GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1074, 16 October 1901, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. YESTERDAY. Tub Council met at 2.30 p in. BILL PASSED The Trustees Amendment Hill was read a third time aud pa?se-l. MAORI ANTIQUITIES. The Maori Antiquities Bill was committed. Clausa fi, making provision for the issue of permits to export or dispose of Maori antiquities, was subjected to considerable amendment. The clause aa it stood gave power of issuing permits to authorised Government officers. On the motion of Mr Jeukenson this power was made subject to the consent of the Colonial Secretary, and oi the Minister’s HMBkkie provision that an authorised mp each article in respect ",v issues a sale or export pertruck was reported as amended, a third time aud passed. Council rose at 3 p.m. ITOIJSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. YESTERDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. MAORIS AND ALCOHOL ACT. Several petitions Tvere presented, praying for an enquiry into the ovii effect of drink among the Maoris. Objections was raised that some of these petitions were of a pictorial character, and the speaker ruled that petitions that had pictures on them were against the standing orders and could uot be received. SLAUGHTER OE TUB INNOCENTS.

Mr Seddon announced a slaughter of the innocents and moved that the following Bills be discharged from the order paper Smoking by Youths Prohibition, New Zealand University Act Amendment, Young Persons Protection,and Live Stock Auction Lav/ Amendment, Discount Stamps, State Fire Insurance, Property Law Amendment, Fair Rent, Rating on Unimproved Values Act Amendment, Rating on Unimproved Values (No. 2), District Gomts Act Amendment, Orchard and Garden Pests, Cycle Boards, Crown- Grants Act 1883 Amendment. Limitation cf Profits and Prevention of Combines, Juvenile Smoking Suppression, Impounding Act Amendment, Gaming and Lotteries Amendment, Libel Bill (No. 2), Settlers Fire Insurance, Fire Brigades, Contagious Diseases Act, Repeal Bicycle Dealers Registration, Impounding Act Amendment (Nc._ 2), Totalisator Abolishion,Absolute Majority and Inspectors of Schools. Mr Seddon’s motion was agreed to on the voices. Mr Seddon stated that with regard to the Absolute Majority Bill the question would be dealt with next session, it being essential that some provision should be made to provide for the election of members by an absolute majority. The Stud Bill, Products Exports Bill, and Local Bodies and Goldfields Public Works and Loan Bills would he allowed to stand o»er for the present. He added that if the estimates were finished at to-night’s sitting. He saw no reason wby members should uot get away during the first week in November, LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr Morrison was granted a weeks leave of absence on account of ill health. Mr Seddon stating he was sorry to say that the member for Oavesrham was tar from well. PATEA ELECTION Mr Seddon moved that his motion for the issue of the writ for the Patea seat bo allowed to stand over till Friday next He explained that arrangements would not permit of the writ being issued immediately. The Returning Officer had not yet been appointed, and the electoral rolls were not ready.

Mr J. Allen expressed regret at Mr Seddon having taken* what he (Mr Allen) regarded as perfectly unnecessary steps. He believed the postponement of the issue of the writ was intentional. Mr Seddon objected to that interpretation being placed upon the matter. Captain Russell hoped the election would not be put off until after the session, as Ministers would then be able to ‘ stump ’ the electorate. Mr Ward said the temporary delay was not designed to assist the Government candidate, It would be unfair to both candidates if the rolls were not ready, and that was the sole cause of the delay. Mr Massey said it was unfortunate that the Patea constituency should be disfranchised during the most important period of the session. He hoped the writ would be issued at the earliest possible date so that the new member would be able to cake his seat this session.

After some further debate, Mr Seddon said as far as the Government interest was concerned he preferred that the election should take place immediately. As far as he knew, it would be a straight .un between Messrs Hislop and Huseldeu. If his motion were passed on Friday, the writ could be issued on Saturday, and the election would be held within fourteen days afterwards. In the course of further remarks, Mr Seddon declared that Mr Edwards, the Liberal organiser, had never received a shilling in money by way of consideration from the Government; his salary was paid by the Liberal Party. Mr Seddon’a motion was agreed to on the voic.'B. MAORI ANTIQUITIES. The amendments made by lire Legislative Council in the Maori Antiquities Bill were agreed to. BILLS INTRODUCED. The fol'o ving Bills were introduced and read a first time:—Public Health Bill (No. 2*. Unclaimed Moneys Bill, Public Tru t Office Amendment Bill, Chatham Islands County Bill, Medical Practitioners Bill, and Crown Tenants Rent Ribate Act Amendment Bill. ESTIMATES. At 4,15 p.m. the House went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates. The first vote taken was that for class 9, Department of Labour, £7790. Mr Hurries objected to the Labour Journal us a useless publication, Mr Atkinson considered this journal did not produce a return proportionate to its cost to the country, Mr Hornsby suggested that a ‘black list ’ should be Kept of men who abused the kindness of the Labour Department, so that they might not be employed again by the Department. The total vote was agreed to. Mines Department, £5945. In reply to various members, Mr McGowan said that in bis opinion the work of the Mining Bureau was worth a good deal more than was paid for it. In consequence of the development of the mining industry it would be necessary to appoint more mining inspectors, and he would attend to the matter after the session. A discussion took place regarding a State coal mine, the Minister stating, in reply to a question, that inquiries were being made in various pa-ts of the colony on this subject by the Inspecting Engineer and two others. These were, he believed, now on the West Coast, The estimates for the Department of Agriculture provoked a long discussion, in which the administration of the Department was adversely commented on by several members. Mr Hornsby moved that the salary of Secretary and Chief Inspeclor, £6OO, be reduced by £SO the amount of increase. This was lost by 32 to 20, and the total vote for the Dipirtment was unaltered. The vote for the Defence Department (£2)3,250) was then taken. Mr Meredith moved that the first item baxeduced by £5 as an indication to ihejßPscrnment to take tuck the and reduce them by he strongly objected

lo building up a standing army in Ibis country and fostering the spirit of militarism aud Imperial jingoism. ]\l. Seddon pointed out that of late years the number of volunteers in the colony had increased from 4000 to ISfOPO, which meant a largely increased captation. He had in intention to budd up a standing army, and the increased staff was due solely to the increase in the number of volunteers. Mr Hornsby objected strongly to the expensive military establishment which was being kept up in Wellington. After a lengthy discussion, Mr Meredith's motion was negatived by 31 to s. Several other reductions in the vote were pioposcd but all were rejected by largo majorities. After the veto for the Permanent Miltia and Volunteers had been passed unaltered. The House at 8.30 a.m. adjourned for an hour for breakfast,