LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9520, 12 September 1896, Page 8

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Friday, September 11. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. THE HOROWHBNUA COMMISSION. The report of the Public Petitions Committee upon the petition of Sir Walter Duller was laid on the table. DEFAMATION BILL. The Defamation Bill was read a third time ami passed. SECOND READINGS. The secoud readings of the Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Act Amendment Bill, Poverty Bay Land and Deeds Registration Districts B:il, Ngatitoa Trust Bill, Greytown Trustees Empowering Bill and Trade Union Act Amendment Bill were agreed to without important debate. WACJKS PROTSiCTION. Mr W. C. WALKER moved the sacond reading of the Wages Protection Bill. After a long discussion the second reading was carried by 19 to 14, and the Bill referred to the Labour Bills Committee. PRIVATE BKNKFIT SOCIETIES. The adjourned debate upon the second reading of the Private Benefit Societies Bill was resumed. Dr. ORACH agreed to withdraw his hostile amendment, but intimatedj that as he objected to the principle of the measure, he would vote against the second reading. Tiie motion for adjournment was lost on the voices. Mr BIGG said that the Bill was not designed to strike at any one particular society, but would regulate all private benefit societies. Mr JONE.S thought it possible that the men of the Union Company approved of that Company's Benefit Society through fear. He read a statement to prove that 99 out of every 100 members were in favour of abolishing the Bank of New Zealand Pi-ovident Fund. There were a number of private benefit societies which should be abolished. Mr JENKINSON upheld the principle that when an employer paid his employees his wages lie should have no further transactions with them. Dr. GRACE'S amendment to kill the Bill was carried by 18 to 11, and the second reading rejected. The division list was as follows :— Ayes—For the Bill (11) —Hons. Arkwright, Feldwick, Jenkinson, Jennings, Jones, Kellv, Montgomery j Reeves, Rigg, Taiaroa, and W. C. Walker. Noes—Against the Bill (18)—Hons. Acland, Baillie, Barniooat, Bowen, Grace, Holmes, MacGrogor, McLean, Morris, Ormond, Peacock, P.eynolds, Richardson, Scotland, Stovens, Swunson, L. Walker and William's. PHOTOGRAPHIC COPYRIGHT. In Committee on the Photographic Copyright Bill, a new clause was added, providing a penalty not exceeding £5 for each offence under the BilL The measure was then reported. At 4.25 p.m. the Council rose.