LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9172, 1 August 1895, Page 6

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

[pbes3 association telegram.] Toksdav, July 30. [The Council met at 2.30 p.m. BILLS. The Local Bills committee recommended that the Dunedin Drainage Bill be allowed to proceed as amended. The following Bills were received from the House and read a first time :—Cemeteries Act Amendment Bill, Employers Private Benefit Societies Bill, and Mining Companies Amendment Bill. GRAND JT'RIES. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, referring to the motion of Mr J. McGregor, relative to the abolition of Grand Juries, said the Government would be unable this oeasion to give effect to the motion, and suggested that as the question was such an important one it should be withdrawn. The Government was in favour of abolishing Coroners and Coroners' juries altogether. The euggeation of the Attorney-General wa« accepted by Mr McGregor, aud the order was discharged. CIUMINAL CODB. The Criminal Code Acb Amendment Bill was read a third time. ADOPTION OF CHILDREN. The Adoption of Children Bill was committed and reported with slight amendments. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. Mr RIGG resumed the debate upon the second reading of the Contagious Diseases Act Repeal Bill. He favoured the establishment of foundling hospitals. He thought that tho present Act. if administered by the various municipalities fearlessly, would prove beneficial, especially to young men. He opposed the Bill. Mr KERB regarded the Acb as a blot on oar civilisation. Mr KELLY considered that it would be tmwiae to repeal the Act. Mr BOWEN said it was the duty of the State to do all in ita power to minimise the dreaded disease referred to. If the State considered it desirable in the interests of the people to enforce vaccina* tion, surely it was still further its duty to endeavour to prevent the spread of a dreadful diseaso that was hereditary. He thought that the Ace should apply to both •exes. The COLONIAL SECRETARY replied, and the original motion for the second reading was passed by 20 to 11. DBFAMATIOX. Mr FELDWICK moved that the order for committal of the Defamation Bill be diaohargea , , and-made, an order for Wednesday week. He took thin conrsa because there Was a somewhab similar Bill before the House, and he desired to ascertain ita fato before proceeding with his own Bill. Motion agreed to. : LOCAL BILL. The Patea Foreshore Vesting Bill was ptuned through Committee, and the remain* fas ftagea. The Council at 3.40 p.m. adjourned till the following day.