HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7914, 1 December 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, November 30. The House met at 2.30 p.m. LAND FOE SETTLEMENT BILL. A lengthy discussion took place oh the report of the Waste Lands Committee on the Land for Settlement.Bill. . „..,-, Sir George Grey complained that the coniruittes had delayed reporting on the bill for nearly four weeks. Mr Fulton denied that any unnecessary delay had occurred. Mr Seddon moved that the bill ho committed next day, which was ultimately agreed to. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated :— 1. That no further action, would be taken with regard to the case of flogging a schoolgirl at the Newton (Auckland) school. 2. That a bill was under consideration to simplify the Chattels Securities Act. 3. That when a bill was introduced to effect reforms in the Education Act it would go in tho direction of amalgamating Education Boards. 4. That owing to the state of the finances no sum of money could be put on the estimates for granting subsidies to public libraries. 5. That efforts would be made by bill this session to complete the titles of those persons who have legitimate claims to native lands. ADMINISTRATION BILL. Mr Hislop moved the second reading of the Administration Act Amendment Bill, the object of which, he said, was to prevent executors or administrators of estates having preferential claims over other creditors. The bill also provided that an executor might file a statement of his inability to meet the engagements of the estate. It was farther provided that the estates of persons dying bankrupt might be administered as in bankruptcy. Mr Samuel agreed that the' bill was an important one, but he pointed out that its eftect would be retrospective, and he >vonld move in committee to protect the right of executors iv estates administered before the Act came into force. Mr Izard entirely agreed with the pronosed amendment in the law made in the bill. He hoped the Government would pass the bill this session. Mr Downip Stewart said the bill required some improvement. The general purport of the bill was of a desirable character, but it was one calculated to do much mischief unless properly guarded. As to the proposal that the estates of persons d,ying bankrupt might be administered as in bankruptcy, lie thought it a, very objectionable thing to have matters done by rules emanating from the Goyernor-in-Conncil. That clause should be incorporated in the Act. The motion for the second reading was agreed to. CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL BILL. Mr Hislop moved the second reading of the Christchurch Hospital Bill, to transfer to the Hospital Board of the North Canterbury hospital district the building used for the purposes of the ChristclmrchHospital, and the grounds connected' therewith. — Agreed to. The House rose at 5.30.