GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 463, 20 July 1899, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REEPRSENTATims. TUESDAY. The House mat at 2.50 p.m QUESTIONS AND NOTICES. The Premier gave notice to introduce the Volunteer ami Parliamentary Officers Bill, the aim being to qualify L'euten-ant-Colonel Pitt for a sent jn the Upper House. Mr Dutliie moved for a return showing the tolul expenditure in connection with the Conciliation Courts of the colony, during the last two financial years. In rep'y to a question Hon Hall Jones laid the whole evidence in connection with the marine inquiry would lie printed so toon as the commission reported. COLONIAL PRODUCE. Committees were set up to enquire into and report as to the. Lest means (f promoting the commerce of the colony, and the sale of the colony's products in the markets other th'n those at present obtainable. Messrs Smith and Taylor pointed out that merchants' in Canterbury had already, at their own expetre, sent an expert to South Africa to report upon that market, and that shipments of produce had already been sent there. They contended that the money proposed to be expended in opening that market would be better laid out on roads. It did not require an expert to report on the field, but bitter steam communication between this colony and the Cape. Mr MsGuiro thought every endeavour should be made to open up new markets for the produce of the colony, but it would effect very little good to merely 6cnd an expert to report. Mr R. MeKenzie said it was a mystery to him that any objectiou had been nised to the motion. Mr Duthie' referred to the fact that recommendations of committee last year hid not been acted upon, and that it was r.o use a committee devoting time to such matters unless its recommendations were acted upon. The Premier said that recommendations of commit'ee money to carry into effect. With regard to greater shipping facilities, he said the Union Steamship Company must supply the demand, or the Government would have to tnke the matter up. At present New Zealand produce was sent from London to South Africa. An offer had been made by a company to run steamers direct from New Zealand to South Africi, but no sooner did the company make the offer than Shaw-Saville and New Zealand Shipping Companies offered to establith a direct trade. These companies had not treated New Zealand well, freights from Australia to South Africa beinc 50 per cent. le§R than from New Zealand. It was the duty of the Government to open up new markets for the products of the colony, and he was turprised that any obstructions should be raised to the efforts of the Government in the interests of producers. He did not think it wise that the large volume of the colony's trade should be confined to three or four shipping companies, and the Government hailed with satisfaction the advent of a fresh company PUBLIC ACCOUNTS C >MMITTEE. The interrupted debate was resumed on the motion of Hon. J. Carroll, that a Public Accounts Committee be set np and the amendment moved thereon by Mr Rolleston, extending the order of reference of Committee. Mr Allen urged thot the House should be in possession of more information with respect lo the finances of the colony and to that end the estimates should be p!acel before the Committee before being brought down to the House. Mr R. McKenzie objectel that from its constitution the members of the Committee were no*; qualified to deal with public works expenditure. Mr Meredith contended tint there were no grounds of complaint on the part of the Opposition that sufficient opportunity was not given for criticising expenditure. Mr Thompson thought that the preseut system of dealing with votes for public works was very defective, that a board of works should be constituted for controlling and directing expenditure on local public works. Mr Fisher pomted out that the Government had ample precedent for objecting to their estimates t/c-ing refined to the Public Accounts Committee contending that they would be abrogating their constitutional functions by co doing. Mr McLean objected to the hurried manner in which large sums of money were annually voted for public works. The House divided and the amendment wus negatived by 33 to 22, and the Committee set up, to which was referred the old age pension regulations. ASSETS BOARD. In reply to Mr Meredith, who asked if the Government intended to legislate in the direction of dispensing with the services of the present Assets Board, or to call upon them to place on the market lands under their control, the Premier said that he thought the Board hid gone as far as they could in realising properties, considering they had only been in existence three years, and in the interests of'the colony they could only dispose of land as the market wasEiiitablc or o hcrwise, shareholders in the Bank of New Zealand and the colony would have to bear the loss. LANDS TOR SHTTLEJIENT. The Lands for Settlement Acts Amendment Bill was considered in committee. The first four clauses were passed without amendment. On .clause fl, stipulating that only a fair market value should be paid for land, ti long discussion ensued. Eventually progress was reported and the House rose at 11-50 p.m. WEDNESDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. BIBLE IN SCHOOL?. Mr Duthie presented a petition in favour of Bible-reading in schools. DANK CLERKS. Mr Flatman gave notice to ask the Premier if he was aware of the* amount of overtime worked by bank clerks and clerks in ni'rcnntile offices, and if lie would introduce legislation to prevent the same. TICK PLAGUE. Mr Hogg gave notice to ask if steps will be taken to prevent the tick disease from being introduced from Australia. HONE HfiKß, Mr Massey asked for an extension of leave of absence for Mr Hone Heke.— Agreed to by 44 to 10. FINANCIAL fTATEMKNT. In reply to Mr Ro'lestou, the Premier said he was not suiprised at the question when the Financial Xtafemeut would be brought dowu. Personally he was working IS hours a day, and at present he was not in a position to state exactly when the statement would be tabled. When the Cabinet had decided upon the finances, the estimates, which were now complete, would be brought down. COLONEL VITT's SEAT The Premier introduced the Volunteers and Parliamentary Officers' Bdl, which be 6aid was intended to remove a disability under which some volunteer and militia officers laboured in regard to taking a seat in another place. QURSTIONS In reply to questions, Ministers stated that the Government had had no indication what direction legislation should take to extend the powers of school committees, and suggested that the matter should be referred to the Education Conference now sitting, and that tbfs Government thought that the agricultural and pastoral industries were already fairly represeuteel in the Legislative Council. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.