HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TUESDAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2035, 23 July 1885, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TUESDAY.

Tho House met at half-past two p.m. .Replying to Mr Walkei, if it is m contomplation to instruct tho RegiatrarGeneral to publish the annual statistics of the colony .it such a date as to bo of more practical use than they havd been in tho past, alio if the Government would instruct the Kegistiar-General to take the •' Victouan Year Book ' as a model of convenient size and method, and endc.iv our as far as possible to ->upply a similar year book for this colony, Mr Tole said the statistics were published as early as in any other colony, but Government could not undertake to supply a " Year Book " on account of the expense it would entail. The follow mg bills were introduced : A Bill to amend the River Boards Act, 1884 (Mr Stout) ; a Bill to amend the Life Assurance Policies Act, 1883 (Sir J. Vogel) ; a Bill to give effect to a resolution ot the Hou.se of Representatives agreed to on the Oth July, 1885, imposing certain Customs duties (Sir J. Vosjel). The House went into committee on the Stamp Act Amendment Bill. Suvei.il amendments weie agreed to, and a new clause was added, pro\ ldmg that the act should como into opeiation on tho Ist of September. The House went into committee on the Deceased Peisons E-tate Duty Act Amendment Bill. A long discussion ensued on clause 10, providing that deeds of gift made within two yeais of the passing of the act .should lie charged the same as settlement*, the clause being stiongly opposed in consequence of its letrospectne natuie. Sir J. Vogel .said the Government would abide by the decision of the House on the clause, but if it were not earned tho propeity ta\ would have to be increased by the eighth of a penny in ordei to make up for the loss to the le venue. Hon. members could of cout-e vote as thpy pleased, but if tho clause was lost the burden of taxation would fall on struggling settleis and poor farmeis. Mr Conolly's amendment to t-trike out apmtion of the clause was then put and c.inied on the voices. The lemaining clauses were passed with slight amendments. The bill was repotted with amendments, also the Stamp Act Amendment Bill. Mr Sroir made his Education Statement Mi Bui.wtk moved the H3cond reading of the Whitmoie Enabling Bill. Major AikinsON s,ud if he thought tho appointment ueie peiininent, lie should oppns.>, but he loo\ed upon it as an emergency. It seemed to him it was unnecessaiv to go into Su G. S. Whitmoie's qualifications .is the Government vveieiesponsible foi the action they weie taking. He depiec.ited altogether the ide.i that a P'imaiient head of the foicos was necessaiy. When the question for payment came up foi discussion it would ho foi tha House to say how many otticeis they would have. He would not oppose the Bill, but when the pioper tune came he would do his utmost to i educe the number of officers of the colony. After the discussion, the second reading was earned on the voices. On the motion that the House go into committee on tho Industrial Schools Act Amendment Bill, Mr Guinness moved thnt the Bill be committed that day siv months. The amendinoiit was negatived, and the House went into committee on the Bill, which passed with verbal amendments. The Hnuso went into committee on the West Coabt Settlement Act Amendment Bill, which passed with «otne slight amendments. The Industrial Schools Act Amendment Bill w.ib reported, lead a third tune, and passed. The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill was read a third time, and passed. The House rose at twenty minutes past twelve.

WEDNESDAY. The House met at L\3o p.m. Kpp]> incrto questions, it was .stated that it was considoicd Auckl.uul buildeis would iej)an the Goroniandel police station mote satisfactorily than loc.vl men ; that copies of bills aitectmg tlio commeicial inteie>ts would be forw.uded to the various Chambeis of Commeice ; th.it Government would f.woin.ibly consider the granting of long sei v ice medals to efficient volunteers of 20 yeais' service ; that it was not advisable to reduce the scale of cable charges between this colony and the Australian colonies, but the advisability of reducing the cost of Press messages was under consideration ; that the furniture in the Government house, Hokitika, was sold by order of the Minister for Lands, and the amount placed to the public account ; that it was not pioposed to lcnew the vote this year to give an lncrea-e to countiy telegiaphists and Postmasters, but a small gratuity would be gi\en out of postal contingencies for Postmnsteis who had no assistants- ; that it was the intention of Government to bung m a bill for the establishment of railway boaids. A number of small bills were introduced and read a fiist tune. Mr Beetham moved (1) that in order to .secure the permanent unity of tho Empire some foini of federation is essential; (2) that no scheme of fedei ation should interfere with the existing rights of local paihaments as regards local affairs ; (3) that any scheme of Impeiial I'ederation should coinbine on an equitable basis the resources of the Empire for the maintenance of common interests and adequately provide for an organised defence ot common rights. Mr Stout moved that the debate be adjourned till Mr Macandrew's motion on the same subject was before the House. Tho amendment was agreed to. The House \v cut into Committee on the Plurality of Votes Bill, which passed with slight amendments. The House went into Committee on the Presbyterian Church Property Bill, winch passed with verbal amendments. Tho motion for the thiid leading of the Plurality of Votes Bill was earned on a division, by 37 to 2!>. The House lose at ."5.30 p.m. On the House lemming at 7.30., the motion was put that tin- Plurality of Votes Bill bo passed. A division was takon : ayes, 31! ; noes, 3(5. The Spoaket said as the House had not made up its mind ho would not take upon himself the lesponsibiiity of nltciing the law as at piesont, and he therefore would give his casting vote with tho noes. The bill theiefore was thrown out. Mr J. McKen/ie, membei foi Moeraki, made an explanation as to the statements made by Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie regarding him when addressing the House on the Land Bill last week. He gave an emphatic denial to the truth of tho statement. Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie said he had no intention of injuring the member for Moeraki in tho eyes of his constituents, and tho affair was a joke voiy clumsily cairied out. Tho Mining Companies Act, 1872, Amendment Bill, was read a second tune,.

Mr Biuce moved that the Home go into committee on the Seamen's Representation Bill. Mr Allwiight moved that the bill be read that day three months. The amendment was negatived by 49 to 20. The House then went into committee on the bill, when Mr Hatch moved that the polling houis be fixed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mr Hatch's amendment was carried. Mr Fisher moved, that no seaman rii»ll vote under the act if ho has within nix months previously voted under the residenial qualifications. Agreed to. Th.' Bill was repotted with amendment. Mr Hamlin, foi Mr O'Connor, moved the second reading of the Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill. V^ieed to. Th» llouso went into committee on tho R iting At Amendment Bill. An amendment was moved to omit landed piop-Mt^ oi buildings belonging to and ex-clu-UL'lv used by fi lendly societies from the piow-i >n-> of tie Act List, on a di\ lMon, by 33 to 10. The bill was icp >rted with slight amendments. ihe Hou-e went into committee on the Impounding Act 18S4 Amendment Bill which was passed with veibal amendment". The Law Piactitioners \ct 1882 Amendme it Bill passed without amendment. The House went into committee on the E\ ldence Further Amendment Bill. Slight amendments w'eie made, and some one or two new clauses were, added, when the bill was reported. The Law Practitioner* Act Amendment Bill was road a third time and passed. Mr Tole resumed the debate on the Coroner* Junes Abolition Bill, and hope«t as he had a bill before the House providing for erducing the number of jurymen, hon members would withdraw the bill. MrGumnes, objected to withdraw the bill. (Left Hitting).