HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3481, 2 September 1882, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday. The House re-assembled at 2 p.m. BILLS. The following bills passed through committee:—Adulteration of Tea Bill, Special Powers and Contracts Bill, Borough of Hamilton Boundaries Bill, Auckland Museum Endowment Bill, Auckland Improvement Acts Amendment Bill, Auckland Railway Station Bill, Explosives and Dangerous Goods Bill, Patea Harbor Land Bill, and Te Aroha Township Bill. LAW PRACTITIONERS TILL. The Law Practitioners Bill was considered in committee. Mr Seddon moved that the qualification of general knowledge be struck out. It was one of those indefinite terras which left it in the power of tbe Judges to make the examination so arbitrary that anyone who wished to refuse a candidate, or class of candidates, admission could do SO. Mr M. W. G fien proposed the substitution of constitutional history instead of general knowledge. The amendment was lost on the voices, Mr Seddon objected to clause 15, as it would prevent anyone but a barrister from appearing in Court. He argued that this would be placing a restriction upon solicitors which had not hitherto

existed. The clause was retained on the voices. The other clauses up to 55 were passed without objection. On Mr Seddon's motion clause 55, providing for the separation of the two branches of the profession, was, by 38 to 35, struck out. Clause 56 was struck out. Mr Seddon moved to reduce the admission fee from £12 to £10 10*. The motion was negatived by 42 to 32. The bill then passed through committee, and was reported with amendments. CEMETERIES BILL. The Cemeteries Bill passed through committee with amendments. MINING COMPANIES BILL. The Mining Companies Bill was considered in committee. After a long discussion progress was reported with leave to sit again. rating bill. The House went into committee on the Rating Bill. Major Atkinson agreed to strike out the words " with buildings and improvements thereon." Lost by 50 to 17. Clause 9 was struck out, and clause 8 was amended on Mr W. C. Buchanan's motion to make tbe charge for copies of the roll only sufficient to cover the cost. Progress was reported on clause 20, with leave to sit again. BILLS PASSED. The following bills were read a third time and passed :—Special Powers and Contracts, Hamilton Boundaries, Auckland Improvement Acts Amendment, Explosive and Dangerous Goods, Patea Harbor Land, and Flax Township, and Law Practitioners. The House rose at 1.5 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday. The House met at 11 a.m. ADULTERATION OF TEA BILL. In committee the Adulteration of Tea Bill passed without amendment. BATING BILL. The Rating Bill was further considered in committee. A new clause was moved by Major Atkinson to render it optional for boroughs to come under the Act. Mr Seddon moved to extend the privilege to County Councils, Road Boards, and Towns District Boards, but this was negatived by 56 to 16, and the new clause was agreed to on the voices. Some other formal clauses were added to the bill, and it was reported as amended. The House then adjourned.