PARLIAMENTARY

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIV, Issue 10786, 25 October 1895, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY

[Pee Press Association.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, Oct. 24. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. THE LIQUOR BILL. The Hon J. D. Ormond, on behalf of the Council’s managers at the conference on the’Liquor Bill, presented the report of the conference, and stated that a compromise had been arrived at. He moved that the report should be agreed to. The: Hon W. H, Reynolds said that it was impossible to follow the reasons of the conference. Therefore he moved that the reasons should be printed and: the debate adjourned. After debate the amendment was lost by 2S to 7, and the report was adopted. BILLS. The following Bills were received from the’House, and read a first time:—Agricultural and Pastoral Statistics Bill, the Public Reserves Vesting and Sales Bill, Land Act Amendment Bill, Pastoral Tenants’ Relief Bill, Reserves Disposal and Exchange Bill, Public Revenues Ad; Amendment Bill, Lunatic Act Amendment Bill, Manual and Elementary Technical Education’ Bill. The following Bills were read a second time and referred to the Waste Lauda Committee Public Reserves Vesting and Sales Bill, Land Act Amendment Bill, and the Reserves Disposal and Exchange Bill; The Mining Act Amendment Bill wan further considered in committee. The Hon W. D. Stewart moved bis postponed clause, the effect being to validate miners* rights under all circumstances, i. This was agreed to on the voices. The Hon W. M’Cullough again brought up his new clause, its effect being to give power to wardens to fix charges, &0., upon which a tunnel may be used by minora other than those who constructed such tunnel. After discussion the amendment wan withdrawn, and the Bill was reported with amendments. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. The Government Advances to Settled! BUI was further considered in committee, reported with amendments and passed its final stages. PUBLIC WORKS. The Hon W. Montgomery moved the second reading of the Public Works amt Government; Railways Bill. ; After debate the motion was agreed to, and the Bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. DUNEDIN LOAN. V : The report of the conference on the Dunedin Loan Bill was adopted; UNCLAIMED MONEY. The Hon W. Montgomery moved the second 1 reading of the Unclaimed Moneys Bill. The Hon J. A. Sonar moved sn amendment that the Bill should be read a second ; time that day six months. The Bill was lost by 14 to 11. The Council adjourned to next day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, Oct. 24. MORNING SITTING. The House met at 11.30 a.m. THE BANE. AGREEMENT. Mr.DuTHJE asked the Premier whether the shareholders in the Colonial Bank are secure in. receiving the proposed payment of £188,906, or whether under any contingency in the liquidation of either the »• B ” or “ C ” lists, or of both, or under any other circumstances, any claim could arise for a refund as against the shareholders, of the selling bank. The Honß. J. Seddon replied: “No, Sir, no claim can arise.” In reply to Mr Bell. The Hon R. J. Sbddon said he would take the debate on the bank agreement tomorrow afternoon. BILLS TO BE DROPPED. The Hon £. J. Seddon moved that the followingßills should be discharged from the Order Paper; Beetroot Sugar, Poet Office, Fair Bent, Land Drainage, Phylloxera, Bepresentativa Local Government, Noxious Weeds, Public Reserves, Divorce, Truck Act Amendment, New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, Medical Practitioners Registration, Shipping, Seamen and Marine Engineers and Literary Copyright. Objection being taken to the striking off of the Divorce Bill, Mr Seddon withdrew the whole motion. UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS. The Asiatic and other Immigration Restriction Bill was committed. Mr Cabncboss moved to strike out ■> portion of clause 2, which prevented contract workmen from coming to the colony. Mr R. Thompson moved a prior amendment to insert, under the definition of “Asiatics,” “but does not include British subjects.” The Hon W. P. Beeves said he should take a division on this amendment, as a. test whether or not the Bill should be gone on with further. He. strongly opposed the amendment, as if it were carried the Bill would be useless. After a short discussion Mr R. Thompson’s amendment was lost by 27 to 20. Mr W. Hutchison moved to amend the interpretation clause relating to people with contagions diseases, so as to make it “immediately” dangerous to the public health instead of “ dangerous ” as stated in the Bill. Mr E. Thompson moved to strike out the whole of the sub-section. The Hon W. P. Reeves said the clausa simply meant that if any person arrived in the colony suffering from any particular disease, that disease would be gazetted, and the person would not be allowed to land So long as he suffered from it. Mr Thompson’s amendment was lost by 23 to 16.

On Mr W. Hutchison’s amendment being pat, another discussion took place, which lasted until the luncheon adjournment. afternoon SITTING. Thq Souse resumed at 2.30 pan. in committee on the Asiatic Immigration Restriction Bill. Mr Buchanan moved that the Chairman should leave the chair on the Bill. Carried by 22 to 15, and the Bill thrown out, >, The following is the division list Arks (22) —Messrs Alien, Buchanan, Buick, Carncrosß, Crowfcher, Flatmau, Fraser, Graham, Green, Houston, W. Kelly, Bang, Larnach, T. Mackenzie, Maslin, Massey, M’Nab, Meredith, O’Kegan, W. K. Russell, Saunders and R. Thompson. Noes (15) —Messrs Bell, Buddo, Earnshaw, Harris, W. Hutchison, J, W. Kelly, Millar, Mills, Morrison, Reeves, Seddon, G. J. Smith, Tanner, T. Thompson and Willie. Pairs— Ayes : Messrs Button, Wilson, Duthie, M’Gowan, Mitohelson, Duncan, and Mackintosh. Noes: Messrs Carroll, Stevens, J. M’Kenzie, Newman, Collins, Hall-Jones, and Sir E. Stout. NATIVE RESERVES. The Westland and Nelson Native Reserves Act Amendment Bill was committed and passed through without amendment. The Native Reserves Act Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 6—Public Trustee may grant a new lease of certain lands now leased—elicited a lengthy discussion. Several amendments were proposed, but the clause finally passed without alteration. Clausa 7—Provision to apply to every new lease also elicited a long debate. The Hon E. J. Seddon eventually moved that progress should be reported on the Bill. He had gone as far as he could in the matter and he was of opinion that a measure was wanted. Mr G. Hutchison hoped that the Premier would not press that motion, as the Bill was urgently required by the settlers of tbe West Coast. The Hon R. J. Seddon finally withdrew

his motion, and the BUI was ordered to be reported with amendments. JPtTBiIC SECURITIES. The Public Securities Bill was commcian*se 3, under which such securities may be transmitted or inscribed, &o. Mr Montgomery moved an amendment to provide that those securities shall only be used for the departments with which they are connected. ' The Hon J. G - Ward opposed the amendment, and said that Mr Montgomery wanted to gain a little notoriety over it. He said that i£ such an amendment were inserted it would hamper the department, and would prevent them using their own securities in time of grave emergency. It would be an improper thing to do. The honourable member did not understand the effect of bis amendment. Mr T.’Mackenzie deprecated the Treasurer continually telling members when they moved an amendment that they did not understand the question. He hoped that the Treasurer would give them credit for a little common sense. The Hon R. J. Seddon said that if members were going to oppose the Bill in this way he should move to report proeress, and allow the law with respect to these securities to remain as it was. Mr Bell reminded the Treasurer that he promised on the second reading of the Bill to accept amendments. • The Hon J. G. Ward said that he should accept reasonable amendments, not one of the kind now before the House. The Bill already provided that securities .should not be used for the purposes of any other office. , , , , gjj Stout supported tne-amendment, and said that it was absolutely necessary that those securities should bo put in such a position that they could only be used for their own particular department. Mr Collins pointed out that the amend* ment cam* from one of Mr Ward's strongest 1 supporters, and he thought that if the amendment were carried it would save an interminable amount of debate in the House in future respecting those security Montgomery denied that he was actuated by any desire of notoriety over the matter, as stated by the Treasurer. Hia sole object was to ensure absolutely the safety of; securities in the future. The Treasurer toid them that the Bill already provided that securities could only be used for their own departments, but if that were so his amendment should be accepted. The Hon J. G. Ward said that ho was willing, if Mr Montgomery withdrew his amendment, to alter the clause to the effect that the securities for each office shall be kept solely for that office. Mr Montgomery's amendment was carried by 26 to 24. The Hon J* G. Wabd moved that progress should be reported. . Captain Bussell asked the meaning of reporting progress. Did the Colonial Treasurer want to have power to pledge those securities whenever ho wished to do soP Surely, as the principle had been conceded by the Treasurer that the securities should be made safe, there could be no possible objection to inserting Mr Montgomery’s amendment in the Bill. 8 The Hon B. J. Seddon said that there were a great many, members away, including one of hia own colleagues (Mr M’Kanzie), and that was the reason for repotting progress. ‘ SirE. Stout said that it was perfectly plain that the Government did not want this Bill to be a real one, only a sham one, and they should report progress. The Hon J. G. Wabd said that he had offered to alter the clause to the effect that the securities for each office should be kept solely for that office, but this proposal was not accepted. His only reason for reporting progress was that Mr Montgomery's amendment made the Bill inoperative, and he was not going to accept a Bill in that position. He was as anxious as any other member to secure that tbe position of these securities should he made safe, hut his proposal was not accepted. Mr Allen objected to progress being reported because some members were away. It was evidently the desire of the Colonial Treasurer that those securities should not be put in a cafe position, and j he wished to be, able to pledge them again I if necessary. | The Hon J. G. Ward’s motion was j carried by 31 to 20. NATIVE LAND CLAIMS. The Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill was committed. The House rose at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. in committee on the Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill, which passed after a lengthy discussion without amendment. SHIPPING- AND SEAMEN. The Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 2. Mr K. Thompson called attention to the necessity for making some provision whereby the youth of the colony could be trained as seamen on New Zealand boats. Sir B. Stout supported this proposal, and euid that the Minister of Labour could easily provide that a few youths could be placed on board colonial vessels, otherwise the whole of our ships would be manned by foreign people. The Hon W. P, Beeves said that he was ; quite prepared at the proper time to introduce a clause with this object. Mr R. Thompson moved to amend Clause 7 to the effect that any vessel in the coastal or intercolonial trade carrying at least five able-bodied seamen may substitute two boys for one ordinary seaman. Agreed to. Mr J. W. Kelly (on behalf of Mr Plrani) moved a new clause providing that captains holding only service certificates should not command vessels carrying passengers. Lost on the voices. Mr W. Hutchison moved a new clause providing that notwithstanding any reports upon tbe seaworthiness of a vessel from a Government officer or any other official, any seaman considering a vessel was not safe should be at liberty to leave the vessel without forfeiting his wages up to the date of hia leaving. Lost by 34 to 11. The Bill was reported, read a third time and passed. THIBD HEADINGS. Three other Bills were put through committee, read a third time and passed. ADVANCES TO SETTLBBS. The Hon J. G. Wabd moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Government Advances to Settlers Act Amendment Bill should be agreed to. Carried. THE BANKING AGREEMENT, Sib B. Stout asked the Premier whether the opinion of the law officers had been taken as to whether or not legislation was

1 required to validate the banking agteei ment. j The Hon Ei J. Seddon said that the i opinion of the law officers was to the effect j that as to bad and doubtful accounts the law had been carried out, and the agreement in that respect was legal. As regards the other points raised (the laying of lists on the table of the House) their opinion was that the agreement on that i ground was ultra vires. It seemed that ! through an oversight the House had passed an Act providing that She bank books and lists of everything 'should be laid on the table. This j was impossible, and it was necessary to alter it by a Bill, of which ha would give j notice that night. No provision had been | mado leg&rdiag promissory notes and bills duo to the selling bank being made payable to the purchasing bank, and it would bo necessary, in, the Bill to provide for this. : ‘ ■ COURSE OP BUSINESS. Captain Bussell asked the Premier whether he could give the House any idea as to when the session would close.

The' Hon R, J. Seddon said that there were two important Bills on tbe order paper, one of which (the Public Securities Bill) the Government intended to go on with, as it thought it necessary to pass it. The other measure (the Asiatics Immigration Eestriction Bill) was also necessary, and the Government would take as much of the Bill as it could get. It particularly desired to prevent Asiatics and lunatics from coming into the colony. The Hon W. P. Beeves gave notice to move for the reinstatement of the Asiatics Immigration Bill on the Order Paper.

CENSUS. The Hon W. P. Beeves moved the second reading of the Census Act Amendment Bill to provide for taking the census in the year 1901. Dr Newman moved that the Bill should be read that day.six months. A long debate followed, a number of North Island members protesting against the proposal to postpone the taking of the census till 1901, on the ground that the North Island would be deprived of representation to which it was entitled. [Owing to a telegraphic interruption the conclusion of the report of the sitting did not come to hand.]