HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 635, 14 September 1899, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, Sepeembeb 12. The Premier gave, notioe •to - move that when the Wrigg (N.Z. cross) oase comes up again T. M. Wilford be heard in his defence at the bar of the House. ' ' „ The Mining Aot, 1898, Amendment Bill was read a first time. : Eeplying to questions the Premier said he did not know how the electors could be given an opportunity of expressing an, opinion on the question of joining the' Australian federation. The issues at the general election were already sufficiently. . loaded, without adding thereto the question' * =' of federation. Personally, his, mind "was" -"- v . perfectly open oh the subjeot, and until it ■ had been better considered by. the people it, would be premature to express a definite opinion upon it.— With regard to takingsteps to ascertain the opinion of the eleotors as to State control of the liquor traffio, the'.-'. '' Government did not propose making thai one of the issues at the forthcoming licensing poll;— If time permitted facilities would be given for enrolment in counties similar to ; those provided in respeot to municipalities. At the evening sitting Mr Hall-Jones laid , upon the table the Public Works Statement ' ; • L and Estimates for the year, and the House went into Committee of Supply. A start .was made with the Colonial Treasurer's and' j Treasury Departments and Friendly Societies Begistry office, the votes for whioh were . passed without debate. . . ■- The votes Old Age Pensions office, £1950} . Land and Income Tax Department, £26,596 ; . Treasury miscellaneous services, £10,073;' Justice Department, £122,582; Office of' . Industries and Commerce, £625, were all t passed unaltered after debate, and the House' ' , was considering the item, Stamps and Deeds' Department £25,300, when the telegraph . ? offioe closed. The items Stamps and Deeds, ' . £25,300; Minister's salary representing ; Maori race, £400 ; electoral, £26,200 ; printL ing and stationery, £25,176, were passed' , without amendment, progress reported, and the House rose at 2.45 a.m. ■ „ Wednesday, Sept. 13. ' - h 1 The Slaughtering and inspection, Orohard and Garden pests and Noxious Weeds Bills; 1 were read a second time pro forma. "■ - ■--< 1 The Government Loans to Local Bodies ; Act Amendment Bill to reduce the rate, of ■ interest charged .was introduced by Qover- -. ■• . nor's message and read a first time. ■< ■ ' ! The Beetroot and Sorghum Sugar Industry 1 Bill was read a first time. The amendments by the Legislative Counoil in the liand for Settlements Aot Amendment Bill were agreed to. 1 \ , . 1 On the motion to commit the Local Gov- • • [ ernment Voting Reform Bill, a devision was . ! oalled for— Ayes, 81 ; noes, 81. The Speaker ' gave his casting vote in favor of the ayes.and the bill was committed. The bill provides ' that a proposal shall be earned if the • majority of votes recorded at a poll are re- ■, ' ■ 1 corded in favor thereof . In the course of a lengthy discussion the Premier ageed that residential votes should not count in loan; N proposals. A motion to report progress was' negatived on the voices, and the Premier ' , moved an amendment to clause 2, to the effeot : that in boroughs a three-fifths majority should - be necessary to carry a proposal, and that' residential votes do not count. — Agreed to on 1 the voices. A new clause was moved/ by ' the Premier to enable a poll to be taken in. any distriot under the polling conditions above on a question of bringing into force the Bating on Uhimproved'Values Aot ; such yoll to be taken at any time after the passing of this Act, but when once taken the question cannot be again submitted for three years. — ' i Lost by 35 to 24. : i The Premier moved that voting outside of . ' boroughs be one vote up to £1000 valuation, . two votes £2000; three votes, £3000 and. i upwards. — Mr Pirani moved as an amend- , , ment that one vote be allowed up to £5000 • valuation. — The motion was carried by 48 to 9, and the bill was reported' with amendments. ■ i The House went into committee on the • Government Accident' lnsurance Bill, but ' : progress .was reported, on a division, by 36 to • 20, and the House rose at 1.40 a.m.