PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4525, 6 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Pee Pbess Association.]

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday.

The House met at 2.30

The Joint Committee on Standing Orders reported that the Examiners report on the New Zealand Native Lands Company's Bill was correct, but that baring heard the promoters, by their agent, they recommended that Standing Orders 31, 32, and 16 be dispensed with, and the parties!allowed to proceed with their bill, on condition that clause 6 (allowing the company to purchase natire lands) be expunged—Mr DeLatour moved that tbe report be considered to morrow.—Mr Atkinson asked that a later date be named, The bill was one of great importance— really affecting one-half of the North Island. It was requisite for the Government to hare time to consider whether a bill of such great magnitude, dealing with such a large public matter, could be dealt with by a private bill. He moved that it be considered on Tuesday .—Mr' DeLautour demurred to this doctrine: every private bill bad a right to be introduced in compliance with Stand * ing Orders, and it was most unfair to prejudice the Bill by raising a question of policy at what was really merely a formal ■ age. He objected to being debarred from getting it on the Order Paper for to-morrow, but would then (if good cause was shown) be ready to consider the question; of further delay .—Mr Macandrew said this was a formal stage to whicH every private bill was entitled, and had nothing to do with "the merits -of the bill.—Messrs Sutton and Moss thought that all the documents should be printed before anything was done.—Mr Kelly objected to * large question of public policy being dealt with by a private bill. —Mr Shepherd said the recommendation to dispense with certain Standing Orders was a matter of primary importance. He did not think the bill should be allowed to proceed —Mr Bryee said: Of course members, like the public* knew a great deal about this bill. He now found it not in compliance with Standing Orders, and dealing with matters which should not be dealt with/ in a private bill. Time for consideration should, however, be given, as the question wm one of great public importance.—Mr Shaw said the bill really was one'to abolish the Native Minister and remove the Native Department to Auckland. The promoters had; however, met the objection of the objectors by eliminating j the clause of which proper notice* had not been given. The whole bill, however, required the greatest caution, and to give time for full consideration he supported the proposal for delay.—Mr DeLautour thought these objections on a preliminary stage were unfair; if the House wished for delay, however, be would agree to Tuesday.-—Major Atkinson said that on Tuesday he would be prepared to state what position the Government would take on this bill, and to afford a full opportunity for arguing any position they might take up as to the constitutional position of the billjk—The amendment that the report be considered on Tuesday was agreed to, and the papers ordered to be printed. Replying to questions, Ministers said \ the Government had no information as to ' the Auckland Education Board keeping a <a register of the religious belief of teachers; there was no power to prevent such a thing.—Judge Heales' memo, about the block, near Gisbbroe, was dated -March, 1881, and was, ordered by the Cabinet to have been made pablie this' session. Why this was not done he (Mr Bryce) did not know, as he was not in the Government at. the time,—No report or inquiry about the Government Insurance Department had been made since 1879 by any officer not connected with the depart ment; ' the inquiry then made was of a confidential character. — Government could not undertake the survey of a canal to connect the Manakau with Auckland harbour. —A private company had asked if Government were prepared to enter into an arrangement for the construction of the Otago Central Bail way, if the company were prepared to do this under the Railway Construction and Land Act, Government would be prepared to consider the matter.—Government could not yet say whether they would provide for the survey of the Arthur's Pass route for the East and West Coast .Railway, or what action they intend to take on the Commissioners' report. But the subjects were under consideration. Tbe following new bills were introduced and read a first time:—T^ Waitara Harbor (Trimble;, Gaming anil Lotteries Act Amendment® (JJhaw)? Juries Act Amendment (Tole), Hawkes Bay and Marlborough Bivers Act Amendment (Fulton), Single' Votes at Elections, and. Registration of Elections Act Amendment

(BsrronJ.and New ZenUnd Government Railway and Other Employers (Seddon). Tbe Municipal Corporations Consolidation Bill was road a second time.

The Married Women's Property Bill, and Patents Bill were read the second time.

Tho House vhen went into Committee on the Bankruptcy Bill. Mr Barren moved (he postponement of all the clauses except the repealing cUnsfs, so as to test the feelings of the H'-nse as to whether there should be any bankruptcy laws at all.— Mr Hursthouse supported this. —Mr Connolly opposed it, siying the Government certainly would not take the responsibility of repealing all the bankruptcy laws with out the country being consulted. If the House would not accept the bill the present unsatisfactory Act would have to remain in force.—The motion for post* pooement was rejected on a division by 52 to 15. Clauses up to 30 .were passed 'Without amendment. Clause 31 was amended to allow of more than one assignee being appointed-in each judical district, the minimum security to be given bf an assignee .was reduced from £5000 to £2003.

Latbr —This day.

After the usual adjournment the dis cussion on the Bankruptcy Bill was con tinued. In clause 43 the words three days were altered to fire days, and clause 45 by requiring a debtor to file in the district in which he had resided or carried on bu«in»*B9 for th^ greater part of the Drecedine six months; on a dirisien of 38 to 4 fixing the minimum debt for which a debtor could be adjudged a bankrupt on petition, £50 was inserted in place of £25; clause 56 was amended by making the debtor's property vest in assignee immediately on his v presenting his petition ; clauses to 59 inclusive were passed, proiffess was reported, and the House rose at 12.20 a.m.