GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2877, 5 October 1895, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on "Wednesday. CUSTOMS AND EXCISE. The debate on the second reading of the Customs and Excise Duties Bill was resumed, the speakers being Mr Rigg, Sir George Whitmore, Mr Swanson, Mr Shrimski, Dr Grace, Mr W. C. Walker, Mr Jennings, Mr McGregor, and Mr Stewart. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. BILLS PASSED. The Bill was subsequently put through Committee and its final stages without amendment. The Fencing Bill and the Censns Act Amendment Bill passed their final stages. SECOND READINGS. The Seamen’s Act Amendment Bill and the Sea Fisheries Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. The Council rose at 5 p.m. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. THE LIQUOR BILL. Sir Patrick Buckley moved the second reading of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill. Personally he thought that the prohibitionists had not taken the best course in their action in regard to the liquor question. Mr Pharazyn considered the principle of local option most unjust and tyrannical. The whole measure from beginning to end was a mistake, and would require considerable amendment iu Committee.

Mr Ormond hoped to see the Bill so amended as to le as little mischievous as possible. If total prohibition were carried in the colony, the loss of revenue resulting would throw the colony into a state of utter chaos. He strongly objected to holding the licensing poll and General Election on the same day. Mr W, C. Walker believed that holding both elections on the same day would prick the bubble of prohibition, aud show how small and insignificant were the fanatics who were trying to ruin New Zealand. Mr Rigg could not countenance prohibition in any shape or form. If it were carried, the loss of revenue would ruin the colony, as the land could not bear any fixation. Mr McLean said that he had always favored temperance legislation, but at this measure he would be compelled to call a halt. Ho objected to continual tinkering with the question of prohibition. Sir George Whitmore thought that the provision allowing prohibition in the colony,' should be excise from the Bill. What was wanted was proper police control over public-houses, aud proper supervision of the drink sold. Mr Stewart said that already there was a slight reaction setting in against the prohibition agitation in the colony, aud he was satisfied that it would never be attained. Dr Grace said that a prodigious machine to check a vice that did not exist was quite unnecessary. Mr Jeukiuson hoped that the date of the elections would not be separated, as in that case the votes of moderate drinkers would not be cast at all. Mr Shrimski was entirely opposed to the Bill. At 5 p.m. the Council adjourned till 7.30 p.m. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Kerr, Mr Bolt, Mr Bowen, aud Mr Macgregor also spoke on the Alcoholic Liquors Bill, after which the second readwas agreed to on the voices, SECOND READINGS. The Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill, and the Public Domains Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. The Council then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. RECIPROCITY BILL. The Customs Duties Reciprocity Bill was read a first time. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions it was stated that the lime had arrived for reconsideration of the rates on urgent telegraphic money orders, aud the matter would receive attention; that Mr A. W, D. Bell was never in charge of the works at Porirua Asylum, and that he never recommended the dismissal of the inspector ; that there was no instruction book of the Telegraph Department containing instructions relating to forwarding telegrams between the J. G. Ward Company and the Colonial Treasurer. in reply to Captain Russell, the Premier said that the term of the Agent-General’s office did not expire till the 10th December next, so that there was no immediate hurry for the Government to consider the matter. BILLS DISCHARGED. The Premier moved that the following Bills be discharged from the Order p.vper ; —Public Tenders Contracts and Works Bill, Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill, Endowed Schools Bill, Betterment Bill, Lunatics Act Amendment Bill, Beetroot Sugar Bill, Master and Apprentice Bill, Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill, Canterbury College Constitution Bill, Charitable Gifts Duties Exemption Bill, Extension of Harbors Act 1878 Amendment Bill, Inebriates Institutions Bill, Licensing Acts Amendment (McNab) Bill, Referendum Bill, Divorce Act Amendment Bill, Payment of Jurors Bill, Slander of Women Bill, Native Rights Bill, I'ohoai Restriction Bill, Statutes Consolidation and Printing Bill, Mortgages Bill, Domestic Servants Half-holiday Bill, Restraint of Investments to Betting or Wagering Bill, Abolition of Capital Punishment 13111,

Secondhand Dealers Licensing Bill, Removal of Women’s Disabilities Bill, Female Law Practitioners Bill, Totalisator Abolition Bill, Municipal Corporations Fire Insurance Bill, and the Medical Practitioners Registration Act Amendment Bill. The motion was agreed to. With regard to the Local Government Bill, the Premier said that he thought it would be bettor iu the interests of the country if the House would allow him to move the second reading and explain the Bill, and afterwards abjourn the debate. There was not the slightest chance of the Bill going through this session. UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS 8188. The motion for the committal of the Asiatic and other Immigration Restriction Bill was carried on the casting vote of the Speaker. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VABUE 8188. The motion for the committal of the Rating on Unimproved Value Bill was carried by 31 to 19. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. IN COMMITTEE. The Margarine Bill passed through Committee with the amendments made by the Stock Committee. The Chattels Transfer Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee with the amendments made by the Statutes Revision Committee. In Committee on the Rating on Unmproved Value Bill the term “ improvements” was made to include “ water races whether constructed by loan or otherwise,” and also “ land reclaimed from the sea.” Clause 6 was amended to provide that one-third of the ratepayers on the roll should vote or the poll would be valid. No other amendments of any consequence were made in the Bill, which was reported as amended, the third reading being postponed. BILLS PASSED. The Margarine Bill and Chattels Transfer Act° Amendment Bill wore put through their final stages. The House rose at 1.50 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p m. on Thursday. EATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES BILL, On the motion for third reading of the Rating on Unimproved Values Bill, Mr R.Thompson moved that the Bill be recommitted for the purpose of reconsidering the question whether this Bill should be°brought into operation by the vote of one-third of the ratepayers instead of onehalf. The amendment was lost by 33 to 23. The debate on the third reading of the Bill occupied nearly the whole afternoon. Eventually the motion was carried by 41 to 7, and the Bill passed. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS. The Minister of Lands moved the second reading of the Laud for Settlements Act Amendment Bill. He referred to the continued demand for land for settlement, and pointed out the delay and obstacles of taking land compulsorily. In making special reference to the Ardgowan purchase he defended the action of the Board and the Goverumentt from the charge that they had been doing nothing. The Bill would ratify the appointment of Mr McKerrow as land purchase inspector, and it was intended to make him chairman of the Board. During last year to March 31 the Government have been authorized to spend £250,000 in land purchase, but had not been able to spend all that sum. The actual amount spent did not represent all the liabilities incurred up till December 13th. The Government had purchased nine properties containing 29,920 acres at a coat of £102,413, and they had 17 properties under offer of 47,070 acres. By the end of March next between actual expenditure and liabilities the total amount at the disposal of the Government for laud purchase would be marly exhausted. Taking all things into consideration he thought that it would be admitted that his laud policy had been successful.

Captain Russell said that so far as the amending Bill went he had no particular objection to it. He still thought that the compulsory taking of laud was most iniquitous, and had done more to injure the property of the colony than anything else. It had kept many desirable settlers from coming here. There was no bona fide demand for land now, if it was meant that men were prepared to invest their money in it. Of course, men were prepared to enter into other men’s labor with the assistance of the Government. The regulations wore most worrying, perplexing, and foolish; instead of dispossessing the present owners it would be far better to purchase estates from the Asfiets Realisation Board, and thus help to relieve the colony of a portion of its liabilities arising out of its recent bank legislation. Men from whom land had been taken compulsorily had been treated more harshly by far than the friends of the Government, who were given more than the value for their land. He congratulated the Government on the appointment of Mr McKerrow. Mr G. W. Russell contended that the demand for land had not fallen off, and that land was not unsaleable. There was a widespread feeling against private ownership of land, aud men were beginning to think more oi settlement than ownership. Sir Robert Stout admitted that the State had a right to deal with the whole laud of the country for the welfare of the people aa a whole, but it was wrong for the Government to take a from A. and B. and give it to C. Mr Willis, Mr Buddo, Mr McGuire, Mr Montgomery,. •Mr Flatman, Mr Crowther, Mr Hall, Mr E. M. Smith, Dr Newman, Mr Hone Heke, Mr Button, and Mr McNab also spoke. The Minister having replied, the second reading was agreed to on the voices, aud the Bill referred to the Waste Lands Committee. The House rose at 1.45 p.m.