NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume X, Issue 1215, 28 September 1866, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. September 19. THE DBBTOBS AND CBEDITOBS ACT. Mr Habgbbaves, after making a few remarks on the present atate of the Bankruptcy Law in the colony, moved—" For leave to bring in a Bill entituled ' An Act to repeal the Debtors and Creditors Act, 1862,' and ' The Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment Act 1865.'" Mr Cttbtis said that he was well acquainted with the two Acts referred to, and they appeared to him to be quite fit to remain on the Statute Book, but the fact was that all their provisions were not being carried out. They might also be more cheaply administered — especially if the Resident Magistrates in the colony could act as Commissioners in Bankruptcy. Mr" James Williamson supported the motion, stating that the present law was much disliked in Auckland, and that it had tho effect of giving too large a portion of debtor's estates to the officials. Major Cabgill said that the Acts were good, but they had been badly administered— chiefly owing to the conduct of creditors. It would be rather a strong remedy to repeal them altogether; creditors would be worse off then than now, because the old ordinance, by which the first judgment creditors got the whole estate and the rest went without, would then come in force. He was sorry to differ in opinion from Chambers of Commerce, but he thought that they were not so well qualified to judge as Provincial Councilman, as they took a view too favorable to creditors. The Hon. B. W. Stafbobd hoped after what had been said that the mover would withdraw his resolution ; he surely could not have considered what would bo the position of affairs if such a Bill as this were to become law. He (Mr Stafford) did not look with any disfavor on Chambers of Commerce, but was inclined to receive their views with great caution and suspicion, as they were self-elected bodies, looking after their own interests. Creditors appeared to be disappointed that they could not get 203 in the pound without any expense, and that was the reason why they wanted to have the Acts repealed. A Bill would be introduced by the Government very shortly to make some slight amendments in the law, and they proposed to go no further j this Session ; but they might propose some important alterations in the law next session after seeing the action of the Imperial Parliament in matters connected with bankruptcy. Mr REYNOLDS said that the Government would see now that they ought to have assented to bis motion for a Select Committee, se that this matter might have been enquired into. It was aU very well to sneer at Chambora of Commerce, but the members of them were acquainted with mercantile affairs, while there was often a great deal of ignorance with respect to them ou the Government benches. He thought the Bill should be introduced, but he by no means pledged himself to support the second reading. Mr Bonny called attention to the great quantity of business on tho, papers, and said that as the House had been sitting for three months, such a motion as thus should not bo brought forward. Mi Hauouton had said that the Premier had stated that if these Acts were repealed, the old law of l&tl would be in force j but the fact was, that there would be no law at all, but a return to chaos. He might inform the House that there had been a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, in Dunedin, the previous day, convened by Mr Reynolds, tho '

member for Dnnodin ; that eerontvTT^ bers wore invited ; sixteen only c™» , n ' ei «' voted for tho repeal of the AcU '* nir * Mr FitzGerald Bm>i>ort..,l' m and said that the Bilf U d bfl h ° 80 ? 0, »», that there would not bo a rrtiirni V orde <l Mr Ilnughton had said. If .X" chao ». « to were repealed now, attention , .died to the subject, and ° Ac \l° brought in nest session. ollld *>o Mr Whitaker supported fh* , .• some length. tnotl °a at Mr Habobbavks said, in renM n » <i t , country had got on mu-U bettw wiM ftß law in force, before the.c Acts Wc " h fho ol '' and since then there had been an ««, P9,,0d ' recklessness and robbery wI,S TT of existed before He did not think J* members of the Government could L th P fered from the working of the nr? a ?? re Bttf * they would assent to tL mX"^ 1 Uw > « On the question thnt leave bo »;„„ , . troduce the Bill, the House divided W " Ayes 25 ; noes 2-t. The Bill was then read a first time. September 20. TANAMA SBBVICS. Mr Reynolds, without notice, asked »i, the Government proposed, and i, Jw .I to bring on the question raisedLb th Q ment of New South Wales in Panama Service ? ™«vice to tho The Hon. John Hall, in renlv «m .l . the Government had nooccariof ££?? tho question It was a matter »£*? Government had considered very carpf n not only the correspondence that hiM Ti h place between the New ZeatoSand > South Wales Government, referred fahv £ hon. member, but all correspondence /* li subject that had taken place" The G *° ment had no intention of opposing tlw «v of New South Wales that the terminus of the lino. * d ba THE TELEGBAPn. Mr Bell called attention to the delay tW arose in tho transmission of messages by te"! graph A message had been delivered J Dunedin at 3.20 p.m., aud he had recei*tdfc 10 p.m. v Mr Hall explained that the amount of business was greatly i v ezae n of what waa ortioipated. Ihe Government wero at present making arrangements to havo the staff in. creased. distillation. The House went into Committee of Ways and Mcaus to consider the following rcsolujtion :—" That it is expedient to impose a duty on spirits manufactured within the colony, and for that purpose to amend tho Distillation Prohibition Ordinance." The measure which the Government intended to. introduce would be merely a temporary one. It would bs necessary to confine distilleries to where 'they could be looked after ; and it waa not to bo supposed that small bush distilleries could bo established. The amount of duty proposed to be levied on spirits distilled in the colony waa 8a per gallon. The resolution was agreed to and reported. The House then adjourned at 10.55 p.ta. September 21. JPBIES LAW CONSOLIDATION BILL. The Hon. J. Hall moved the second reading of this Bill, explaining that the object of it was to consolidate the existing Acts relating to juries, and make a few amendments ia tho law. Mr J. O'Neill asked whether it was intended to make some payment to potty and coronors' juries. Mr Dick suggested that a clause should bs inserted to exompt the servants of the.Prorin* cial Governments j or, at any rate, the heads of departments, from serving on juries, as well as the servants of the General Government. Mr Cableton spoko against tho payment of jurors, on the groune that it was a duty they owed to the country to serro on juries. The Hon. J^Hall said that the Billdid not promise to pay coroners' juries, but it did propose to pay something to jurors attesdiag the quarterly sittings of the Supremo Cowt. The hon. member then made afewrao?BM« marks on the objects of the Bill. The second reading was agreed to. tueasttby bills bill. The House went into Committee on tlie motion of the Hon. W. Fitzhebbebt, to..con* sider of leave being given to bring in v Bill for raising the sum of £150,000 by Treasury Bills. After a few remarks from the Colonm Tbeasttbeb, urging that the Bill should, ba read a first time that day, to which Mr I'itZGebald replied, deprecating such a course, leave was given to bring' in the Bill; tho House resumed, and the Bill was read a first time.