HAMILTON LEGISLATIVE ASSOCIATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1932, 22 November 1884, Page 3

HAMILTON LEGISLATIVE ASSOCIATION.

Thk usual meeting of the association was held in the Public Hall on Tuesday evening. There was a good attendance of members, and the ladies 5 gallery and other paits of the hall set apait for visitors were well filled. In tiie absence of the Speaker and Chairman of Committees, the chair was taken by Mr T. G. Sandcs. Messrs L. Cussen and W. Cussen were nominated for membership, elected, and took their seats in the llouso. Replying to questions, it was stated that Government had no piesent intention of introducing a bill to abolish tiial by jmy, but would not put any obstacle in the way of any private member dinning to bung forward such a measnie. The Government fully recognised the importance of dealing with the question of coloin.il defence, and though Ministeis vveie not piop.uod l<> carry out in then ontiiety the resolutions of the lion, member foi Lichfield (Mr H.ij) pa.-M-d at last sitting, the subject would receive careful attention during the recess, Government was not piepared U hay what steps it would take to footer the sugar-beet industry, and suggested that the lion, member asking the question (Mr Smith) should bring down tne subject in tiie shape ot a motion, when the Government would give the House an opportunity to discus it. Government did not intend to set apait a day for the transaction of private members' business, but the various measuies introduced, whether by the Government or by private member.-, would be brought forward for debate in their legular older. The Government would not use iti right to place Government business at the top of the oidcr papei t« the prejudice of private members. It was not the intention of Government to tiansinit to any local body resolution -, of the association affecting such body, but if a piivate meinbei bi ought foiwarda motion dealing with the matter, it would be considered. It was not the intention of Government to bung in a bill providing foi the main drainage of the colony. The hon. member for Lichfield asked the Premier (1) whether it is the intention of the Government to bring about a confeicnce with the Government of the Cambridge Parliamentary Union, with a view to a united legislatine at Hamilton and Cambridge, and if the object of such conference be effected, to offnr to the Cambndge Union the status of Upper House? (2) Or, if such object cannot be effected whether the Government will be prepaied to offer inducements to the ladies of Hamilton to join this association with a view to forming an Upper House? The Pieniier said, in reference to the fii->t pait of the question, that the Government had no such intention. The scheme was altogether unworkable. Respecting the second pait, he pointed out that under the piesent constitution of the association theie was nothing to prey ent ladies from becoming members. The member for Lichfield asked if the Government would place a sum on the estimates to make provision for a bepaiate sitting day for the ladies. The Piemier answered in the negative. On the motion of the member for Hautapu (Mr Smith) a bill to abolish trial by jury was intioduced and lead a fh.st time. The Piemier (Mr Edgecumbe) lcported that the Standing Oideis Committee had met and piepaiud a code of standing orders adapted, he believed, to the wants of the House. The Minister for Public Woiks (Mi Swaibiick) said the committee had been at consideiable pains to make the code as complete as possible. He explained at some length the natuie of the proposed standing oiders, which weie in effect a condonation of the standing oideis of tho House of Kepiesentatives. He concluded by moving that the standing oideis be adopted and punted. The member for Hautapn, in seconding the motion, bore testimony to the care and attention which the Government had bestowed upon this subject. Ho waimly congratulated Ministeis on the eneigy they had displayed. As a member of the committee, winch was composed equally of membeis on his side and on the Government side of the House, he could assure inembeis that the woilc ot condensing the standing orders had been done in the most careful manner. The member for Lichfield, as the second Opposition member of the committee, con ciuied with the remaiks which had fallen f loin the pi evious speaker, but lie pointed out that the motion before the House was it tegular, inasmuch as it was laid down m the Constitution A.ct that the standing orders of the House of Hepiescnt.itives should be the standing ordei s of the association. He suggested that the Government should bung in a bill to lepcil clause 14 of the Constitution Act, and pass it thiough all its stages that evening. The Ministei for Public Woiks said the Constitution Act was itself uncon-ti tutional, inasmuch asnologislativechamboi in the civilised woild would allow its standing oideis to take the foim of an act. The member for Kuikiiiioa (Mi BindoiO moved as an ainendmont that the debate be adjourned in oi del that membets might have ;ui oppoitunity of examining the pio posed standing oiders. The amendment was seconded by the member for Waitetuna (Mi Baiton), but on being put to the House was lost by a large inajonty. Tho Ministei for Public Woiks then moved the suspension of the standing oideis, in oulci to allow tho Government to pass an act to icpeal clause 14 of the Constitution Act. This was seconded by the meinbei for Hautapu, but, the membei foi Kiukunoa dissenting, the motion was lost. The Ministei foi Public Works then amended his anginal motion to lead " that the pioposed standing oideis be piinted, ' which was canied on the voices. The member for Oxfoid (Mr Fiench) moved the second reading of the Eaily Closing Bill in a, long and interesting speech, in which he detailed the disabilities under which shopkeepeis and their assistants labouied by being compelled to keep open until a late hour. The .Native Minister (Mi A. Cuupbell) opposed the bill on the giounds thateaily closing would mean the closing of shops altogether to a laige section of the community. The member for Kuikiiiioa suppoitod the bill, and urged that the ela-s which clamouiod most foi the conti.tctmu of tho houis of labour showed their uttei inconsistency by shopping late. If the eight hour system was to bo adopted at all, it should in all fairness be made to apply to shopkcepeis' assistants., as well as to day labouieis. The member for Waitoa (Mr R. Seddon) opposed the bill, which he chaiacterised as waste papci, inasmuch as it contained no neual clause. The member for Lichfield suppoited the bill. He asked the House to affirm the principle of early closing, by carrying the second reading, and a penal clause could easily be added in committee. The Minister foi Public Works opposed the bill, and held that the House should not consider the bill as it ought to be, but as it was. Its adoption would serve no useful purpose. This crude bill was a epeciman of the policy bills of the late Government, about which the House had heard so much. Tho member for Hautapu said the last •peaker was merely splitting straws. It was quite competent for the mover of the bill to move amendments in committee. The bill was not one of the policy bills of the late Government, but was introduced by the late Colonial Secretary in his private capacity. The hon. member urged the House to affirm the principle of the bill, the object of which was the conservation of the rights and privileges of the great middle class, from which the governing spirits of the country were drawn. After some further debate, the amendment was put and carried on a division by 1G to 11 and the bill was accordingly thrown out. The member for Hautapu moved the adjournment of the debate on commercial federation, which was canied. On the motion of the Premier, the House adjourned at 10 p.m. untii Tuesday the 2nd December.

People indebted to the bankrupt estates of Robert McVeagh and John Goodfcllcw, respectively, will observe by advertisement that the same must be paid to Mr Arthur D. Bennett, of Auckland, the well-known accountant in bankruptcy, to whom the official assignee has dele gated his powers for that purpose, otherwise sum* nionses will be issued. Messrs \V. J. Hunter &. Co. will sell at the Cambridge Yards on Thursday next, choice heifers, well-bred steers, fat cattle and sheep, Bee On Saturday next they will sell at their 'Cambridge Horse Bazaar, a large, number of useful horses of all descriptions, dray, harness, fee. On Tuejday, December 2nd, they will sell at Ohaupo, a large number of store cattle of all sorts, fat cattle, dairy cows, fat sheep, horses, &c, Btc. On Wednesday, the 10th December, they Will sell the whole of the farm stock, &c, of