GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2723, 11 October 1894, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. Mr Oliver as a question of privilege drew attention to the comments of the Wellington Press on the way he had voted on the Consols Bill. On his honour he assured the Council that he had not been canvassed not had he spoken to anyone as to the manner in which he shpuld vote. Mr McLean said that he had been much more abused for the way he had voted on the Consols Bill and Cheap Money Bill, but he cared not a jot. He should still continue to vote according to his conscience. THE BENMORB SHEARING TROUBLE. The Colonial Secretary, replying to Mr Reynolds, said that the correspondence appearing in the Wellington Post between Mr Middleton and the Commissioner of Police re the Benmore shearing trouble was perfectly correct, and it, together with other papers bearing on the case, would be laid on the table.

THE ACCIDENT ON THE SWITCHBACK RAILWAY.

The Colonial Secretary, replying to a question, said that inquiry was being made by the Inspector of Machinery as to the cause of the accident on the switchback railway, Christchurch. The Wellington switchback would not be opened until it had been passed by the inspector. CONSOLS BILL. The Council decided to insist on its amendments in the Consols Bill. FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES DEPOSITS BILL. The Foreign Insurance Companies Deposits Bill was committed and reported with trifling amendments. HARBORS AOT AMENDMENT BILL. The Harbors Act Amendment Bill was Committed and reported with amendments, the principal amendment empowering the Otago Harbor Board to raise the dues from 3s to 5s per ton. CHEAP MONEY BILL. The Cheap Money Bill was committed. Clause 26 was amended on the motion of Mr McLean in the direction of doing away'with the proposed advances on the land board fund.

In clause 42—how advances are to be made-rf6Poo,as the maximum amount to be advanced was struck out, but the sum to be substituted will be fixed when the BUI is next considered. Progress was reported on thij clausp, and the Council adjourned. The Council met at 230 p.m. on Tuesday. *OBBIGN INSr/BANCE COMPANIES DEPOSITS BILL. The Foreign Insurance Companies Deposits Bill passed its final stages. PUBLIC WOBKS BILL. The Public Works Bill was read a second time on the voices. OOVEBNttENT ADVANOBS TO BMTLEBS BILL. The Government Advances to Settlers Bill was further considered in ComClause 42—Amount of Advance. Mr Kerr moved that the maximum amount to be advanced be £3OOO. The amendment was lost by 18 to 14. Mr Bolt moved that it be £2OOO. The amendment was lost by 16 to 15. Mr McLean moved that the limit be £IOOO. The amendment was agreed to on the voices, and the clause as amended was added to the Bill. Clause 43 —Conditions subject to which advances will be made. Mr Morris moved an amendment to the effect that advances should be made up to one-half of the value instead of twothirds. Sir Patrick Buckley said that this would simply destroy the Bill. The amendment was carried by 18 to 10. The following is the division list:— Ayes (18).— Reynolds, Stewart, Bonar, Richardson, Swanson, Bolt, Pharazyn, Williams, McGregor, Morris, Acland, Oliver, Bowen, McLean, Stevens, Whyte, Holmes, Peacock. '.Noes (10)—Barnicoat, Kerr, Kelly, Rjgg, Jenkinson, Taiaroa, Montgomery, Diguan, Buekley, Feldwick. in the same «laase Mr Oliver moved that reference to urban and suburban land be struck out.— The amendment was agreed to by 16 to 12. Clauses 48 and 54, relating to land bonds, were struck out, in consequence of yesterday's amendment preventing the jauing of money by means of land bonds. On clause 58 progress was reported. 2he Council rose at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OF HDPRESENTATZVES. The House met at 7.30 p.m. 0» Monday. FACTORIES BILL. A message was received from the Legislative Council that the Council insisted on its amendments in the Factories Bill. The message was ordered to be considered next day. THB PRESIDENT OF THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. Mr Ward in announcing the appointment of Mr William Wataou as president of the Bank of '.New Zealand, said that tiae salary was £2250 a year, the position to be held during good behaviour. Mr Watson was a man of very considerable experience, »«><* ras recognised in bankiug and commercial cfceto to be a man of undoubted ability and the highest integrity. Mr Ward hoped he tfoutf discharge his duties efficiently. LICENSING BILL. The Licensing Bill was further cod' aidered in Committee. The Premier said that he desired to remove any impression that might exist with reg'-ird to the attitude of the Government over this Bill. The Government had in the Bill .before the House inserted what they considered were reasonable and necessary amendments, but he Bhould be prepared to consider other amendments of a reasonable character. He hoped that the House would endeavour to deal with the Bill in the interests of the whole colony. Several members expressed the hope that the House would not be kept till an unreasonable hour over the Bill. The Premier said that he had no desire to keep the House sitting till a late hour, provided reasonable progress was made with the Bill, and that the several clauses were dealt with on their merits. If it were found that a action of the House desired to stop the progress of the Bill it would be his duty as leader of thu House to see that the wishes of the people of the colony were i.ofc defeated. Iu clauso 3—Saving of perfOH3 Air G. J. Smith moved an amendment so as to make the Bill apply to persons who sold wine. lhe Premier said that as far as he couU he should carry tho Bill, but at the request of his supporters he hud not made it n party question. After a lengthy discussion the amendment was lost by 30 to 22 and the word " wine " retained. Mv Tanner moved tSiat sub-section 5 which proposed that the Act should not apply to the sale of liquor at Bellamy's be struck out. He moved this in order to insert an addition to clause 8. Mr Mills moved an amendment enabling liquor to be sold at Bellamy's under the written authority of either Speaker.

The Premier opposed Mr Tanner's amendment. The matter might well be left to the two Speakers. Mr Mills' amendment was lost on the voices, and Mr Tanner's amendment was carried by 26 to 23. Clause 3 as amended waa carried by 38 to 10.

Clause 7 Alterations of licensing districts not to take effect until the taking cf the next poll—Mr Tanner moved to amend the clause to the effect that nothing in sub-section 21 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, 1893, shall effect the position of licensees in the proceedings taken regarding them at Addington, Newtown, and Sydenham east. This was carried by 31 to 21, and the clause as amended was added to the Bill, Clause 9, disqualifying brewers, etc.. from sitting on Jicensing committees, was discussed at some length. An amendment by Mr McKenzie that persons in partnership with brewers should not be disqualified, was lost by 46 to 5. Mr Collins moved to strike out the words which provided that auctioneers, commission agents or brokers should not be disqualified to act on the licensing committee.

The Premier agreed to the amendment, which was accepted on the voices, and the clause passed. In clause 6 the penalty for a person disqualified as a member of a licensing committee was reduced from £SO to £2O.

Mr Collins moved a proviso to clause 11 that no professional or paid advocate for or against the suppression of the liquor traffic should be eligible to ait on the committee, and after considerable discussion this was carried by 28 to 26. Sir 8.. Stout said he was surprised the Government had allowed an amendment like this to be carried. It was perfectly ridiculous, and it would be far better to strike out the whole clause.

Mr J. Mackenzie thought the amendment quite reasonable. These temperance agitators were the curse of the colony. Some of the scum of the colony had crawled to the front among these men. The Premier said he considered a man whose living depended upon agitation was just as closely connected with the liquor interest as a partner in a brewery. The amendment was fair, and treated both sides alike. He himself had shown no feeling in the matter, and had acquiesced in what the majority had decided to do. The clause as amended was agreed to on the voices.

Mr Willis moved to report progress, which was carried by 30 to 25, and the Bill was ordered to be again committed at next sitting. LAND FOB SETTLEMENTS BILL. The Hon. J. McKenzie and Messrs Montgomery and Duncan were appointed managers to meet representatvies of the Legislative Council at a conference on amendments in dispute in the Land for Settlements Bill.

The House rose at 2.15 a.m on Tuesday aud met at 2.30 p.m.

Bellamy's.

Mr George Hutchison brought up the report of the Joint House Committee, recommending that the usual orders for liquor for BeUamy's for next session be sent home, and suggesting that the licensiug law be amended so as to prevent friction next session as to whether Bellamy's Bhould be kept open for the sale of spirituous liquors. \ Sir Robert Stout moved that the report be referred back to the Committee for reconsideration.

On the Buggeation of the Premier it was decided to postpone the debate on the whole question of Bellamy's till a later stage of the session. THE AtTDITOB-GRNEBAL AND THE PUBLIC TBTJST OFFICE. Mr Ward moved that the House regrets that the Controller and Auditor-General should, under the circumstances which he has related, have regarded himself as justified in suspending the performance of any duties imposed upon him by Btatute. He explained that his motion had reference to the letter received by the Speaker from the Controller and Auditor-General with reference to the audit of the Public Trust Office accounts. He regretted that the Auditor-General should have taken the coarse he had done over this matter, and' bore high testimony to the efficiency and integrity of both the Public Trustee and the Auditor-General. It was not desirable, in his opinion, that the Audit Department, which was a business department, should be subject to continual fault-find-ing of this kind. (Sir Robert Stout said that the Bouse was placed in a very unfortunate position, in being asked to pass a vote of censure tm the Auditor-General without enquiry cf any k{qd, He moved as an amendment that the matte* be referred to the Public Accountg Cortmiti**. The Premier held that the Auditor; General was not justified in the action he had taken. It could not be permitted that a most important public department should remain without its amounts being audited for an indefinite periodAfter considerable discussion Mr Ward disclaimed any intention of easting;censure on the Auditor-General. Heasked that the /Jebate be adjourned to allow him to bring dowu another resolution which would remove any impw.asion of casting any reflection ou the Aiud&ojr-fireneral. On the raotiou ot Mr Mjjl# fhe debate was adjourned. CONSOLS BILL. Mr Ward, the Pxemier, Sir Robert iStoßi, #nd Mr Bell were appointed Managers to confer with the Council on its in t~»0 QomoJa Bill. NATIVE LAND COOK9C BHfc, The Native Land Court Bill was recommitted, and technical amendments having been made in several clauses, the Bill was reported and put through its final stages. GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS BILL. A Message was received from the Governor, forwarding certain amendments in the Government Railways Bill. The effect of the amendments was that the services of railway employees should not count as in the case of civil servants, whilst under the employment of the Commissioners. The Premier moved that the amendments be agreed to. Dr Newman, Mr J. W. Kelly, and Sir Robert ytoiit protested, against the amendments ah affecting the status of these men as railway servants. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES DEPOSITS B'LL. TU« amendments mad'3 by the Legislative Council in the Foreign Insuranco Companies 3'eposits Bill were agreed to. THE EAILWAV.-J MLL. Mr Mitchelson resumed the debate on the Government Railways Bill, and opposed the Premier's motion, as also did Mr Bell and Captain Russell. The amendments wore agreed to by 41 to 22. OFFENSIVE I'UBLIUATIONS HILL. The Premier moved the second reading of the Offensive/ Publications Act Amendment Bill. He said that the Bill was ! intended to meet the cases that had occurred in 'the colony, the latest of which had occurred in Napier.—Agreed to. >

The Bill was subsequently, passed .through Committee without amendment. INDICTABLE OFFENCES BILL. The Premier moued the second reading of the Indictable Offences Summary Jurisdiction Bill. He said; that the Bill, which had already passed the Legislative Council, was a similar one td the Criminal Code BUI passed' last session, and was a very necessary measure.—Agreed to. The Bill was committed, and progress reported oh clause 21. MINING COMPANIES BILL. The. Mining Companies Bill passed through Committee with verbal amendments, and was read a third time and passed. LICENSING BILL. The Licensing Bill was further considered in Committee.

Clause 12—Constitution of licensing committee.—Mr McNab moved an amendment, the effect of which was to restore the present form of electing the committees.

The Premier said that he could not accept the amendment, as if it were carried all chances of the Bill passing this session were at an end, as the whole Bill would if it were carried have to be recast.

After a long discussion clause 12 was struck out on the voices, and the debate proceeded on Mr McNab's amendment. The Premier moved to alter the amend-! men! so as to provide that the licensing election shall not be held on the same day &a the General Election.

The discussion was. proceeding when the telegraph office closed.