GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2726, 18 October 1894, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. CRIMINAL CODE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Sir Patrick Buckley moved that the amendments made by the House in the Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill be disagreed with. The amendments consisted of raising the age of consent from fifteen to sixteen years, and a provision for a new trial in the Chemis case. Mr Bigg moved as an amendment that the clause providing for a rehearing of the Chemis case be agreed to.—The amendment was lost by 24 to 6. The amendment of the House fixing the age of consent at sixteen years was disagreed with by 21 to 9. SECOND READINGS. The Trustees Act Amendment Bill, the Stamp Acts Amendment Bill, the Water Supply Act Amendment Bill, and the Abbatoirs and Slaughterhouses Bill were read a second time. CONFERENCE REPORT, The report of the conference on the Land for Settlements Bill, the Consols Bill, the Harbors Act Amendment Bill, and the Government Advances to Settlers Bill was agreed to, general satisfaction being expressed at an amicable settlement having been arrived at. The Council rose at 5.30 p.m. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, DISTRICT COURT JUDGES AND STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATES, Mr McGregor moved a resolution affirming the desirableness, in the interest of the impartial and fearless administration of justice, that the tenure of office of District Court Judges and Stipendiary Magistrates should be “ duriug ability and good behaviour,” and not as at present during the pleasure of the Executive, and also affirming that the salaries at present paid to District Judges and Magistrates, and especially to the former, are wholly inadequate. The motion was carried by 25 to 8. BILLS PASSED. The Trustees Act Amendment Bill, The Stamp Act Amendment Bill, the Water Supply Act Amendment Bill, the Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Bill, the Public Works Bill, and the Dai*y Industry Bill, were committed, read a third time and passed.The Council rose at 5.80 p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 a.m. on Monday. THE ORDER PAPER. In reply to Captain Russell, the Premier said that the Government would endeavour to pass most of the Bills on the Order Paper before the prorogation. As for the Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Bill, he thought that it might stand over till next session. MAJOR BROWN’S CASE. A lengthy discussion took place on the report on the petition of Major Brown, of Taranaki, who prayed for an enquiry into the cause of his being deprived of the office of Native Interpreter. The report was to the effect that an enquiry should not be granted. The report was ordered to lie on the table. MINISTERIAL RESIDENCES SALE BILL. On the motion for the third reading of the Ministerial Residences Sale Bill, Sir Robert Stout moved that the Bill be recommitted for the purpose of considering the preamble and schedule. AH that he wanted was that the Tinakori Road land should not be sold for the present. The Premier opposed the amendment, as the House by an overwhelming majority had affirmed that these properties should be sold. After considerable discussion th© amendment was lost by 36 to 22. The Bill was put through its final stages, and passed by 36 to 19. The House res© at 5,30 p.m. and resumed at 7.30. CONFERENCE REPOETS The Premier brought up the reports of the conference of the two Houses on the Consols Bill, the Advances to Settlers Bill, and the Land for Settlements Bill. The report was ito the effect that the Managers of the Council and the House were unable to agree as to the privilege claimed by the House. Considering the late period of the session and the exigencies of the position, it was agreed to consider the amendments in the several Bills on their merits. This proceeding is not to be drawn into a precedent or held to be a waiver of the privileges claimed by the House. In the Consols Bill the Council waived its objection in clause 4, and the currency of the consols was restored to forty years. The House accepted the other amendments of the Council. It was agreed in the Government Advances to Settlers Bill that the maximum amount of loan should be fixed at £2500, and that advances should be made up to three-fifths value. The amendments made by the Council in the Land for Settlements Bill, and the Harbors Bill were agreed to. Mr Ward detailed the proceedings of the conference over (he Advances (9 Settlers Bill. The Council had .a* first proposed to reduce the maximum amount of loans from £6OOO to £IOOO, but it was finally agreed to accept £2500 as a compromise. Be moved (bat the report be agreed to. Sir Robert Stout said that he was opposed to the amendment made in the Advances to Settlers Bill excepting urban Lauds, and he should vote against that. The Premier defended the action taken by the Manager* from the House on these Bills. In order to #yojd a deadlock the House Managers had agreed (o lot the matter rest in the meantime, but (fi,oy had waived no right or privilege of the 1 Hcwrs© in doing so. Mf SAfroddrs thought that the amendments made i» gjjija were improvements. After further discussion Mr Ward that the fact of urban u nd suburban struck out of the Billwwo ld eusWe the Government Insurance DepartmJ”' 1 to advance money on that class of land much more readily than they could do otherwise. The amendment excluding urban land was agreed to by 43 to 12. The other amendments were agreed to on the voices. BILLS PASSED. The Tramways Bill and Tongariro National Park Bill were committed, read a third time, and passed. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BILL. Mr Reeves moved the second reading of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act Amendment Bill. He said that the Bill was rendered necessary by the recent decision of Mr Justice Williams (in a case between the Southland contributing body and the Southland Charitable Aid Board) to the effect that contributing bodies were not liable to contribute the cost of fresh buildings or additions, inasmuch as they were liable only for maintenance and current repairs. The Bill therefore extended the definition of the term “ maintenance.” It would be an excessive charge on the Government, he pointed out, if they wore compelled to pay for new buildings. The Bill also

ontained a clause enabling institations £>o recover from other district boards the ost of the relief of persons coming from other districts. Mr R. Thompson objected to a Bill of such importance coming down at this late stage of the session and moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day three months. After considerable debate the amendment was lost by 36 to 29. The motion for the second reading was carried. THE VEHICLES BILL. On the motion for the second reading of the County Vehicles Licensing Act Amendment Bill (which the Premier explained was for the purpose of extending the operations of the present Act), Mr Tanner moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day three mouths. After a short discussion Mr Tanner’s amendment was lost by 31 to 25, and the second reading agreed to. The Bill was then committed. On the motion of the Premier a new clause was inserted making the Bill permissive, by giving a majority of ratepayers the right to decide whether they would adopt its provisions by Order-m-Gouncil. Another new clause was added enabling counties to make just by-laws so that license fees should be uniform in counties adjoining each other. Mr Flatman said he looked upon the Bill as an uncalled for and inquitous measure, : and in order to give the people ten years to meditate on the question, moved that the Act shall not come into force until the year 1904.—Lost on the voices. The Bill was passed through committee with several other amendments, but on the motion for the third reading was thrown out by 18 to 15. The following is the division on the 'third reading : Ayes (15). —Carnell, Hall, Joyce, Lawry, McGowan, McGuire, J. McKenzie, Millar, McLachlan, Mills, Morrison, O’Regau, Parata, Seddon, Stevens. Noes (18). —Allen, Buchanan, Buddo, Buick, Crowther, Duncan, Earnshaw, Flatman, Fraser, Hall Jones, Masliu, Massey, R. McKenzie, McNab, Montgomery, G. J. Smith, Tanner, Willis. The House rose at 3.20 a.m on Tuesday and met at 11.30 a.m. NEW BILL. Mr Ward gave notice to introduce the Export Bonus on Coal Bill. NOTICE OF REINSTATEMENT. The Premier gave notice to move that the Vehicles Licensing Act Amendment Bill be reinstated on the Order Paper and be read a third time on Thursday next. FIEST HEADINGS, The Railways Authorisation Bill, aud Westport-Ngakawau Railway Extension Bill were read a first time. BANK BILL. In reply to Dr Newman, Mr Ward said he hoped to have the Bank Bill circulated that night or the next morning. The measure would not be hurried through, and members would have plenty of time to consider it. MASTER AND APPRENTICE BILL. Mr Pinkerton brought up the report of the Labour Bills Committee on the Master and Apprentice Bill. The report stated that the Committee had taken a considerable amount of evidence upon the Bill, and after due consideration they recommended that owing to want of time to deal with such an important measure this session, the evidence taken be printed and circulated among both employers and the labor unions, with a view of obtaining expressions of opinion oh the matter, so that the Bill might be considered as early as possible next session. MIDLAND RAILWAY BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of the Midland Railway Contract Act Amendment Bill to empower the Queen to cancel a certain contract with the New Zealand Midland Company aud enter into a new contract in lieu thereof. He said the Government were asking the House to deal with a very difficult and complicated subject, and be detailed the whole circumstances connected with the formation of the railway. He was in a position to say that the company could not carry out the original contract and go on with the Motueka-Reefton connection. This was a painful humiliating position, as (be people of Nelson and Reefton had been for years past wetting for this work to be proceeded witb, and there had been no settlement or expenditure of any kind consequent on the work not progressing. After detailing the provisions of the Bill in regard to debentures for the uncompleted portion of the railway between Springfield and Jsckson’s, be went on to point out the that would accrue to the colony from the eonstrqction of this railway. It would find employment for hundreds of men, would facilitate the carriage of ccal and other minerals, and (bey wouldshortly find that the Otire Gorge would be a second Ooolgardie. Another matter of paramount importance was that if they passed this Bill they would set free 5,000,000 acres of Crown lands for settlement purposes. He (bought that the extension of time asked (of)by (be company should be conceded. If they did ftQjt tpeg( the company fairly it would be a bad thing fur (fie sredit and honor of the colony, and if at eU PQSsibje litigation should be avoided as the Government geneially came off second best in disputes of this hind. He was convinced that tb,e present proposals would settle onftQ for ell this difficult question. Sir E, Stout, after referring (o the misleading nature of (be ffpeepb just fier livened by the Premier, detailed the circumstances attending the initiation of this railway. The honor of the colony was at stake in that contract, aud should not be violated, #nfi the people at the Nelson end had a right to expert the contract should be carried out. The of the Bill in regard to debentures meant a pew loan of £2,600,000. The Premier spuke of litigation, but if he had done bis duty #9 Minister pf Public Works he would b.aye.aeeu (bat i}o litigation was 1 likely (9 9PSU9The was interrupted by (he dinner adjournment. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. Sir Robert Stout continued speaking on the Midland Railway Contract Bill. He did not deny that the tourist traffic should be developed, but he had yet to learn that in order to foster that traffic a railway should bo made to the West Coast. If the land were so valuable as they were led to believe, why not set it asino as an endownmeut for making the railway ? He should not object to that. Even if the company got this £618,000 they would not be satisfied. They would eventually want, the Government to purchase the lino or give them other concessions. Before the 5.30 adjournment Captain Russell, and Messrs Graham, Buchanan, Thos. McKenzie, Hone Heke, and Allen, spoke against the Bill, aud the Hon. W. P. Reeves and Mr Bell for it. The House resumed at 7.30. DAIRY INDUSTRY BILL. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Dairy Industry Bill were agreed to.

midland railway bill. The debate on the second reading of the Midland Railway Contract Bill was continued. Mr Button, Mr McGuire, Mr Mills, Mr Crowther, and Dr Newman spoke against the Bill, and Mr J. McKenzie, Mr Duthie, Mr G. W. Russell, and Mr Guinness in support of it. Mr Pirani also opposed the Bill. The Premier replied, in the coarse of his remarks making a severe attack on Sir Robert Stout. The House then went to a division with the resnlt that the motion for the second reading was lost by 32 to 26. The following is the division list:— Ayes, 26.—Buddo, Carroll, Collins, Guinness, G. Hutchison, Joyce, W. Kelly, Larn&ch, Macintosh, McGowan, J. McKenzie, McLachlan, Mitchelson, Meredith, Montgomery, O’Began, Parata, Reeves, G. W. Russell, Saunders, Seddon, J. G. Smith, Stevens, Stewart, Tanner, Ward. Noes, 32.—Allen, Buchanan, Buick, Button, Carncross, Carnell, Crowther, Earnshaw, Fraser, Graham, Hall Jones, Harris, Heke, W. Hutchison, J. W, Kelly, Lang, T. Mackenzie, Massey, McGuire, McNab, Millar, Mills, Morrison, Newman, Pinkerton, Pirani, B. W. Bussell. Stout, E. M; Smith, Teao, Thompson, Wilson. Pairs, Ayes.—Cadmau, Duthie, Wi Pere. Noes—Green, Maslin, Lawy. The Bill was thus thrown out. The House rose at' 12.10 a m.