LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 47, 23 August 1902, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council continued its sitting yesterday afternoon. FISHERIES CONSERVATION. Tho Minister for Education moved that tho Fisheries Conservation Act Amendment Hill bo recommitted in order that the Council should reconsider the new clause introduced on the motion of tho Hob. J. Rigg, which entitled tho holder of a heenso to at any time during daylight, enter on any private or other land for tho purposo of fishing for and taking fish. The Minister thought the Council had been busty in inserting this clause, which was not in the interests of the public, tho Acclimatisation. Societies, or of private ownors. 'lho Hon. J. Rigg opposed the recommittal. If an alteration was to be made, it could be made in tho Lower House. No one should have the right to call the fish in a stream his own private property. Aftor a debate lasting an hour altogether, the Bill waa recommitted on division by 23 ' votes to 7. In Committee the Minister for Education moved to strike out the clause in question. The Hon. J. Rigs moved on amendment so that the holder of a license would be entitled to enter on any private or other land but not "on any garden or ( orchard," and not nearer than 200 yards' from any dwellinghouse, for the purpose of fishing. This amendment was lost by 17 votes to 9. The Hon. J. Rigg then moved to add the words : "In any running stream," after the" word "fishing." This was lost by 10 votes to 6. Another division was then taken on the Minister's motion that tho clause be struck out. This was carried by 19 votes to 7, and the clause was struck out. ' The third reading was made an order of the day for Tuesday next, whoa three motions will come on for the recommittal of the Bill. «NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY. The Minister for Education moved tho recommittal of the New Zealand University Act Amendment Bill. One of his reasons for doing so was to give the Council an opportunity of reconsidering its decision to have, representatives of Chambers of Commerce on the Senate. He thought that decision was premature, though he sympathised with the spirit of the alteratiQjti. A motion to adjourn tho debate 'was lost, and the Bill recommitted. The Hon. G. Jones rrovi-d that cue clause providing for two i .suitutives of Charnberß of Commeio j sit 'on the Senate should be amended to read that two members deemed to be representatives of industrial and commercial interests in the colony should be appointed by Govornor -in -Council. Several members objected to any increase of the powers of the Governor-in-Council. At 5 p.m. the debate was adjourned. On the Council resuming at 8 p.m., the Hon. G. Jones altered his amendment to make the interest? to be represented "industrial, commercial, or agricultural." jluo Minister said it seemed evident from the tone of tho debate that the Council had no faith in Chambers of Commerce. He suggested that for the present the Council should drop tho clauue pioviding for two representatives of thesa Chambers being on the Senate. The Gov- ' eminent did not desire that the Governor-in-Council should have power to appoint more than four members of the Senate. By 8 votes to 7 the cluuso giving representation to Chambers of Commerce was struck out. The Q«n. G. Jones's amendment was lost by 10 votes to 5. The Hon. W. M. Bolt thought it an improper thing to appoint a Departmental Officer to a life position on the Senate, and he moved to strike out the clause appointing tho Secretary for Education a member of the Senate. The Hon. G. Jones moved to make the Minister for Education a member of tho Senate instead of the Secretary. Tho Minister said tho Secretary for Education should be on the Senate so that the primary, secondary, and university branches of education should co-ordin ate. If the clause was struck out the Secretary could still be made one of the appointees of the Governor-in-Council. Tho Hon. Q. Jones withdrew his amendment. Vi'he Hon. W. M. Bolt's motion to strike out the clause was carried by 10 votes to 5. This left the number of members of the Senate at 24 instead of 25, as the Bill originally proposed. The Bill wasi reported with amendments «,t 9.50, and the third reading was fixed for next sitting day. WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD EMPOWERING BILL. The Hon. J. Rigg moved the second reading of the Wellington Harbour Board Empowering Bill, which empowers the Board to raise £250,000 for certain harbour works, and a further £250,000 for the construction of a dock. In the course of his speech Mr. Rigg said tho Bill was acceptable to all parties concerned, and he hoped it would pass as it now j stood. t • j At 10.40 p.m the debate was adjounied 'on the' motion of the Hon. G. j M'Lean, till Wednesday next. | IMPREST SUPPLY. The Imprest Supply Bill (No. 3) was received from the Lower House, and passed through all stages without discussion. The Council k rose at 10.45 p.m.