POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7466, 14 September 1892, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

VBY TELE(.R<TH ) (FROM CUR OW X CORRESPONDENT. ) Wellington, September 13. LAND BILL. In speaking to the motion for the agreement with amendments made in the Land Bill, Mr Geoigc? Hutchison said that the average attendance of the Ministerial supporters, when this important measurewas going through committee, was that seven members would drop in, take a languid mteieat in the Bill, and drop out again. The amendments made h.ul been the work of the Opposition, and in every instance praise for those improvements was due, he contended, to the Leader of the Opposition, who had Racritio'ed his time and labors in making . it less irksome to those intending to uke up land, Mr Rollestnn said he felt proud to think thikt the improvements made in khe Bill were due to members of the Opposition. He denied th it there had been any obstruction to the Bill, and declared that no worie mo.isure had ever been forced on the country THE BANKRUPTCY HILL. The Minister of Justice siys he cinnot accept the amendments made by the Council in section 58, subsection 3 of sections 63, 77, 120, and 125 of the Bankruptcy Bill, and Messrs Duthie, Tanner, and the Hon. W. P Reeves have been appointed to draw up rtasons for di§ agreeing. A MARINE ENGINEER. The necessity for the appointing of a Marine Engineer for the colony, competent to advise them in reference to expenditure on such harbor works as those at Westport and Greymouth, was pressed on the Government this afternoon by MiWright, who alleged that the money spent on these harbors was being wasted. At present outside professional men, such as Mr N. Bell and Mr Leslie Reynolds, were being employed. He contended that an engineer responsible to the Government should be consulted before any further expense was permitted. Mr O'Conor seconded the motion for adjournment pro form,«, and defended the works bow going; on. He said that two millions had been wasted in New Zenland harbors by Colonial Governments sending their own engineers. The argument of the member for A^hburton only went to show his dissatisfaction with the present Et gineer-in-Chief. All that was required at We«tport and Grey mouth was t o follow Sir J . Coode's advice. Messrs T. M'Kenzie and \V. Hutchison advocated the appointment of a marine engineer for the culuny. Mr Guinnrss unid that the country «a? getting disgusted with the waste of timo by members of the Opposition daily moving the adjournment of the House on petty subjtcts. He suggested to the Government the advisability of stopping this wi'h a firm hsuid by continuously sitting, and so forcing the business through the House — "A Daniel come to judgment," chimed in Mr Fish, who at once proceeded to lecture Mr Guinnessfor trying to burk f.ur discos sion. He declared that there was no member of the House who so little atqended to his duties as the hon. gentleman, who h^d just returned from the West Coast, where he had been engaged as an advocate for ten days, and signalled his return by an attempt to lecture those members who were more regular in attending to their legislative duties. THE TOTALISATOR, Mr Harkness inteuds asking that no totaliaator licenses be issued to clubs that deduct more than 10 per cent from investments. THE HAOGEN LIBEL CASE. Mr W. Hutchison has given notice that he will call attention of the Minister of Justice to the affidavits filed in the Haggcn libel case, And ask what action he intends to take. LOCAL LOANS. The Council have adopted Mr Stevens' proposal that in polls for local loans, a majority of two-thirds in number of rate payers, and one half in value of property is necessary to carry a proposal to bor- j row. { THE ARMS ACT REPEAL BILL, ! which proposed to rescind the law pro hibiting the sale of fire arms to natives was thrown out by the Legislative Council this afternoon.