EVENING SITTING.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8932, 24 October 1894, Page 5

EVENING SITTING.

The Counoil resumed at 10,35 p.m. bills PAasao. " The Horowhenua Native Land BUI was passed through Committee and its further / ., yi stages with amendments. ijjjv > "' The Public Works Appropriation;f#tll and the Appropriation Bill, 1894, were received from tbe House and read the first - - and second times. The Bills were committed and reported, and on' the third reading of the seoond Bill Mr BONAR remarked that, during thf last session-Parliament had passed'nearly 100 Bills. Many of them were so-called Labour Bills, some of which were coercive, measures whloh required vexatious restrictions, and which needed inspectors to carry them into effect. He regretted this was so,. in a new colony. With regard to the six Banking Bills introduced this session, be could not help saying that it was a matter for regret that this colony had embarked iv an entirely new departure. He thought it was unfair that the country should bave been involved in the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand, as it had quite enough of its own financial troubles without - being called upon to look after a banking institution ; but, • having undertaken this duty, the colony must endeavour, to foster the Bank. He should, however, like to be assured that the AssetsCompanv's business was severed from that of 'the banking bush-ess. If this waa done, he felt convinced theBank would prosper in the future. The hon. gentleman rapidly sketched the policy of the Government, more particularly as it referred to the cheap money scheme, and he expressed the hope that the experiment of the Government in this direction would Erove successful. AUudfag to the numer of Bills passed during this session, he- considered it perfectly monstrous that session after session the Legislature should be called upon to make laws which bad to be amended. In eon* elusion he expressed regret that the Go- _ vernment bad introduced Bills dealing with divorce and legitimation Bills, which, if ~ passed would sap and undermine the foundation of the domestic life of the colony. The session had been a most important one, and he trusted the experiments which weife about to be tried would prove successful. ~ The COLONIAL SECRETARY, reply. ing, said he regretted as muoh as anyone the fact that the Counoil had been rushed by Bills during the last few days by the other House. He desired to thank the members of the Counoil for the considerate manner in which they had treated tbe members of tbe Government in the Counoil, and he also wished to congratulate the various Committees, especially the Statutes Revision Committee and the Labour Bills Committee, for the very able manner in which they had carried out thair important duties. The final stages of the Bills were agreed to, and the Counoil rose at 11.35 p.m.