GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 1, 11 July 1896, Page 7

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THURSDAY. The Council met lit 2.30 p.m. THE BANKING INI>UIRV. The debate mi the motion t'i net up a Banking Committee was continued by Mr Kelly, ivlki c intended that the response biiity nt the b inking legislation rested mi the whole Legislature, mid upheld the proposed sc ipo of Clio enquiry. Mr 1*i>..:•...• vn >uppi>rtetJ tlm suggestion f ir the electing of the omnuiittee by ballot. The Ministi v of I*' location made a strong defei.ee of Mr Ward in reply to Mr Ormond's speech of the previous day. Mr Ward's affairs had been brought into the i',i-cii-M":i without proper warrant. He accused Mr Ormnnd • >{ attacking the private affairs of the ex-Colonial Treasurer .'hi party line.-. Mr Ward had neglected his divii business in the service nf the C tinny. He asked how it was that the Hum-din Court was inclined to go out of its way to ruin shareholders": The present pn.-ition of the Ward Company was due to the machinations nf the Opposition party. Mr Keyiinl Is said the only way of getting at cho b ittom nt the matter ivi s by n Royal Commission. In the opinion of fiery shareholder ill the Colonial Bulk, Judge Williams only did his duty. Mr Ormond denied having indulged in personalities, lie was talkit:go£ tilt) public act of a pu"!ic officer of the colony. Mr MacC.iegr was surprised at the decision of the Supreme Court being can* vassed as it had been by Mr Walker. Tub feeling down South was, that the whole proceedings in connection with the committee were a farce. It a committee were app intcu by ballot, the effect on the public would be a most salutary one. Sir G. Wliitmiire thought dissatisfaction would be. caused if the committee weie composed of only one party. Mr Stevens thought the scope of the committee too w.d-, while the investigation of the affairs of the Assets Realisation ]?nnrd was not even proposed. The worst that could be said aeainst the Government was that it was misled. On a bill ot being taken the following committee were elected :—Messrs Walker mover), Stevens. Ormond, I'har.izyn. Bnwen, Cartwright, Bonar, Kelly, Shrimki Richardson. Mr Sliriuiski at once announced that he resigued from the committee, but tlie Speaker taid he would consider the matter, The Council adjourned till 7.30 p.m. On the Council resuming at 7.30 p.m., Mr G. Jones resumed the debate on the order of reference of the Banking Committee. After further discussion, the second clause, which allowed the inquiry to go back as far as ISSS, was struck out by 22 votes to 10. The division list was : Ayes 10 (for the clause) : Messrs Scotland, Arkwright. Kerr, R'gg, Jones, Feldwiek. Reeves, McLean, Montgomery, W. C. Walker. Noes 22 (against the clause) : Messrs Reynold*, L. Wa'k;r, Richardson, Baillie, Whitmore, Aclaud, Barnicoat, MacGregor, Swanson, Shrimski, Williams, Jackson, Jennings, Kenny, bouar, Peacock, Grace, Ormond, Stevens, Johnston, Bolt, Holmes. In clans; !, Mr MacGregor carried an amendment allowing the unofticial negotiations between the oanks and members of the Ministry to bo a subject for investigation. The remaining chutes passed, and the Council adjourned at 9.8 p.m. FRIDAY. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. BANKING COMMITTEE. Mr Junkinson withdrew his motion that the committee nf enquiry into the banking affairs should be, open to the press and public. MIDLAND RAILWAY. Noties of motion was given by Mr Stevens for Tuesday, that if the Government has taken over the Midland Railway, it is expedient that the Council shall be informed whether it is the intention in one year after t iking possession to give three months' notice to the company, that it is intended to retain the railway as Government property. REPRESENTATION ACT. The Representation Act Amendment Bill pa-sed all its stages without amendment. CRIMINAL CODE. The Criminal Cide Act Amendment Bill, to raise the age of consent to 10 years, was read a second time by 'l7 to 5. HILLS IN COMMITTEE. The Coroners' Bill and .Municipal Corporations 15111 passed through cmnntttee. The Council then adjourned. HOUSE OF EEPRESENrATIVES. THURSDAY. Tiie House met at 2.30. The consideration of local Bills occupied the whole afternoon. The House resumed at 7.30. PERSONAL STATEMENT. Rising to a question of privilege, the II in. J. Mclv'ui.'.e give a n, >-t emphatic denial t-u a statement appearing in that evening's I'ost to the effect that he had been invited to attend the Horowhenna (3 iinmission. INEBRIATES INSTITUTION'. Mr Joyce moved the second reading of the Inebriates Institution Bill, which was the same as the measure of that name he had introduced last session. Mr Meredith and Sir R. St iilt approved of the Bill. Mr Ct'.wther objected to the tax-payers having to defray the cost of maintenance •f mi "many institutions of this description. ! Mr Hogg would like to see- the money re ■ilre.l for the inebriates institution ex- ' I tended on the expinsi in ol the State farm ! system. i Dr. Newman thought tlie Bill a good one, \ but the dirficulty in the way was the questi.m of finances. Mr Bunshaw opp "ed the Bill, altliough he had some sympathy for its principle. Messrs Mills and Willis supported the Bill. The second reading was agreed to on the \ SHEARERS' ACCOMMODATION. I Mr Stew ird moved the sec ind reading of the Sheaiers Accommodation Bill, to pinvide for the proper ace unmodation of shearecs. Ho explained that the Bill had previously passed the House, br. it w.is ;r>w mme c unplete. Mr Fiattnan supported the principle of

the Bill, but said its details were deficient m manv respects. Mr Duthie objected to this continual interference with employers. Messrs Maslin, Collins, Willis, Buddo, and Mills spoke in support of the Bill, as also did Mr Thomas Mackenzie, and Mr Buchanan, although the latter objected to some of the details ot the measure. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. divorce nil.!,. Mr Collins moved the second reading of the Divorce Act Amendment Bill, which places the wife on the same f,„ ting as the husband in regard to grounds for divoice. j Tiie motion was agreed to on the voices, without debate. UNCLAIMED MONEY. Mr Joyce moved the second reading of the L7iiclaim»d Money Bill, to provide for giving publicity to information relating t.t unclaimed funds. Agreed t>> on the voices without debate. CANTERBURY COLLEGE. Mr (I. W. Russell's Cant-deny College Bill was considered for nearly three hours in c immittae, considerable diversity of opinion existing as to the election of the Board of Governor* of the institution. Eventually a motion by Mr W. Kelly to report progress was curie,] bv 21 to 20. PROGRESS OF BILLS. The Female L.w Practitioners" Bill and f.ho L) c-ised Husband's Brother Marriage Bill were passed through c immittee without amendment. The Premier moved the adjournment of the Hmse, which was lost by IS to 1-1. Tiie Speaker ruled that no new business could be taken at that hour, nor could any motion be debated. Capt. Russell then, at 12.30 a.m., moved the adjournment of the House, Mr G. W. Russell called for a division, bit the Spenker said : "' I decline to allow another division. 1 declare the I Louse adjourned till 2.30 p.m. The House then dispersed. FRIDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. JUVENILE DEPRAVITY. Mr Seddhi gave untie i to introduce the Juvenile Depravity Prevention Bill, BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. lii reply to Mi Duthie. Mr Seddou said the Bank of New Zealand Contingency Fond Act grant was not nearly exhausted, but he reiterated his refusal to answer questions relating to the private business of the Bank. • JUES'I lONS. In answer to other questions it was stated That discipline must be maintained in the police force, and on that account it was not desirable that a Board of Appeal for the j police force should be established ; That the Government intended bringing in a Bill this session to give them power to take land for the establishment of State farms, with the view of coping with the unemployed difficulty ; That it tiie progress of business would permit the Beet Root Sugar Bill would bo introduced this session ; That a Bill would be introduced this sesI sion dealing with the classification of ra>lj way employees. That the Bulking Committee would proj bably be called together for Tuesday ingBANKING COMMISSION. Mr Saddon maved that the Standing Orders be suspended, so as to enable the proceedings of the Banking Committee to i be, open to the Press, except when the cotnI inittee are deliberating. He thought the | best plan would be to allow the Press I gallery to nominate two reporters to report j the proceedings, as if all Press reporters in Wellington were allowed to attend the c Hiimittee there would be no room for them. Captain Russell objected altogether to the Press being admitted to this committee. There was no doubt at all that some of the rnpnits would be more or less of a partisan character, according to the views of the newspaper represented, and that would be most inadvisable on every ground. Ha wished emphatically to contradict the reports that were afloat, that when the Opposition left the Chamber last week they had done so in order to cast a slight on Mr Geo. Hutchison, who had been named on the committee. Nothing was farther from their thoughts than that. He moved an amendment on the Premier's motion that the committee shall have power to report day after day the minutes of the evidence taken before it, but such report shall mil be held to rescind the standing order which precludes the publication of the evidence till the report is presented to the House. Messrs <;. W. Russell and W. Hutchisiii opposed the amendment, and thought all Pressmen should have free access to the c immittee. Sir Robert Stout thought the House should make the reports of the committee privileged. Dr. Newman said the report of the committee wuiiM not have the slightest weight with the country. Mr Hogg defended the reporters from tho charge of giving biassed repoits. He said, however, biassed reports appeared under the heading of the Press Association, but he did not blame the Association's reporters for that, tor those reports were in many cases manipulated by sub-editors of newspapers. M»ssrs Farushaw and Bell were opposed to the admission of the Tress. Mr Pir.mi resented Mr Hogg's insinuation Chat reports were manipulated by sub-editors. Mr Ceo. Hutchison supported the Premier's motion, because he thought it would be in the interests, not only of the public, but of the Bank itself, that the mystery which surrounded the whole matter should be dispelled. His only object in going on the c unir.ittoe was to get at facts. Messrs Buchanan, ,1. W. Kelly and Mills were in favour of the admission of re- • orters. Mi Thus. McKenzie objected to exception being made in the case of this Banking Citinmiti.ee. H this committee were to be open to the Pi ess, so also should the proceedings of other committee-. Mr Duthie said he would refrain from voting on the question. Mr Crowther also spoke. On a division, Captain Russell's amendment was negatived by II to !). Mr Seddou, in reply, refuted the statements of the L°adei of the Opposition, that the Government were to blame for iionropresentatioii of the Opposition on the Banking Committeee. He was glad that Captain Russell had apologised for the conduct of the ' >ppositiou towards Mr Geo.

Hutchison. The Opposition in the other Chamber had nut acted as Capt. Russell had done, and refused to act on the committee. The inquiry would not now harm the Bank, for it was in an impregnable position. There was no intention of enquiring into the private accounts of customers of the Bank, but he saw no objection to the writings off being made public. No secrecy was observed when a man nought the protection ot the Bankruptcy Court, and tlieie should be no secrecy in the case of a man whoso account had been written off by the Bank. The proceedings of this committee should be given the fullest publicity, so that the world should bo able to judge whether the admission of the Press was now a necessity, otherwise the Opposition would proclaim on every platform that the report of the committee was not in accordance with the evidence. lie thought tiie public and committee were quite safe in the hand nf the Press of the colony, and there was in. necessity to pass a special Act, as proposed by Sir R. Stout, to make the reports of the com niitlee privileged. The enquiry being a joint one, he thought the two committees should meet and discuss matters, and. if necessary, they could act independently. His remarks as to the selection of rep irters had been ini-nnder-t aid by some of the members, and he asserted that the Government cared not if every newspaper in the colony were represented at the enquiry. The. Premier's motion was then put and carried by -15 to li. The House msa at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. REPRESENTATION. Mr Seddou said he found some difficulty in appointing two non-official members for each island for the Representation Commission, and he asked f„ r the assistince of the House in the matter, lie said it was extremely difficult to select men who were not prominently connected with politic-. and yet who had sufficient knowledce of the country to enable them to do satisfactory work on the Commission. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES. On the motion fir the third reading of the Rating on Unimproved Values Bill, Mr Seddou moved that the Bill be re-com-mitted for the purpose of re-considoring Clauses 3 and 10. and also to insert a newClause. Mr O'Rcgan moved that Clause 2 bo also re-considered. Mr Seddou objected to this being done, as it would re-open the whole discussion. Mr O'Regan's amendment was carried by 31 votes to 2!), and the Bill was recommitted. In Clause 2, Mr O'Regan moved that "improvements" should include reclamation. The amendment was lost by 32 votes to 2!). Amendments to include embankments, tramways and railways among " improvements " were lost by narrow majorities. (Left sitting).