PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2988, 8 September 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MONDAY. Tim Council met at 2.H0 p,m. Sir (jr. Whitmore resumed the debate on the aecjnd reading of the Land Bill and characterised the penalty clause as boing tlospotic. Perpetual lease without power to purchase was also despotic and would make serfs of the selectors. He objected strongly to Land Nationalization as being unwarrantable and uncalled for by the mass of the people. He urged the Council to speak with no uncertain sound on this provision. Mr Pharazyn objected to tho one man one run clauso and ridiculed the nationalization scliemo since holdings would never pay selectors on account of the expense of w irking To sum up the Bill he designated it as a mighty maze and one of feats and follies. MrShritnski warmly supported the Bill whilst Mcssr Miller and Bowen opposed it on the ground that people demanded and would have freeholds. Messrs Ackland, Pollen, and McLean also opposed the Bill. The Council took tho dinner adjournment at n p.m. The Council resumed at 7.30. Mr i'ulton resumed tho debate and was followed by Alessrs Barnicoatand (irace, all of whom expressed the hope that the Bill would be altered in committee. Air Buckley having replied, the second loading was agreed to and the Bill referred to the Waste Lands Committee. The Council rose at S.lo.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. MONDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Reeves moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in clauses 11, 12, 23, ar,-3U and 00 in the Factories Bill tie agreed to, but the other clauses in which important alterations were made be not agreed to, and that a conference be appointed to confer with the Legislative Council. On the motion of Mr Fish the debate was adjourned till next day. Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the Municipal Corporation! l , Act Amendment Bill, which he explained was agreed to by the late municipal conference at Wellington. One of the alterations made in the present Bill was that in the case of a proposal for a special loan a majority of two-thirds of those actually voting shall he sufficient, to carry the proposal. The Bill also proposed that ono per cent of the general rate may be applied to certain purposes and it was also provided that tho Council may transfsr its powers to supply gas and electricity.

Mr Fish regretted that this Bill was introduced so late in the session. He thought it was ono of those measures which would have been dropped as a Bill of that kind required very careful consideration. He took strong objection to the clause which proposed to exempt charitable institutions from rating. Messrs Newman, Duthie, Moore, Swan, McDonald, C. H. Mills, supported the measure, and Messrs Taylor, Buckland, and Fisher spoke against it. Mrßtllance in replying said the Bill was a very harmless one and one especially reoommended by the Municipal Conference. He could not agree with 'Mr Buckland's view of clause G as there were many legitimate purposes for which this money might be used. The motion for the second reading was agreed to. Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the Public Trust Office Acts Amendment Bill which he thought would place the Public Trust Office in a much better position than it had been hitherto. He took this opportunity of stating that it was the intention of the Government to make good any losses that might have been sustained in the Public Trust Office through improper investments. These losses amounted to about £0,000, which the Government considered they were morally bound to pay. After a short debate, the motion was agreed to, and the Bill referred to the Public Accounts Committee. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Naval and Military Settlements and Volunteers Land Bill in settlement of certain claims to land of uaval and military settler* and volunteers. After discussion, tho motion for the gecond reading was agreed to, and the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. On the motion for the third reading of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill, there was a lengthy discussion, after which the Bill was read a third time ou the voices. On the motion that the Bill do pass Sir John Hall quoted from tho financial statement of last year to show that a Bill spoken of by tho Premier was altogether different from the present one, inasmuch as there was no indication whatever in it that tin' fc'loo,ooo was to be spent without a v'ote of the House.

Mr Ballance h"i11 contended that last year's financial statement referred to a Hill -imilar in principle to the present measure. The Bill was then passed. Mr Ward moved the .second rending of the Post Office Act Amendment Bill, to establish a penny post for lh-j colony, which, if, the Bill passed, it was the intention of the Government to bring into operation on the 31st March, 1802. Clause 3 provided for the issue of postal notes to thn value of five pounds, with a currency of twelve months. He might say that in making this chango New Zealand was ahead of tho civilised world. After quoting largely from figures to show the gross increase in correspondence within the colony during tho last decade. Mr Ward went on to remark that the general tendency all over the world was to reduce the postage rate ; and that being so, they were not justified in this colony in keeping up the present rate. He asked the House not to take a glcomy view of this matter, but l<> consider tho great commercial, social, and political advantages which must follow if the reduction of postage were agreed to. [Left sitting. |