LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9155, 12 July 1895, Page 5

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.]

Thursday, July 11.

AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS. The Labour Bills Committee recommendeS that the New Zealand Surveyors Institute Bill should be allowed to proceed with amendments. THE CHRISTOHUROH EXHIBITION', ! The COLONIAL SECRETARY, replying to Mr R. Jenkinson, said that he could nob say at present whether the Government would adjourn Parliament at 'the end of August tor the purpose of visiting tbe Christchurch Exhibition with a view to making members acquainted with colonial industries. CO-OPERATIVE SETTLEMENTS. Mr BOLT moved a series of resolutions, their effect being that the State should establish simultaneously at least four cooperative settlements upon whioh to settle people who, from no fault of their own; are unable to obtain remunerative employ* ment, the State to supply the land, implements, &c. Mr PEARAZYN sympathised with the objects Mr Bolt had in view, but denied that distress in the colony was as widespread as it was at Home. It was in a measure due to unfortunate legislation and to labour declining to accept anything but very high wages, which employers could not afford to give. He did not advocate low wages, but wages oould only come out of profits, and if profits were diminished wages must come down. Whilst trade unionism had, he admitted, done much good, it had done a great deal of mischief in unduly inflating wages. It waa a very pretty and poetical idea to sop* pose that all the State had to do was to place people on the land and they would carve out livings for themselves, but even if they achieved only so much, but nothing more, they would not be able to employ labour for themselves,* and hence no good would be accomplished. The scheme as proposed by Mr Bolt would create an ever-increasing army of" State pensioners at the expense of an inevitably-decreasing number of taxpayers. Believing, as he did, that the resolutions would have the effect of increasing the unemployed and would in* crease taxation, he would propose an amendment that the resolutions should not be agreed to, as thoy would lessen the selfreliance of the people. Mr BTEWAKT moved tbe adjournment of the debate. Mr SHRIMBKI supported the amend< ment. ' The debate was adjourned for a week* LAW OP EVIDENCE. The Law of Evidence Bill waa read a first time. DEFAMATION. Mr FELDWICK moved tfce second reading of the Defamation Bill. Mr Ballance had asked him to take charge of the Bill, which was similar to that introduced by Sir S. Griffiths in the Queensland Legislature. The definition of defamation in the Bill was simple, and included slander of any person living or dead, or whether the defamed one was at the time present in or absent from the colony. Mr MACGREGOR strongly supported, the Bill, which was a simple codification os existing laws. The Bill sought to protect! the Press from prosecution in reporting proceedings in public meetings. Th* clause he referred to was similar to on* in the Imperial Act, and should commend itself to colonial Legislatures. Owing to the Criminal Code Act becoming law there was no provision now for prosecuting a newspaper for libeL and he behaved that the Bill would be bailed with great satisfaction by the newspaper tress. The Bill sought to point out the distinction between libel and slander. He believed that slander waa a greater offence than libel. The proprietors of papers, if the BUI passed, would be able to see at a glance what was libel and what waa slander without consulting a solicitor. Mr STEWART said that the Bill would prove of great value for respectable newspapers, but opened the door for second o" third-rate papers reporting very damagine things of public men at public meetings without there being the slightest truth in the statements. He failed to see why special facilities should be afforded newspapers to libel persons. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL supported the second reading. rr The second reading was carried on tbe voices, and the Bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. ; IIIE.UTAIA BLOCK BOUNDARY. < The Hikutaia No. 1 Block Boundary Bill was passed through Committee and its fi_ stages. INDUSTRIAL SOBOOLS. Mr W. MONTGOMERY moved the

f second reading of the Industrial Schools Act Amendment Bill. Agreed to on the voices. SALE OF GOODS. "The Sale of Goods Bill was further considered in Committee. Clause 6, no contract for sale of goods for £10 and upwards shall be enforced unless the goods are delivered, occasioned discussion. Progress was reported, with leave to sit again. The Council adjourned to next day.