I.—ll

1882. NEW ZEALAND.

PRIVATE AND LOCAL BILLS LEGISLATION. (REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON).

Brought up Uth August, 1882, and Ordered to be printed. Touk Committee have the honour to report that they have carefully examined the whole of the Standing Orders on Frivate and Local Bills, with a view to the consideration of the simplification of the proceedings and the reduction of the cost with regard to the introduction of Frivate Bills into Parliament. And your Committee have also examined several bills of costs of the solicitors and agents acting for the promoters of such Bills ; and they cannot refrain from remarking that not only does there seem to be a very large discrepancy with regard to the costs incurred in the passage of Bills of the same nature, and when unopposed, but that in some instances the charges paid are, it is not too much to say, highly exorbitant. In order to show that such costs are really unnecessary, we would draw special attention to the Nelson Gas Company's Bill, which was introduced by Mr. Curtis, the then member for Nelson. In this case the Bill was passed through both Houses without costing any further sums than the parliamentary fees (£25) and cost of printing. In contrast to this we would direct particular attention to the amounts of the costs specified in the Schedule hereto, containing the amounts of those accounts which the Committee have been able to obtain, and it will be seen that in some cases even unopposed Bills have cost the promoters very large sums of money. In the Schedule annexed it will be seen that in one case, where there was no opposition to a Bill— namely, the Christchureh Gas Company—the amount of costs sent in came to £807 4s. ; and in two other instances, where Bills were opposed, the amounts are: Te Aro Eeclamation Bill, £289 10s. 2d.; Napier Swamp Bill, £140. The Schedule contains ten cases in which there were law charges, and the total amount is £4,538 lis. Bd., or an average of £453 17s. 2d. for each Bill. It appears on examination of the accounts that the charges are principally created for attendances by counsel on Committees, and fees on hearing; the actual cost in an unopposed case being really nominal, as, for instance, the Nelson Gas Company's Bill, already referred to, which only cost the parliamentary fees. With the view therefore of simplifying the passage of Bills, and reducing the costs, material alterations have been made in the Standing Orders, and a scale of costs has been prepared; and the Committee trust that these amendments will produce the desired effect: at any rate they trust the alterations, if carried into effect, will indicate to those who have to introduce such Bills that they need not necessarily expend more in the passage of Bills than the amounts mentioned in the Schedule. The Committee therefore strongly recommend that the whole of the alterations should be made during the present session of Parliament; that the Standing Orders relating to Local and Private Bills as shown in the copy attached be agreed to. Tour Committee have further to report that they have carefully considered the Private Bills Costs Bill, and they recommend that the same be agreed to with the amendments shown in the copy herewith, and they direct special attention to an amendment in the title. W. D. H. Baillie, _ 11th August, 1882. Chairman.

SCHEDULE. Bills of Costs.

Title ov Bill. Cost. £ s. d. Jelson Gas (House fees, £25) fapier Gas ftiristchurch. Gas (or for allowance £687 9s. 4d.) iverpool, London, and Globe Insurance Company (Limited) Wellington Waterworks ... ... Wellington Gas 'e Aro Eeclamation (opposed) 'hurch Property Trustees ... .uckland Gas fapier Swamp (opposed) >tago Southern Trunk Eailway 250 o o 807 4 10 130 2 8 146 17 8 178 7 o 289 10 2 440 18 10 405 10 6 140 o o i.7S° ° ° Total £4,538 n 8