Standing Orders. Measures were fairly aud reasonably debated, and any delay arose through unwise proceedings of those in charge of Bills. Several other members also spoke. The Premier said the Government had not departed from any pledge in regard to short sittings, and he Was well pleased with the day’s work. It would be impossible to have any fixed time for adjournment of the House at night. Members should eschew personalities an d not repeat each other’s arguments so much. The Government must see the business of the country gone on with. The House rose at 3.5 a.m. The House mot at 2.30 p.m. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated that the Government had not yet considered the report of the Tariff Committee, but unless some very good cause were shown they would not be justified in incurring the expense of despatching a delegate to England to promote and float companies; that the Government hoped to be able to announce the appointments of the president and auditor of the Bank of New Zealand within a week. QUESTIONS POSTPONED. In the temporary absence of Mr Ward through indisposition all -the other questions ou the Order Paper with regard to banking affairs were postponed till Tuesday. SUMMONS TO PRODUCE. A summons was received, calling upon the Clerk of the House to produce at Wanganui Supreme Court a certain petition regarding the Horowhenua block, together with the evidence taken before the Native Affairs Committee. The Premier said that Parliament had always jealously guarded its privileges, and he moved that the House refuse leave to the Clerk to attend at the Court aud produce the papers. The motion was earned by 41 to 12. MOTION FOB ADJOURNMENT. The adjournment of the House was moved by Mr E. M. Smith, for the purpose of raising the question of sending a delegate to England in connection with the Taranaki industry. The discussion lasted until the dinner adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. MEW ZEALAND CONSOLS. The Consols Bill was reported from Committee. On the motion for the third reading Sir B. Stout entered his protest against its passing. There was an ample investment •t p esent for small people in the Savings Bank of the colony; while large people could take advantage of the ordinary banking systems. Dr Newman expressed similar views. Mr Button and Mr Buddo objected to the principles of the Bill. Caotaiu Bussell again protested against what* he believed to be a most improper and injudicious Bill. It was a measure to sanction borrowing in the most expensive manner. ' Mr Earnshaw and Mr Buchanan also strongly opposed the Bill. Mr Ward said that consols could net possibly be issued below par, and that was the reason why he did not accept an amendment to that effect. The Bill did mot propose to issue stock or debentures, but it placed at .the disposal of the people a consol which Hhey could purchase for their own particular purposes. He contended that it was placing at the disposal of the people a better system of investment than existed at present under the Post'Office Savings Bauk. Iu his opinion the system of consols was a good one, and time only would prove whether or not it would be successful. He thought that it would be successful, and that was the Mason why the Government were anxious to give the people of the colony another form of investment for their money. The motion for the third reading was .carried by 31 to 22, and the Bill passed. NATIVE LAND COURT BILL. On the motion for the committal of the Native Laud Court Bill the Premier said that it was with some diffidence that he had accepted the Portfolio of Native Minister. It had been the desire of the Government to establish friendly relations between the two races, aud he was glad to ■ay now that those relations ware of the most cordial character. As a result of his visit to the natives during the last recess he found that the chief alteration required was with respect to the management of their lauds. He had aUo found a great desire among the Uriwera natives for schools, and he thought that if schools were established in that country it would put an end to the Driwera difficulty. He referred to the native land question- and explained the provisions of fie Bill iu detail. Ho had found that there was plenty of land in the East Coast district ready for offer to the Oovjnrnent. Be thought that the policy of the Bill was the only safe one to pursue with respect to native lands, aud the legislature should ■ay that the only channel through which natives should dispose of their land was that of the Government, so as to atop all dealings with private individuals. Mr Wi Pere thought that part of the Bill relating; to native lands should bo postponed. Ho thought that the natives should get the benefit of the cheap money scheme.

Captain Russell congratulated tho Premier on the speech ho had made on the Bill. It was logical, and showed that the Premier had a thorough grasp of tho subject ha was dealing with. As to tho first part of the Bill dealing with Native

Land Courts he thought that it would go through without opposition as it was a great improvement on the other Bill they had. He should take objection, however, to other parts of the Bill, and he opposed the resumption by the Crown of the preemptive right, which he said was a direct violation of the Treaty of Waitangi. Mr Carroll complimented Captain Bussell on his criticism. It must be admitted that the existing native land laws were not satisfactory, and it was the honest intention of the Government to do what they thought was right in this respect. He was in favour of the individualisation of titles, and said that the committee system was the only satisfactory way of dealing with native lands. He differed from Captain Bussell respecting the preemptive right, and contended that by the Treaty of Waitangi the sole right to buy rested with the Government.

Mr Hone Heke said that Mr Carroll had changed his mind with regard to the preemptive right. The chiefs in all parts of the colony were disappointed with the proposals of the Premier. Sir B. Stout approved of the Bill generally, and thought that it would prove of great benefit. He believed that all dealings in native lands should be conducted through the Waste Lands .Boards, and he would stop all private dealings in native lands. - On the motion of Mr Mitohelson the debate was adjourned till Monday. The House rose at 12.45 a.m.