Parliamentary.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 3. The Connell met at 2.30 p.m. ILLNESS OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Mr Montgomery apologised for the absence of Sir Patrick Buckley, who was suffering from itflaet z \. RILLS, The following lids were read a second time and were referred to the Statutes Revi-ion Commutes. —Toe Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill, ratting the age of consent ta 16 years ; Priuteis and Newspaper Registration Act Amendment Bill, which proposes to inolndo lithographs, chronic*, and stereotypes in the category of printed matter ; and the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill, which provides that stakes or wagers thill not be recoverable by law. The Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill was read a first time. The Council then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 3. The House met at 2.30 p.tn. FIRE APPLIANCES, Mr Stddon laid on the table the report on the inspection of the fire appliances of the Government Buildirgs, and made a statement defending Captain Hannah, the fire brigade expert from Ballarat, from the aspersions that had been cast upon him over the bursting of the hose at the Supreme Court buildings. A lengthy discussion arose, alter which the motion that the papers be laid on the table was carried.
QUESTIONS. Repljing to questions it was stated—1. That the present situation of the Midland Railway Company in relation to the proposals of the House last session would be laid before the House in a tew days. 2. That the new Municipal Corporations Act would give greater facilities for the amalgamation of local bodies than at present existed, 3. That the Government were advised that there was no power to enable village settlers to exchange their present leases for leases in perpetuity, but the House would be tffirded an opportunity _of voting on the question before the session closed. 4. That the Government would bring in a bill this session abolishing distraint for rent. 5. That the Government did cot think the time had yet arrived ior legislation to prevent boys under 16 years of age smoking cigarettes. 6. That the Railway Commissioners could not see their way to cushion the secmd-class railway carriages. 7 That it was improbable that 3000 Martini rifles would arrive in the colony, as the contract had been cancelled because the weapons were notin accordance with the specifications. Another order for 500 rifles had been given. S. That the Government were considering the Harper case, and if they found It desirable steps would be taken to bring Leonard Harper before the Court. 9. That the Government would fully investigate the matter of compelling the Union Rank of Australia to refund the trust moneys paid by Harper Brothers to the bank for the purpose of paying off the firm's overdraft. The House rose at 5 30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7 30. RILLS.
Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Auctioneers Act Amendment Bill, to provide for the further definition of an auction sale. The bill was favorab'y discussed at some length, and several amendments were suggested which Mr Seddon promised would receive the consideration of the Government.—The motion was then agreed to. The debate on the second rending of the Betterments Bill was adjourned, as the measure had reference to native lands and had not yet been translated into the Maori language. IMPRISONMENT TOR DEIiT AIIOLITION RILL. Mr Crowther resumed the debate on the second reading of the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill. He opposed the measure on the ground that the Legislature should protect the public against those who cauld pay their debts but would not do so. Mr Montgomery did not think the credit system would ho done away with by the hill. It would be caniod on os before, hut there would he much more dUhoocsty. Ho would vote against the hill. Mr Dutbie looked upon imprisonment for debt ss a relic of barbarism, and he would therefore heartily support oho Government on this occasion. Major Steward said if the hill were properly designated it should be called the bill for the punishment of honest men at the expense of rogues. Mr M’Nah said he could not support the bill. They were asked to pass a hill to ahoii-h the credit system, yet a night or two ago they had given two millions of credit to a hanking institution. Mr Hutchison (Dunedin) strongly supported the bill, and said that imprisonment for debt was unnecessary. Mr Bell gave the bill his most cordial and hearty supprrt. The law on ’be subject as it was carried out at present was a farce, Mr Bussell (Blcoarton), Mr H. Muslin, and Mr Gulck opposed the bill, while Mr O’Began supported It,
On the motion of Mr Pinkerton the debate was adj urned till Friday, Mr Sadden remarking that a return of the number of persons imprisoned for debt would be laid on the table, and members would then be in a better position to vote on the bill, HAWKERS' AND PEDLARS' HILL.
Mr Ssddon resumed the debate on the second reading of the Hawkers’ and Pedlare,’ Bi’l. Be said that the colony had been flooded by hawkers owing to the restrictive legislation ot the other Colonics, and he thought that when they did come here they onght to be restricted in the way proposed by the bill. A short debate followed, the general opinion expressed by those who spoke being distinctly favorable to the bill. The motion for the second reading was agreed to on the voices-.
ARMS act REPEAL bill. The Arms Act Repeal Bill was committed, read a third time, and passed. COMPANIES ACCOUNTS AUDIT BILL. Mr Stddou moved the second reading of the Companies Accounts Audit Bill, to give power to appoint the Audit Office to audit the accounts of companies. He said that there was no desire on the part of the Government to interfere with or hamper companies without the shareholders being first consulted, and be held that in widening the scope ot the Audit Department of the colony they were moving in a light direction. Sir Robert Stoat did not object to the hill, if the shareholders wished to have Government audit, but there were difficulties in the way. He warned hon. members that this would be a false security if a company’s assets were not valued properly.
Mr Hall said he would move for a compulsory triennial audit, Mr Russell (Hiccatton) and Mr Graham strongly supported tbe bill. Mr Dothie agreed with Sir Robert Scout that audit by the Government would have little effect unless the assets were valued.
Captain Bussell (Hawke’s Bayl thought Sir Robert Stout had discovered the weak point of the hill, and the real thing required was true valuation of the assets of a company. Mr M’Reuzii (Bullet) and Mr O'Regan supported the bill. Mr Seddon in replying said that if the Honse considered the scope of the bill should be widened, so as to give power to the auditors to call on experts to value the asseis, he had no objection to that. The motion for the second reading was agreed to, and the bill was referred to tbe Statutes Revision Committee. Tbe Honse rose at J0.50 p m.
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Bibliographic details
Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9722, 3 July 1894, Page 6
Word Count
1,201Parliamentary. Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9722, 3 July 1894, Page 6
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