GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11945, 14 July 1904, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

OBESS ASSOCIATION TELPJBAM.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday. Jily 13. The Council met at 10 o'clock, and immediately adjourned for the presentation of the Addrew-in-Reply to the Governor. Upon resuming, after formal business, the Council adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wedxesday, JfLY 13. MORXIXG SITTIXG. The Houso met at 10.30. GOVERNMENT BILLS. The following Government Bills were read a first, time:—Land Agents, Fertilisers, Domain Boards, Mining Companies, Criminal Code, amendment to the Gaming and Lotteries, Tramway- , Act Amendment. PAHIATUA BYE-ELECTION. On the motion of the PREMIER, a writ for the vacant Pahiatua «at was ordered to bo issued. BELATED ORDER PAPERS. Thirty minutes were occupied in the discussion of why the Order Papers were not available. Tho PREMIER complained that the fault lav with tho printing office. "Mr MASSEY threw the blame on tho Government. Ultimately the PREMIER moved an adjournment until 11.30. The division resulted in a tie, and as the time had expired, the Speaker gave his casting vote against the adjournment. The Order Paper arrived at this stage. QUESTIOXS. Ministers, in answer to question-, replied : —No well-grounded application fertile effective equipnvent of the technical classes of the colony was refused. The matter of increased capitation to Cadet Corps had not escaped attention, but no general demand was made, and tho Cadet Corps should not be taught to rely too much on the Government, ox they might lose their selfreliant spirit. Advertising for applications for labour made through the Labour Bureaux would be costly advertising. Tho bill of the colony was already £16,000. Tho Premier would make enquiries as to what tho cost would bo if old age pensions were mado univerflal, and what the increased amount would be if they were made payable to women at 60 instead of 65. An amendment to the Land for Settlement Bill would be introduced thia ees- | sion. The- Government could not give notice to, local bodies when loans were not available. They were well aware of ! the tightness of the present money market. Tho Government Mould not introduce a Bill for the election of Justices of the Peace, etc. Sir Joseph Ward was willing to offer th<> Extension of Commerce Committee an opportunity of enquiring into the colony's trade relations with British and foreign CMintries, and thought it would be advantngeou/» if a report of the Committee, with the evidence taken, were forwarded to the British Board of Trade. X'o hard and fast rule could be. laid down as to tho minimum w-ge of 8s for labourers in the Railway Department. Tho Agent-General would be instructed to givo quotations for grain in his weekly market cable reports. The usual adjournment was moved in order to discuss the replies. AFTERXOOX SITTING. The House resumed at 2.30. The debate on tho motion for adjournment was continued until 3.30, when Orders for the day were called. ABSOLUTE MAJORITY BILL. Mr McXAB moved the second reading of the Absolute Majority Bill. Tlie Bill provides for the return of a. member by an absolute majority, without tho necessity, for a second ballot. At the last election the mover hnd found that thirteen single electorates returned members, none of whom hud a majority of the votes polled. In these thirteen electorates there wcro 13,040 votes rendered absolutely usole*». The present BLW.would obviate this, and secure absolute majority representation in tho one operation. Mr MASSEY said ho was afraid the system might lead to manipulation on, tho part of candidates not at the head of tire poll. He did not sco how votes for unsuccessful candidates at present were tantamount to a disfranchisement of voters. He thought the measure would not meet tho ills complained of. Mr R. McKENZIE dkl not think it possible to -improve the prewnt system. Mr HAXAX supported the Bill, and urged tin*' Government to take tlie Bill up, otherwise it might go no further. Mr ELL gave support, to tl»e Bill, but saw defects in it, especially in regard to plumping. Mr HARDING believed the Bill would bring the electoral laws more up-to-date. Mr SYMES considered that the Bill would make matters worse than they were at present. Mr McXAB having replied, tho second reading was carried by 32 to 14. DIVORCE AMENDMENT BILL. Mr LAURENSON moved the second reading of the Divorce Act Amendment Bill, enabling divorces to be obtained from persons who have been continuously confined- as lunatics for seven years. Tho second reading was agreed to on tlie voices without debate.