GENERAL ASSEMBLY. POLITICAL NEWS. TEMPERANCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2838, 6 July 1895, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

POLITICAL NEWS.

TEMPERANCE.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tho Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wedueaday. THE TOST AND TELKGRAI'H SOCIETY. Sir Patrick Buckley, replying to Mr Lligg, said that it was not considered desirable that the New Zaaland Post and Telegraph Society should be officially recognised. THE CURRENCY QUESTION. Mr Rigg moved that a Committee bo appointed to consider whether the socalled monometallic currency is a sound one; also the advantages or otherwise of a State bank of issue and deposit, and a bimetallic currency, aud a State incontrovertible paper currency. Tbo debate on the motion was talked out at 4 o'clock. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a seoond time:—The New Zealand Institute of Surveyors Bill, the Uniforms Bill, and the Dogs Registration Act Amendment Bill. The Council then adjourned. The Couucil met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. THE CURRENCY QUESTION. Mr Rigg's motion on the currency and a State bank was, after further debate, lost by 17 to 10. BILLS PASSED. The Animals Protection Act Amendment Bill, the Uniforms Bill, and the Dog Registration Bill, passed their final stages. ADULTERATION PREVENTION BILL. The Adulteration Preveution Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Council rose at 5.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. SIR GEORGE GRBY'S RESIGNATION. The Premier stated that ho had consulted the Law Officers with respect to Sir George Grey's resignation, aud their advice was that tho Speaker send a cable to Sir George Grey and obtain from him his resignation under his own hand. The Speaker said that that would be done. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. The debate on the Midland Railway question was resumed by Mr Mills. He supported the Premier's resolution. Mr Lawry, Mr Collins, Mr Buddo, Mr 0' Regan, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Buick, Mr G J. Smith, Mr Hogg, Mr B. M. Smith ? Mr Willis, Mr Morrison, and Mr Pirani also supported the motion. Mr Massey, Mr T. McKenzie, and Mr W. Hutchison spoke against it. On a division, Captain Russell'a amendment, to postpone the question till after the Public Works Statement, was lost by 40 to 16. Speaking on the main question Mr George Hutchison Baid that he was in a position to declare that the delay in the arbitration proceedings was not due to the company, and he challenged anyone to deny this. If the award was given against the colony, it would be chargeable to one man—the Premier—who had shown viudictiye hostility to the company throughout the whole proceedings. [The Premier : Oh, no.] He asked tho House not to take a step that would stultify the colony. The Hon. Mr McKenzie thought that it would have been better if Mr Geerge Flutchisni hai acted as leading counsel for the company iu the arbitration proceedings. He (Mr McKenzie) distinctly denied the imputation made agninst tho Premier. Tho postponement of the arbitration was not taken at the instigation of the Government, who had nothing to gain by delay. The arbitrators themselves had thought proper to make the postponement. The debate waa interrupted by tho 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m.

Mr John McKeuz o continued speak* ii>g. He said that the charges made by Mr Hutchisou against the Premier wer» made with the intention of uaiug them in another place where there would be no ono to reply to them. The Government found the railway iu a complete muddle, fiud the company thought that they could do as they liked with the colony, but their representative hero had found his match in the Premier, who would not allow matters to drift any longer as they had boon doing. I The Premier's motion that the House go into Committee of Supply to consider his resolution for the expenditure of £SOOO on the Midland Railway was then put and carried by 39 to 25. The following is the division list: — Ayes (30) Buddo, Buick, Cadman, Ciim ell, Carroll, Collins, Crowther, Flatman, Graham, Guinness, Hull Jones, Harris, Hogg, Houston, Joyce, W. Kelly, La wry, Masliu, McGowau, J. McKenzie, R. McKenzie, McLachlan, Meredith, Millar, Mills, Morrison, O'Regan, Parata, Pirani, W. P. Reeves, G. W. Russell, Saunders, Seddon, E. M. Smith, G. J. Smith, Stevens, Steward,Tanner, Thompson. Noes (25)—Allen, Bell, Buchanan, Button, Cariicross, Duncan, Duthie, Eanishaw, Green, Hall, G. Hutchison, W. Hutchison, J. W. Kelly, Lang, T. Mackenzie, Massey, McNab, Mitchelaon, Montgomery, Newman, Pinkerton, \V. I\, Russell, Stout, TeAo, Wilson. PairsAyes : Ward, Wi Peri, Larnach. Noes : McGuire, Hone Heke, Fraser. After a short discussion the Premier' B resolution was agroed to by 38 to 23, and was ordered to be reported to the Houao next day. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it waa stated that no correspondence had taken place botweo-i the Government and the New Zealand Estates Company with regard to the proposed lottery, v.lieu the Government saw the proposals they would consider them, but they certainly wero not going to take a leap iu the dark that the evidence taken before tho Licensing Committee with roforeuee, to Cokor's Hotel, Christohurch, did. not warrant interference by tho ."Justice Department; that tho police had instructions to provont tho use of Chinese premises for gambling purposes; that when young men joined the Defence Force they had no right to continue as active members of athletic dubs, thoir doing bo interfered with discipline and t,ho performance of thoir duties; thai, Ihe Government did not consider it expedient to shorten the hours of labor in ih" railway workshops ; that tho Government miw no immedii'/.o necessity for waiting a State ooul miue, |!)Ln l'ASSlil). '!ho llikutaia .No. 1 Block Boundary Hill was committed and put through its final stagea. SKCONIi UKAIIINtiS. On the motion of the Premier, tho Adoption of Children Bill, to regulate the luloption of children, was read a s.tond .line. Tho Premier moved tho second reading of the Contagions Diseases LS.H'.I Repeal Bill. Mo said that the Aot had been a dead letter, and there was a strong foiling, especially among tho women of the colony, thut the Act should b«i iiepeaied.TrTho motion, wub agreed to, ,

The Premier moved the second reading of the Pharmacy Bill, to amend and consolidate the law relating to pharmacy. The Bill had been sent to the Pharmacy Board, which approved of it aud returned it to the Government with proposed modifications, some of which were accepted and some woro not. He contended that the Bill was necessary in order to givo ycung men the same status as in other colonies.—After a short debate, in which only committee objections were entered against the Bill, the second reading was agreed to on the voices. Mr Reeves moved the second reading of the Industrial Schools Act Amendment Bill, which gave additional powers for the commitment of destitute children to industrial schools by removing certain technical difficulties, and also providing for an extension of the boarding-out system.—The motion was agreed to. The Premier moved the second reading of tho Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill, to limit the cost of Parliamentary elections. He thought that every member would admit that there was a necessity for a Bill of this kiud, owing to the amount of black-mail that was levied on candidates standing for election to Parliament.—The motion was agreed to. The House rose at 11.45 p.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. SIR GEORGE OBEY. The Speaker stated that he had received a cablegram from Sir George Grey as follows :—Letter of resignation posted ; should reach colony 28th July. Being incapacitated by illness, I hereby resign my seat as one of the representatives for Auckland. Witness, W. B. Perceval." The Premier said that he had received a cablegram from Sir George Grey to a similar effect, and he should at the proper time move a motion placing on rec ird the colony's appreciation of the great services rendered to the colony by Sir George Grey. He moved that a writ be issued for a fresh election. Captain Russell seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Premier said that as it would take a week to prepare the rolls, that period would elapse before the rolls could be issued. SECOND READINGS. The Patea Foreshore Veistirig Bill was read a second time. The Property Law Consolidation Act, 1883, Amendment Bill, was, on tho motion of Mr G. J. Smith, read a second time. IMPRISONMENT I'OR DEBT ABOLITION BILL Mr Morrison moved the second reading of the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill. Ho said that it had been urged against the Bill that it would reduce credit, and thus injure the poor man, but his contention was that there was far too much credit given in tho colony, aud it could well be curtailod. Mr Willis moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr McKenzie (Clutha) seconded the amendment. The debate on the Bill occupied the whole afternoon, and was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. A division was taken on Mr Morrison's Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill, the second reading of which was refused by 34 to 26, and the amendment agreed to. BILL DISCHARGED. Sir Robert Stout in moving for tho discharge of his Homes Security Bill said that ho took that step because the Government had introduced a Bill which was practically a copy of his measure, with one exception, viz., that the Government Bill provided for £IOOO being Becured while his measure secured up to £sooo.—Agreed to. THE JOURNALISTS BILL. Sir Robert Stout in moving tin second reading of the New Zealand Journalists Bill said that this was th. 6 third time the measure had beon before tho House. He denied that it gave a monopoly to certain journalists, as had been urged by the opponents of the Bill. Mr Tanner moved an amendment that the Bill be read a aecoud time that day six months. Mr Tanner's amendment was defeated by 38 to 22 snd the Bill read a second time. THE FAMILY HOMES BILL. In moving tho second reading of the Family Homes Amoudment Bill Mr McKenzie said that they frequently met men who were homeless, who had been in a. position to have secured home property to their family if sucha law as this had been in existence. Sir Robert Stout warmly (supported the Bill- fi r . ~ After a short debate of a friendly character the second reading was agreed to. THIRD READING. The Contagious Diseases Act Repeal Bill (the Hon. the Premier) passed through Committee without amendment and was read a third time. BILL PASSED. The Industrial Schools Act Amendment Bill was slightly amended in Committee and then put through all its stages. The House rose at midnight.

fOtago Daily Times' Correspondent]. Wellington, July 3. As to the requirements of representatives of Otago and Southland who propose to wait upon tho Premier with regard to tho Otago Central, as I advised you yesterday, I find that Mr I inkerton has this morning received a letter from the Promior, in which ho said : " There is no alteration in the position as already conveyed to you and other Ot/jg-> members—that is, that the expenditure and liability «p to the 31st March last is within a fraction of the amount voted for the week." , . In his xisiatic and other Immigration Restriction Bill, the .Minister for Labor proposes to raise the poll-tax upon Asiatics to £IOO, also to decrease the number oi tho>-» people that a vessel may carry in proportion to tonmigo, and to prevent such paupers and deformed persons as »ro likely to become an iinmedvito burden upon tho taxpayer from landing- The Bill also aims at prohibiting the; introduction of contract labor except in tho omo of teachers and aldl'td laborers such as cannot be secured within the colony. The Minister has tik.n « «,1,,1u \r»™ »" iicv Bill all prm'isi <m that would m any way injuriously iutorforu wi'h tho tourist trunks. A position was presented from I<> Betters of tho JVmohaka esta.to praying for a revaluation of that estate by practical and impartial men, r.u otherwise thoir desire to establish homes tor thorn selves and their jamiliea cannot ho accomplished. Tho Minister for Lands has sent a circular to all agricultural societies asking for certain information regarding tho lime question. A bill has been introduce:! by Mr W. Hutchison to enlarge the franchise at municipal elections. It. provides that pv'ary ratpp tyer, meaning any man or WQiria.ii not resident in tho borough, who

is owner, leaseholder, or tenant of any property on which there is no resident householder, and every householder, meaning any person of at least 21 years of age, who has been at least 12 months an inhabitant and for throe months the occupier of a dwelliug house in the borough, may vote for councillors; no person to have more than one vote, every householder aud everyone whose same appears upon the roll under " The Electoral Act 1893 " for the district composing the borough shall be entitled to vote for the election of mayor. An important measure is proposed by Premier in the shape of a bill to limit actions for debt aud to prohibit actions for goods sold and delivered. It is provided that actions for debt shall be limited to two years after the cause of action arose if it arises after the commencement of the act, and in all other cases to two years after the commencement of the act, but not exceeding six years after the cause of action arose. It is also declared that there shall be no recovery of a debt under £2O for goods sold. . July 4.

Mr Hogg asked the Minister for Lands if he had considered the representations thathadbeeu made for the encouragement of rabbit-proof fencing, and in doing so said it might be assumed that attempts to suppress the rabbits had been a failure. As the settlers recognised wire netting as the only, preventive, would the Government do anything to help the settlers to procure it ? To this the Minister answered that a bill would be introduced to make advances to settlers for this purpose upon the same lines as to local bodies.

The reform of the present system of charitable aid that is proposed by the Government has beeu the subject of some lobby talk to-day. I cannot gather much, but think it will be found that the special feature of the bill will be the care of destitute children by the State, and the establishment of labor colonies for those of the unemployed who, from age or other disabilities, cannot hold their own in the straggle to obtain work. The Minister for Education in his Endowed Schools Bill intends to provide that every endowed school shall, after the firßt of January, 1896, in every year afford free education by giving a free place for the year to one scholar for every £SO of the net annual iucomo derived by the school from endowments, including contributions made by school commissioners under "The Education Reserves Act, 1877." In lieu of free places, the governing body may substitute scholarships accruing to the following scale : Two scholarships each of an annual sum equal to half the ordinary school fees of one scholar for the year in lieu of one free place ; one scholarship of an annual sum equal to the ordinary school fees of one, two, three, or four scholars respectively for the year in lieu of one, two, three, or four free places respectively, provided that no scholarship in lieu of three or four free places shall be granted except to a scholar who home is so remote from the school as to prevent him from living at home whilst attending school or college, wholly or partially maintained by endowments, but does not include auy institution affiliated to the University of New Zealand, nor auy school maintained for the benefit of the Maoris. The Bank of New Zealand Estates Company Assets Special Realisation Bill, which his been entrusted to Mr C. H. Mills, the senior Government whip, sets forth that the company cannot for a number of reasons dispose of its property by the ordinary methods of" realisation, aud it is therefore provided that the directors of the company may, with the consent in writing of the president and two directors of the Bauk of New Zealand, dispose of its property by lottery. Mr Mills, of course, anticipates some opposition to his measure in certain quarters, but he contends that the principle is already admitted by the legislation of lotteries in connection with works of art, the totalisator, &c., with the permission of the Colonial Secretary, and that this bill is in no way equivalent to the authorisation of a State lottery, but will divide many large estates and facilitate settlement. It is expected that Ministers will support the proposal, and its fate will depend in a large measure upon the attitude of the members of the Opposition.

Wellington, July 4. At last evening's sitting of the Temperance Convention the following resolutions were passed " That this Convention urges upon the notice of the Government the great wrong done to the native race by their practical disfranchisement in relation to the liquor traffic, and asks that legislative provision bo made to put them on the same footing with Europeans in this respect." " That this convention urges upon divisional leagues and all local temperance organisations throughout the colony to make immediate provision for a series of public meetings at which resolutions shall be submitted in favor of the Licensing Bill introduced by tho temperance party into the House of Representatives, such resolutions to be forwarded to the Premier and members for the district and published in tho Press."

" That this Convention pledges itself to do its utmost to secure the selection of candidates to replace all mem-' hers who refuse to concede to the people absolute power aud control of the liquor traffic, and to arrange with divisional leagues aud other organisations to carry this resolution into effect."

The Tomperauco convention this moruin<' resolved to urge on tho executive of divisional leagues to secure effective organisation of the temperance forces of their districts, and to recemmend that similar organisations be foamed if possible in all districts where they do not exist, and that a committee be appointed to give effect to the latter part of the resolution. A letter was read declaring that there was still considerable sly grog selling in tho Clutha district. A resolution was carried —"That tho Government had .culpably failed in their duty respecting the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors, a result by which tho law had beeu brought into discredit and disrepute; and the Convention calls on Purlianieut and the Government to take strong stops to inform tho police fotco, and proyidp effective administration of tho licensing laws." Tim temperance meeting at the Opera iloiiso to iii.'jit was packed. Tho Mayor presided at tho opening and later on Mr (Juilbert Carson. Among those who sooke were Sir R. Stout, Messrs McNab,, JiA.lA\- ? ICeeyos, fsltt, Munro, aiu] seyoral other.:', of the delegatus, all urging the interests of tho cause. Resolutions were curried much in tho direction of those passed by the Convention ; another expressed approval at tho progress of the Umipurnnoo movemont, and urgod all members of Parliament who had tho cause at heart to assist in passing into law this session the Licensing Act Amendment Bill introduced in tho House in the interests of tho party. The Premier v>as interviewed this j afternoon by a large deputation from th©

Temperance Convention, who wished to know what action the Government intended to take in respect to th Licensing Bill approved by the Convention and introduced into the House by Mr McNab. The Bill provided that the people should have full control of the liquor traffic. The Premier said that the Government could not take Up Mr McNab's Bill. They would bring down a short amending Bill of their own, which would provide for the abolition of the one-half moiety required to make the poll valid. This temperance question was inseperable from general politics, and he thought that the vote for local and colonial option should be taken on the same day as the Parliamentary elections. That would be provided for in the Government Bill ; in fact, up to clause 13, the Bill of this year would be the same as that of last year. The Government would adhere to the three-fifths majority, on the ground that a reform that was to stand must have more than a bare majority. However, they would hold to the provision that a three-fifths majority be required to reverse a prohibition vote. The Government could not undertake to give special facilities for the passage of Mr McNab's Temperance Bill. Mr Ropitui, the delegate of the North Island natives, asked the Premier to regulate the drink traffic among the Maoris.

The Premier expressed his sympathy with the request. Mr E. Taylor brought under the Premier's notic' the resolutions passed at the Temperance Convention in regard to the police administration of the laws of the colony. Strong complaint was made of the administration of Inspector Broham aud the police in Christchurch, and the Convention asked that a Commission be appointed to make a searching enquiry into the matter. The H. Mr .Reeves said that many of the charges were entirely new to him. The Premier emphatically declined to appoint a Commission. To do so would be an insult to many police officials throughout the colony, who had done faithful service to the country. The Premier replied seriatim to the charges made against the police in various parts of the colony.