GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 360, 29 October 1898, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THURSDAY. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. KAUKi GUM BILL. The Speaker ruled that the clause proposed to be inserted by Mr Williams in the Kauri Gum Industry Bill, imposing aD export duty on gum, could not be accepted from the member, being of the character that was reserved for recommendation by the Crown. REFORM OT THE UPPER HOUSE. The greater part of the afternoon was taken up in discussing the motion by the Minister for Education, to strike the Legislative Council Reform Bill off the Order Paper, it being eventually agreed to on the voices. The Council rose at a-quarter to five p.m. FRIDAY. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. SECOND READINGS. The Inspection of Machinery, Rabbit Proof Wire-netting Fences and the Fencing Act Amendment Bills were read a second time. The Mining Act was read a second time, and a number of clausesadded. WORKEKS COMPENSATION. The Worker's Compensation for Accidents Bill was further considered in Committee, and several amendments were made. The Bill was reported with amendments, and the third reading Mas made an order of the clay for Monday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY. JURIES AMENDMENT BILL. After the Telegraph Office closed this morning, the Juries Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee. Mr Seddon's amendment to Clause 3, providing that cases be tried by special jury if, in the opiniou of the judge, expert knowledge is required, was agreed to, and the clause agreed to by 28 to 19. On the motion of Mr Seddon progress was reported. BILL.S PASSED. The following Bills passed their final stages: Rabbit-proof Wire Netting Fences, Fencing Act Amendment. Inspection of Machinery Acts Amendment and Slander of Women. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Ministers in reply to questions, _ stated that the Land Purchase Commissioner would be instructed to report on the suitability for settlement of land in the East Coast district of the North Islaud, at present held in trust by the Hon, J. Carroll and Mr Wi Peie, M.H.R. ROAD DISTRICTS VALIDATION BILL _ The second leading of the Road Districts Validation Bill, to deal with certain doubts as to the legality of the constitution of several road boards, in order to permit them to take advantage of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, was agreed to without debate. law practitioners' act. The Hon. T. Thompson moved the second readmg of the Law Practitioners' Act Amendment Bill, to permit of solicitors who have been in active practice for five years without examination 'practicing as barristers. He pointed ouc that this system was in force in some of the Australian colonies, and that in this colony solicitors practised in the Magistrates', Police, Bankruptcy, and Native Land Courts. Mr Smith considered that solicitors who for five years had been acting as clerks to barristers, should also come nnder the provisions of the proposed enactment. Mr R. Thompson said the Bill would open the door to unqualified practitioners, and practically abolish the examination for barristers. Mr E. G. Allen said the Bill was a retrograde movement, and would do injustice to those who had already qualified as barristers, and lower the status of the profession. Mr Wilson said the Bill would have the effect of cheapening law. Mr Lawry said that though several law societies were opposed to this democratic measure, the great majority of the people of the colony approved of it. Capt. Russell supported the Bill, and considered it remarkable that a man who was fit to hold the position of Supreme Court judge should be held unfit to hold the position of barrister. They would be doing nothing rash in passing the Bill, as it only extended to our own young men the same privileges as were extended to those from Victoria or New South Wales when they came to this colony. The second reading was agreed to by 40 to 15. On a motion that the Bi!l be committed tomorrow, Mr Guinness moved an amendment that it be referred to the Joint Statutes Revision Committee. He said his reason for referring the Bill to a committee set up to discuss such amendments on the law was in order that wheu passed by Parliament the Bill should reflect credit on the Legislature. Mr Duthie and Mr Sligo having spoken in support of the amendment on a division, it was negatived by 31 to 17, and the motion was agreed to. THE MINING BILL. Mr Cadman, in moving the committal of the Mining Bill, the second reading of which was agreed to some time ago pro forma, said it consolidated the existing law, and altered it in the direction of making it suitable to the altered circumstances of the mining industry in the colony. He pointed out that the Bill had been widely discussed by those interested in the industry, who had suggested amendments which had been carefully considered by the Goldfields' Committee. In course of a full explauation of the alterations made, he said foreign companies had received fair consideration, and had been relieved of the one per cent, stamp duty. Referring to the request that the duty on mining machinery should be abolished, he said he considered that everything should be done to encourage the manufacture of machinery in the colony. He did not see why machinery should be allowed in free, and the colony's workshops only used for repairs. Mr McGnwan complained that the Bill made no improvement in the condition of the working miner. Mr Henries contended that the conditions respecting labour had been much ' improved. Mr J. Allen, complained of the remark of Mr Cadman, that some foreign companies had wastefully expended their moneys, and said foreign companies were as necessary to the development of the mining industry as the individual miner. Many "of tho alterations made by the Bill were in the interest of the mining industry, bucli as reduction of rent, increase of tenure, and labour conditions Mr Guinness said if the Bill passed it would not bo a boon, but a perpetuation of present injustices and burdens. Ho contended that the duty on mining machinery should be abolished, and mentioned that the mining industry was boin" - encouraged by the imposition of £6OOO taxation in this respect the Minhter said the duty cent, on mining machinery had been imposed a long time prior to the last alteration of the tariff. Respecting tho reduction of rents, he said it was easy for a popularity-hunting member of the committee to propose radical reductions, but he, as Minister for Mines, had to consult the interest of the whole colony. He expressed the opinion that it was only a question of time before the miner's rights would be abolished. On the question of committal Mr Scobie Mackenzie moved. " That it be an instruction to the committee that it has power to insert a provision by which any Minister of Mines or other Ministers of the Crown shall be debarred from occupy-

itig paid positions on mining syndicate or mining companies operating in tho colony." He said the matter occupied a different position than it did when it. was discussed as a want-of-coniideneo motion, and he hoped on the present occasiou it would be discussed fairly and impartiallyGreat laxity had arisen in tho public service, and the House should prevent, descent further than they could help. Ministers should not bo exposed to temptations of subordinating public interests to private ones, and it was totally foreign to the constitution for a Minister to be sole judge as to when those interest conflicted. If tho House decided to exempt tho present Ministry from the proposed provision, he hoped they would do all in their power to prevent future Min ters holding the positions "Vnentioned. He referred in ietail to numerous occasions on which a Minister might be tempted to subordinate his public to his private interests. If what he heard was true, that the Premier intended to sever his connection with the Anglo-Continental Syndicate, then the adoption of his (Mr Mckenzie's) proposals would be made easy. Mr Cadnian said it was rather humiliating for him, after having been eight yearß a Minister, to have to ask the House to reject the proposal of Mr Scobie Mackenzie's motion. If even a small minority considered that such a piovision was necessary in respect to the present Minister for Mines, he would not long occupy the position. He asked if a man was to be debarred from holding office because he was interested in business which might clash with his Ministerial duties. Because Mr Rolleston, Captain Russell and Mr Buchanan, were interested in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, was that to prevent them taking office. Sinoe he had been Minister for Mines he had been offered three very good positions iu connection with mining companies, if he would leave the Ministry, but these offers he had declined. Friends had also offered him interests in mining properties, but on account of the position he held he had refused them. So far as he was concerned, his hands were clean, and he challenged any member of the House, or any person, to prove that it was not so. He looked ou the motion almost as a deliberate insult, and though lengthy political experience made men lose care for their self-respect, yet if the House accepted the motion the Premier would receive his (Mr Cadman's) resignation before he (Mr Seddon) left the Chamber.

Mr J. Allen contended that the Minister misunderstood the import of the motion, which was not intended to reflect on him or his colleagues, and contained no reference to corrupt administration on the part of the Minister. He pointed out the provision made in the Bill against officers under it being in any way interested in any milling privilege, and provided penalities for any breach of this provision. Those holding higher positions should be similiarly prevented from being interested in mining ventures, and if the Minister desired to keep the administration of the Department pure, he should welcome such a provision as that proposed by the motion. Mr Herries considered the clause iu the Bill prohibited the Minister for Mines from being interested in mining ventures, and it was desirable it should apply to all Ministers. Mr Rolleston said Mr Cadman had no occasion to make the speech he had, as no one had made an attack on him, and his speech had beeu unworthy of him. Everyone knew that it was the Premier that was aimed at. He strongly deprecated the frequent Ministerial threats to disclose the private affairs of members. The Minister for Mines' declaration of his intention of resigning if the motion were carried should not prevent members affirming the principle contained in the motion. He was prepared to move a similar motion every session till it was agreed to. Mr Seddon said the last speaker was fast losing the respect of the people of the colony by the attitude he was taking on certain questions. He complained of the lack of courage on the part of the Opposition in not moving a motion apart from any question respecting the Mining Bill, so that it could be dealt with as a no-confideuce one. If the principle involved in the motion were carried to its logical conclusion, no Minister of the Crown could hold a share in any registered company in the colony. It would be unwise, unjust, and impossible to limit Minister's actioa in the direction indicated. Judging the present Administration by past ones, there never had been a Government but some of the Ministers had been directors of public companies. He reminded Mr Rolleston that when one of his (Mr Rolleston's) colleagues was a director of the Westport Coal Company, an entire township and 150 acres of coal at Brunnerton had been sold to the company, though the conditions of the lease had not been complied with, and the time for the purchase had not arrived. He (Mr Seddon) did not say that anything wrons? had been done in this transaction, though, on account of the state of coal proprietorship and coal monopoly at the time, much comment was caused. If the pioposal of the motion was carried into effect, only rich and independent men could be Ministers of the Crown. * The motion was negatived by 29 to 20, and the Bill was committed. I'he Mining Bill in committee, clauses 1 to 10, passed unaltered. Clause 11, appointment of warden. Mr Herries moved iu the direction of placing the wardens in the position ot holding office during good behaviour. After debate this was negatived by 27 to 17, and the clause was agreed to. Clauses 12 to 51 were agreed to unaltered. FRIDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. EXTENSION OF TIME Extension of time was granted t<J the Public Accounts Committee, in which to report on"the correspondence addressed to the Speaker by the Auditor-General, and to the allegations of the member for Patea Committee. IMPREST SUPPLY. In reply to Mr ueorge Hutchison, Mr Seddon said he would endeavour to do without introducing another Imprest Supply Bill before the end of the session. MK M'KENZIE'S RESIGNATION. Details of this affair, as published in our correspondent's notes, are given, but the trouble which led up to it did not come to hand. STOCK ACT. The second reading of the Stock Act Amendment Bill, which provides for the payment for diseased stock killed by the order of Government Inspectors, was agreed to after a short debate. The Bill was taken in committee and amended to provide that compensation be paid according to the market value of the stock as ascertained by valuation. The amount of compensation to be paid for pigs was fixed at £2, and for sheep £l. MINING BILL. The Mining Bill was read a third time without discussion, aud passed its final stages. KAURI GUM INDUSTRY. The second reading of the Kauri Gum Industry Bill, to give effect to the re commendations of the Royal Commission which reported on the subject a few mouths ago, was, after a lengthy discussion, agreed to. The Bill was committed. Mr Pirani moved that progress be reported, and objected to a Bill dealing only with one district being considered in the dying hours of the session. [Left sitting at midnight].