GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 318, 23 July 1898, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THURSDAY. The Council met at half-past two p.m. SURREY HILLS. It was decided that the Government should consider the advisableuess of suggesting to the Realisation Board the desirableness of reserving a portion of the Surrey Hills Estate, Auckland, as a park. THE JURY SYSTEM. It was decided that a report should be obtained from the Supreme Court Judges as to whether it was expedient or necessary to abolish special and grand juries. COUNCIL REFORM RILL. The Minister for Education explained that the delay in the introduction of the Council Reform Bill was owing to the fact that he was desirous of bringing in a measure which would prove satisfactory. UNCLAIMED MONEYS. The Unclaimed Moneys Bill was considered in committee, and several verbal amendments made, progress being reported at Clause 7. THE SPOONER CASE. Mr Jones gave notice to move that the Governor should exercise the prerogative of mercy in the case of the Auck'and printer, Mr Spooner. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THURSDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. LOCAL RILL. 11l committee on the Mairetahi Loan Conversion BUI, to enable the Waite.rnata County Council to convert a small loan to one bearing a lower rate of interest, a long discussion took place as to the policy of local bodies having to come to Parliament for such a purpose. It was held that all such should be. capable of being dealt with as a matter of course, under a statute applicable to the whole Colony. The Bill was reported without amendment. INSTITUTE FOR INEBRIATES. On the consideration of the report on the Inebriates' Institutions Bill (Mr Joyce), Mr McNab reiterated his contention that all asylums in the Colony should be under one law, and that, there should be no such thing as a private asylum iu the Colony. The Bill was read a third time. LICENSING BILL. The Licensing Act Amendment Bill (Mr Millar) was committed. Mr Smith wanted to kuow what staud the Government intended to take iu the matter. The Premier said that as tar as the Government were concerned the plan of campaign was " open order." When each clause of the Bill came up he would, of course, vote as any lion, member would vote, and any advice he had to give he would give. Mr Smith explained that he simply asked the question because on a previous occasion the Premier had said that auy proposal to amend the licensing law must be treated as a policy measure, and that he would not allow auy private member to interfere in a matter that should be left to the Government. Mr Smith was glad the Premier had changed his opinion on the subject, and had come to recognise that it was a matter for the people to deal with. The Premier said that what Mr Smith had referred to was when he (Mr Scddon) had brought down a Licensing Bill, and made it a policy measure. In the present case, Mr Smith had brought down a Bill, and Mr Millar another Bill, and he left them to fight it out. Mr Taylor charged the Premier with evading the point raited by Mr Smith. MrSeddon had declared that the Government alone should legislate upon the licensing law. On clause 3, which, inter alia, eliminates the reduction vote, Mr Smith said it was his intention to move amendments which would give the people the right to vote every three years, independently of a Parliamentary election, and confine the issue to license or no license. As to reduction, the Premier had said that the necessity for the vote had ceased to exist, as hotels had been reduced and the population was increasing. Mr Duthie moved an amendment to the effect that the three issues should be retained as at present. Mr Montgomery said there seemed to be an unholy alliance as between the publicans and prohibitionists in respect to the vote for reduction, the retention of which he believed in. Mr Carson kuew of no unholy alliance, but personally he hoped the reduction vote would not be struck out. Mr Smith said, that though his party proposed to take the reduction vote away, they wished to give power to reduce to the committee. Mr McGuire held that the Government should take up whatever measure ou the subject was necessary.

Mr Smith expressed his willingness to withdraw his amendment, if doing so would facilitate the settlement of the point bearing on the retention of the reduction vote. Mr Duthie said that to abolish the reduction vote would deprive the people of a power they had used with good effect and should be allowed to retain. He also thought the administration of the Act should be- entrusted to Stipendiary Magistrates. The Premier favoured a straight-out issue, by means of a vote on Mr Duthie's amendment. The Government were under no obligation or compact, and only desired to give expression to the will of the people. The Premier said he was not to be drawn as to what the Government should or might do in reference to a report not yit before them, and would not interfere with the rights of private members iu the matter of a measure like the Dill before the House. Mr Scobie Mackenzie, in further criticising the Premier's attitude, moved that the chairman leave the chair. Mr J. Hutcheson thought the Government should certainly take up whatever legislation was necessary on the subject of the liquor trade. Mr Taylor agreed with Mr S. Mackenzie that the Police Commission report would assuredly disclose need of fresh legislation, but expected nothing from the Premier, who was now yielding in the matter to the influence of the brewers and the money interest in the drink trade. The Premier thought that instead of the chairman leaving the chair it vvould be better to go to the vote on Mr Duthie's amendment. Mr S. Mackenzie's motion was withdrawn by leave. Mr Duthie's amendment was negatived on division by 39 to 23. Mr Smith proposed a further amendment to the effect that provision should be made in the Bid for colonial option. The Premier said he preferred national to local option, but only if it were on the basis of a three-fifths majority. Mr Taylor said he would like to see colonial option in force, even if it had to rest on a wider basis than a three-fifth majority. Mr S. Mackenzie, as a point of order, submitted that Mr Smith's national option amendment could not be entertained, as it was outside its order of leave in the Bill, which was to regulate aud control, whereas Mr Smith's amendment aimed at the abolition of the trade. The Chairman ruled Mr Smith's amendment in order. Mr Kelly hoped the matter would be put to the vote, so that the majority might decide, which was all that was aimed at by national option itself. Mr Tanner maintained that as local option had been given to districts they must be logical, and give the power of option to the Colony as a whole. Mr McNab directed attention to what appeared an anomaly in regard to local and national option, for if the latter were exercised, the former might be made negatory. After further discussion the amendment was negatived by 40 to 17. Progress was shortly afterwards reported, and the House rose at 12.30 a.m. FRIDAY. THE SI'OONER CASE. The Minister for Justice stated that the Government has decided to advise the Governor to lemit the remainder of the sentence. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The Colonial Treasurer, in reply to Capt. Russe'l, said he hoped to be able to state iicxo week when he would bring down the Financial Statement. COMMERCE PROMOTIONS. Ou the motion of the Premier, a committee was set up to report as to the best means of promoting the commerce of the colony and the sale of its products in additional markets. OTAHU ESTATE. The Minister for Lauds moved that the question of the purchase of the Otahu Estate be referred to the Waste Lands Committee, to investigate as to the purchase and the disposal of the estate. Mr G. Hutchison said that unless the suitableness of the land were considered the investigation would be a farce. The motion was amended as suggested and agreed to. GOVERNMENT ADVANCES TO SETTLEKS AMENDMENT BILL. The House went into Committee on this Bill. Mr Moore proposed that it be expressly stated in the Bill that not more than "an aggregate of three millions should be borrowed under the authority of the original Act. Ttie Minister pointed out that the use of the woid residue fixed an absolute limit. A discussion took place as to the valuations made by the Department aud the appointment of valuers. The Minister for Lands said the valuers were appointed on the recommendation of the head of the Department. Mr Buchanan said that he could say from personal knowledge that in some cases valuers had valued buudreds upon hundreds of acres of land which they had never seen. The Bill was reported without amendment. THE BANKING BILL. This Bill was still under discussion when the telegraph office closed.