AFTERNOON SITTING.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8929, 20 October 1894, Page 8

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The House resumed at 2.30 p-m. LITTLE BARRIER ISLAND. In Committee ou the Little Barrier Bill, Mr HEKE spoke at some length against the Bill being proceeded with tais session. He also raised a point of order as to whether or not this was a private Bill, as it dealt with the property of individuals. Mr JOYCE ruled that was for the Speaker to decide, and did not come within the province of the Chairman of Committees. After further lengthy discussion, clause 1 was passed on the voices and the remaining clauses were passed without alteration. Oα the motion for the third reading, Mr HEKE asked for the Speaker's ruling as to whether the Bill was not a private Bill. The SPEAKER said the rale as to private Bills did not apply to Native The Bill was, therefore a public one. Mr BELL did not wish to dispute for a moment the Speaker's ruling, but thought the Standing Ordets should be amended so as to give the Natives the same right as European* in this respect. Hβ protested agaiust Bills of this kind being allowed to pass. Mr HK&£ also protested against the Bill passing, Mid said a surprise had been sprung on the Native owners of this island by passing this Bill at the last stage of the session. The Bill was read a third time and passed. POST OFFICE BILL. Sir ROBERT SLOUC brought up the report of the Statutes Revision Committee, to the effect that it was too lace a stage of the session for the Committee to consider the Post Office BilL Mr WARD said this was a very important Bill, and he hoped the House would proceed with it this session. Oae very important portiou of the Bill dealt with the Savings Banks, and if the House remained for another fortnight they should pass the Bill. He moved thas the BUI be aa order of the day for the next day. v Several members opposed the motion, and contended that the Bill was too important to be dealt with in die last few days of the session. Xto notion was ousted by 4Q to 82.

THE BALLANCB MKMORIAL. J Mr G. HUTCHISON brought up the] report of the Joint House Committee, to the effect that a life size statue should be erected in the Parliamentary Grounds to the memory of the late John Ballance. After some discussion, Mr SEDDON moved —"That the report of the Committee be adopted. ,. Agreed to. BILLS TO BE DROPPED. Captain RUSSELL asked the Premier to state what Bills he intended to proceed with. Mr SEDDON said be proposed to drop the Bating of Crown Lands, the Hospital and Charitable Aid Amendment, the Fencing, the Beetroot Sngar, the Employers Private Benefit Society Bills. t This was agreed to, and the Bills were discharged. SECOND READINGS. Mr SEDDON moved the second reading of the Native Land Court Certificate Confirmation BilL Agreed to. Mr SEDDON moved the second reading of the Native Land Validation of Titles Act Amendment BilL He said the Bill proposed that Native Land Court Judges could act as Judges of the Validation Court. It also proposed to legalise certain transactions about the legality of which some doubt existed. Sir ROBERT STOUT opposed the Bill, and hoped iue House would not assent to it. If the Bill passed it would open the door to all kinds of transactions, and would lead to evasions of the law. Mr STEVENS supported the Bill. He held Native Land Court Judges should be in a position to validate titles. Mt MITCHELSON hoped the House would not pass the BilL He should not agree to any one or more of the presentNative Land Court Judges being Judgas of the Validation Court. Mr BUTTON supported the BilL He held that some of the Native Land Court Judges were quite competent to be Judges of the Validation Court. Mr G. HUTCHISON said the Bill was at variance with the Bill of last year. Capt. RUSSELL said the powers under the Bill of last 3'ear were so very that they could only be exercised by men especially qualified for the purpose. He did not want to particularise, bat they all knew that some of the Native Land Court Judges were utterly unfitted to'be Judges of the Validation Court. In saying that be did ! not wish to reflect on them at all. Another serious objection to the Bill was that any person holding the position of a Judge of < the Validation Court should not hold office at the will of the Government but should occupy an independent position. Mr THOMPSON said the appointment j of Native Land Court Validation Judges under this Bill would not meet with the ! approval of the public. After further debate the motion was carried by 46 .to 13. NATIVE LAND COURT CERTIFICATES. \. The Native Land Court Certificates Confirmation Bill was committed and passed without amendment. NATIVE LAND BOUNDARIES. The Native Land Claims and Boundaries Adjustment Bill w*aß committed. The House rose at 5 p.m.