PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2327, 22 June 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

(United Pbess Association.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30. Mr O'Connor, as chairman of the Legislative Expenditure Committee, reported that the acting-clerk of the Legislative Council refused to give evidence before it, though the Council had given the committee permission to examine him. Sir R. Stout moved a resolution requesting the Council to instruct their officer to give the evidence required, i This led to a sharp discussion, several members considering the privileges of the House had been invaded. • The Premier contended that the House had not followed the Standing Orders in the manner of their request, J while other members, including Messrs Macandrew and O'Connor, were Of opinion that everything had been done in order, and the clerk Aran guilty of contempt. Eyentually, on the motion of Major Atkinson, the was adjourned. Mr Larnach moved second reading of the Mining Bill, explaining that it was a consblidated measure, intended to assimilate the present varying laws on the subject. It proposed to reduce Miners' Bights from twenty shillings to five, and I to grant mining lease for three years at j ten shillings an acre. Power was also | given, under certain restrictions, to pros- j pect on private land. Mr Seddon took exception to the Bill as. practically a' reversion' to the Gold Mining District Act of 1873, with which miners were little acquainted, whereas the vast majority were thoroughly versed jn th« Act of 1877, which; V majority worked. It also interfered the Goldfields revenue in variola ways, He gave credit tp the Minister for his liberal views on the subjeet, but feho\y?lit he had not grasped the necessities, qf the C3§e, and he askedhim to allow it to. be amended in Committee. Qqlonel Eraser heartily) approved the iiili: • '

ijri Bevan considered tha Bill waa calcinated to assist the mining industry') vrhich oauld m tee;. ■ .... ■iljr Menteath said it was entirely a new measure, so far as .the; South Island ■ is eoneeniedi *b( it* ofcer-i

' .. 1-^' atioris would be very aubiouß:, Tm Kill wßuld require carafuJ conmul'lUioii ttfc the hands.of the goldtields oomfltotee. ,' Mr Guineas saiif He was BpxHkd 'ttoT Bill tended miners, but it 'wanted some aUumfcions. The second : Bill -was, caroled on' the' voices.' . v. ■ ; - : The Mining Companies B}ll was phased through committee.,without amendment, but considerable dikcussion took place ou a new clause mo'ved.bv Mr. Larnach providing that no one engaged.' in the business of buying, Belling or dealing in any shares in any Mining Company Bank or Insurance Company, shall be appointed manager of any Company under the'Aotjl On a division the clause was lost by 4P to 20. The Bill was then repotted with amendments. . The Counties liilUfew advanced a stag* in committee at ha]f'.past twelve o'clock o'clock, members protested acainßt going on any further on the ground that the* members were tired after & long days work. The motion' to report progress was lost. On reaching clause 52, dealing with county election, Mr Stout wished to have it postponed, but the voices being againßt him he movod to report progress which was carried and the House rose at 12.40 a.m. » . , »