GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 338, 8 September 1898, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

TUESDAY. TIIK BANKING BILL

The Banking Bill was further considered in committee. On the motion of the Minister for Education the number of proxies which a proxy-holder might use at a meeting of shareholders was reduced from 500 to 250. ■

Clause 17, composition for liability, gave rise to some discussion, and eventually the power of the directors to sanction a composition was taxed at cases under £IOO, all amounts over that sum to go to the Supreme Court. A further amendment was carried, on the motion of Mr Rigg, providing that the Hoard shall not accept a composition for call liabilities unless it includes forfeiture of shares. A long discussion took place on a motiou by Mr Ormond, that the chief auditor should be made an irremovable officer, holding office during pood behaviour. This was negatived by 23 to 11, and new claufes, moved by the Minister, were agreed to, enacting that the auditor shall have the right to attend meetings of the Board, but take no part in the proceedings, and that after the coming into operation of the Act the power of veto possessed by the president shall be revoked. The Minister also moved that the auditor shall exercise veto, but this was negatived by 19 to 15, and progress was reported. WEDNESDAY. The Council met at 2.30 p m. THE BANKING BILL. On the committal of the Banking Bill, Mr Lee-Smith moved the addition of a new clause providing that the balauccsheet shall show the working expenses, charges, etc.. under separate headings on the debit Bide of profit and loss, and the gross profits on the credit side ; that in making provision for bad and doubtful debts, bad shall be distinguished from doubtful, and should any recoveries of such be made subsequently, the total amounts shall be shown in the balancesheet : that no secret fund shall be established in the books of the bank for any purpose whatever. After a short discussion, it was agreed to postpone consideration, in order that information might be secured on the point of how such proceedings would place the bank in relation to other institutions. THE JURIES BILL. The Juries Act Amendment Bill was then committed, and, on the of Mr Downie Stewart, clause 3, abolishing the distinction between special and common juries was struck out. Progress was then reported, leave being given to sit agaiu. The Council rose at 4.30 p.m. HOUSE OF EEPEESENTATIVES. TUESDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. LADY JOURNALISTS. Mr Joyce presented a petition, which was read, asking that lady journalists br admitted to the Press gallery of the House, or have proper accommodation provided. POLICE COMMISSION. The Hon. T. Thompson laid the report of the Police Commission on the table of the House. On the motion of Mr Seddon, consideration ot the report was made a first order of the day for Wednesday, the 14th inst. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply. Mr Seddon, in reply to Capt. Russell, said that as soon as the House got the general Estimates through, and the Loan Bill passed, he would bring down the Public Works Statement and Estimates. Captain Russell asked the Premier to give a promise that the Public Works Statement and Estimates would be clown on September 20th. Mr Seddoa said it was impossible to make such a promise. In answer to Mr Smith, he said there was no foundation for the rumour that the whole of the general estimates were to be passed at that sitting. On tbe first item, Legislative Council salaries and other charges, £1790, MiTaylor pointed out that there was no indication that leaislation dealing with the reform of the Upper House was to be introduced. He contended that the Premier should fix a date upon which the Public Works Estimates should be brought down. Mr Pirani said the Premier was afraid to bring down his measure dealing with the reform of the Legislative Council, because the members of that House intended to include a provision for members of the Council being elected. He asserted that the House should refuse supplies until a definite understanding was arrived at i-especting when the Public Works Estimates and the Loan Bill were to be brought down. Mr Massey advocated that the membership of the Council should be limited to 37, and that both houses by vote should fill any vacancies that might occur.

After others had spoken, the Chairman of Committees ruled that references to the Government's policy respecting the Legislative Council were out of order.

Mr Monk pointed out that if the Public Accounts of the colony gave details similar to those of the Dominion of Canada there would be fewer acrimonious debates. He alleged that throughout the colony there was an impression that there was a want of honesty of purpose in the expenditure of public moneys

Mr Buchanan urged that a return, showing the amount of Ministerial travelling expenses, should be furnished. Mr Duthie said the country was thoroughly sick of talk in the House. There could have been nothing more reasonable than the offer of the Leader of the Opposition to give every assistance in passing all legitimate estimates, provided the Premier promised to bring down the Public Works Estimates in time to give the House an opportunity to discuss them.

Mr Seddon pointed out that he had indicated in the afternoon that if the general Estimates and Loan Bill were got through he would bring down the Public Works Estimates by the end of the present month. He referred to the fact that there had been so far no discussion of the Estimates, though mambers had ranged from IJan to Beersheba. Sppaking of the methods of previous administrations, he pointed out that when Mr Mitchelson was Minister for Public Works trie House had to pass votes amounting to £1,800,000 at one sitting. Mr G. Hutchison contended that the Public Works Estimates were of more importance than general Estimates, as they were considered in the light of secret service votes, which literally affected other votes in the House.

Mr Pirani pointed out that in 1870 ways and means preceded supply by at least three months. Referring to the Estimates he drew attention to the fact that on the West Coast the amount received from patients in hospitals only amounted to three or four per cent, of the total expenditure, whilst in other parts of the colony the percentage ranged from eight to 13. Mr Seddon pointed out that miners on the Wc3t Coast contributed £1 per annum, which entitled them to the use of the hospitals. With reference to ways and means preceding supply, he said the House in the past had been willing to trust Colonial Treasurers for two and five years, but it sometimes happened that one Treasurer raised a loan and another had had the spending of the money.

After others had spoken, Captain Russell suggested that the Premier should undertake to bring down

the Public Works Estimates on Seprern--I'er 23td, and he (Captain Russell) would undertake that theie would be no prolonged or undue discussion on the genera! Estimatt 8, though of course the Opposition would requ re the fullest information possible. Referring to the provision for 50 exi ri constables, lie said 'hit the report of ill Policv Commission showed there was actually no nee ssity lor an increase, as all evidence went to show that crime was not so frequent as in previous years. In the discussion which followed, different speakers referred to the subject cf hospital management and the question df bringing down the Public Works Estimates. Shortly before midnight,

Mr George Hutchison intimated he intended eoiog shortly to take some natural rest, but would be back in the morning, when nc doubt the first item of the Estimates would still be under discussion.

Mr Graham legruUwd that the Opposition had seen lit to set up a stonewall in connection with the Estimates.

Mr Wason said the Opps-ition war, not attempting to waste the time of the House.

After a further lengthy debate the Chairman left, the chair at 2.5 a.m. WEDNESDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. COMMITTbE OF SUPPLY.

The Chairman lesumed the chair in Committee of Supply, and the discussion was resumed on the first item of the General Estimates.

Mr R. McKenzie moved that progre s be reported in order to take the Speaker's ruling on the action of the Chairman of Committees in leaving the chair this morning without the motion having been put to the House and while a member was speaking. In the dpbate which ensuod it was pointed out that the proceeding was unconstitutional, and that it would, if permitted, allow the sittings on the Estimates to be continued lor weeks, and thus prevent amendments being moved to the motion to «o into supply. After over an hour and a-half's discussion the motion was negatived by 20 to 18.

Mr Moore resumed the discussion on the first item of the Estimates, and argued that in view of the cable communication which exists with Eoglaud the expenditure on Sau Erancisco and Vancouver mail services was mouey entirely thrown away. Other members having spoken, Mr R. Thompson, referring to the State farm at Levin, said the condition into which the farm has drifted was so discreditable that he did not care to bring it up in the House. The discussion was proceeding at the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7-30. The discussion was resumed on the first item of the General Estimates.

After several members had spoken, Mr Taylor said the House ought not to allow a single item of Supply to pass until the rights of the House had been respected. If it involved stopping for a month on the Estimates, they ought to stop. If the pnblic could have the whole picture of the proceedings of the past 24 hours placed before them, they would know that censure for those proceedings should fall on men who, as trustees of the public accounts, refuse to give an account of their stewardship. Supporters of the Government, he contended, had been frightened into supporting the Premier's attitude by threats of a dissolution, but nothing would afford him (Mr Taylor) greater satisfaction than that the House be dissolved, though he considered the Premier could not get a dissolution.

Mr Wason strongly condemned the San Francisco mail service, and referring to the fact that there was no provision on the Estimates in the direction of giving relief to the shareholders of the Midland Railway Compauy, said the position ot that compauy was nothing more nor less than a crying scandal to the colony. Mr Rolleston asked what the House was coming to when the Premier, even though it were sotlo voce, threatened the House that they were nearer a dissolution than they thought. Mr Seddon explained that he had applied the remark to Mr Taylor and had qualified it by saying if the business was to be blocked he (Mr Taylor) was nearer a dissouitiou than he thought. The business of the country \va3 to proceed, and he asked who was to control it -a majority of the country as represented in the House, or an irresponsible minority. Iu his opinion members had lost all self respect and had got into the position of caring not what they did. The Opposition were asking him to do what was absolutely impossible, as he coald not bring down the Public Works Estimates on the 20th iust. There were only eight sitting days between the present date and that date, and he had promised four days to deal with other subjects, therefore, the General Estimates could not be disposed of in the time mentioued. In reply to an interjection, he said he had fixed a date ou which it was possible he could bring down the Public Works Estimates, September 28th ; but it would only be possible if the members of the Opposition assisted, instead of blocking. The Opposition were.attcmpting to drive the Premier ; but they would find it a difficult matter.

Capt. Russell pointed out that the Premier apparently considered that it was essential that the General Estimates should be disposed of before the Public \Vorks Estimates are introduced, this was neither necessary nor had it been the practice, and he quotod a table show ing that in the past the Public Works Estimates had been brought down prior to the General Estimates being agreed to.

[Left sitting at midnight ]