GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7611, 23 July 1890, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PBBSS ____K__LTl ___ ____EQB___.] XEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 22. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. SPB__U> OF LEPROSY. Mr Bonar presented a petition from Dr. Bakewell of Auckland, formerly of the West Indies, praying the Council to take steps to appoint a Committee to inquire into the spread of leprosy in this colony. REPORTS OV COMMITTEES. Mr Miller brought up the report of the Committee on the Agricultural Bill, which they recommended be allowed to proceed. Mr Johnson- brought uo the report of the Waste Lands Committee on the Education Reserves Act Amendment Bill, which they recommended be allowed te proceed. PENSION TO A NATIVE CONSTABLE. Sir F. Whitakeb, replying to Mr Taiaroa, said the Government had granted a pension of £16 per year to Henare Mahuikar, late Constable at Kaiapoi, incapacitate- after long service. THE ST. CLAIE RESERVE. Sir F. Whitakeb moved—"That a Select Committee of seven, members be appointed to inquire into and investigate circumstances under which certain Crown lands, part of the land J_nown as St. Clair reserve, near Dunedin, were erroneously included in certificates of title granted by the Land Transfer Office, and report as to the best mode of rectifying the error. Agreed to. NEGLECTED CHILDREN. Mr Stevens moved—"That a Select Committee be appointed to consider whether the present method of dealing with cases of neglected, destitute children by committal to Industrial schools was the best practicable system under the present circumstances.' P Agreed to. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL. The Council went into Committee on the Legislative Council Bill. . •. Sir li. Whitmore moved the omission of clauses 2 and _, with a view to add new clauses, the first one being the repeal of the 34th section of the Constitution -Act, and to substitute a clause making members' seats tenable for ten years. Mr Buckley contended that to, repeal the _ _th section of the Constitution Act would have the effect of giving the present members of the Council tenure of their seats for ten years only. He warned the the Council if the section referred-to were repealed the present Council would be wiped out. , The Attorney-General thought the opinion expressed by Mr Buckley was an erroneous one. The repeal of the section wouid not be retrospective, and would Only affect members appointed in future. , Mr McLean moved that progress be reported aud leave asked to sit again. The Attorney-General suggested that a proviso making the seats of tne present Council secure for life be inserted, thus doing away with all ambiguity and uncertainty. Progress was reported, leave being given to sit again on Tuesday next. The Council at 3.35 adjourned to the following day.