GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5794, 12 June 1880, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, Juke 11. [BY TELEGRAPH, PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1 Wellington*, Friday. Ix the Legislative Council, after the formal business, the following was proceeded with:— PURGING THE JUSTICE OF TIIB PEACE ROLL. Mr. Whitaker said, ia reply to Mr. Wilson, that the Government had carefully considered the question of purging the roll of the Justices of the Peace ; but found to do sr> wou'd be too retrospective, and in fu ure all insolvents, &c., would be called on to resign. CARELESS DRAFTING. A very long discussion, in which Mr. Bcckley pointed out the great carelessness in draughtsmanship, and the crndities are likely to lead to future litigation. NATIVE BILLS. The five new Native Laad Bills—viz , Native Reserves Bill, Native L;ind Frauds Prevention Bill, Native Lanls Act Repeal Bill, Native Succession Bi'l, and Native Land Court Bill—were read a second time, and referred to the Native Lands Committee. LAND TRANSFER. The I.and Transfer Act Amendment Bill was read a seound time after a brief debate and referred to a select committee o£ members. ■FISHERIES HILL. The Fisheries Bill wai read a third time and pisjed. This was all the business, and the Council adjourned at 4.15 p.m. HOUSE OF R KPRBSENTATiVES. Friday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. PAPERS, NOTICES, QOESTIJNS, ETC. Mr. Kollkston laid on the table a copy of the correspondence re the death of J Wilson, prisoner ia the Invcicargill Gaol. Major Atkinson laid on the table a copy of the instructions given to assessors under the property tax He also stated that a modification of the form of the sc'aedule woul.i Le made, and that in ail probability tha time for the collection of the tax would be extended. In reply to Mr. Hoest, Mr. Oliver said he had received a report on the subject and in a diy or so would be able to state the intentions of the Government as to the return of the protective works at a place known as Double Cabbage Tree, on Jacob's River. Replying to Mr. McCaughan's question if Mr. Woodward, public trustee, is the sama whose name is subscribe! to au advertisement as manager of a Trust Company, and, such being the case, could his time not be fully employed in the Government service, or his otficj discharged by some other functionary of the Civil Service, Major Atkinson said that he believed the two names were the same ; that Mr. Woodward had practically ceased being in the Government service on the Ist of May last; but, as a favour to the Government, he continued to discharge the duties in the meantime without salary. Replying to Mr. McCaughan, Mr. Hall said the San Fraucisco mail

service contract did not terminate until ISS3, and could not be terminated sooner unless a breach of contract occurred. Mr. DeLautour asked, " Whether the officers or others in the employ of Lhe Government, who have been, and are now, with the defence force on the West Coast, received permission to act as correspondents

for the Pr<?ES Association, or for any newspapers. 2. Whether any Buch officers or persons are acting as correspondents with the cousent of the Government." Mr. Bryce answered the questions in the negative. Replying to Mr. B. Fisher, Major Atkinson said the Government had not, and would not for a period of three months, receive Sir John Coode's report upon the Bullcr harbour. Replying to Mr. Hurst, Mr. ItoLLESTON said the Government had no information that a run in Otago had been leased by the Waste Lands Board of Otago, for the sole purpose of breeding rabbits, and thereby not complying with the Act. which provides that lessees Bhall stock with sheep or cattle, according to the carrying capacity of the couuty. Mr. Bain asked the quantity and value of the Newcastle coal used in the Invercargill section of the New Zealand railway during the financial period ending 31st March last. Mr. Oliver replied 2515 tons, the cost being £3751. As soon as the engines were adapted for the purpose Native coal would be used. Mr. Allwrigut asked, "If the Railway Department collect the freights of the Union S.S. Co. in Dunedin and Canterbury; if so, the amount of commission charged for such collection." Mr. Oliver replied that an arrangement of the kind existed since May, IS7S, and was found to be for the public convenience. No commission was oharged. Mr. George asked, "At whose cost the pamphlet entitled 'Guide to the Property Assessment Act, 1879,' by Charles M. Crombie, Deputy Property Tax Commissioner, was printed, and who derives the advantages, if any, from the sale thereof ?" Major Atkinson replied that it was strictly a private matter, and the Government had nothing to do, either with the cost of the publication or the profits arising from the sale. Replying to Mr. Pitt, Major Atkinson said the lights. had arrived from England, and the Government were completing arrangements for the establishing of t'.e leading lights for the steamers at Tory Channel. Mr. DeLatour asked how many natives were detained in prison at the present tima awaiting trial for alleged disturbances ou the West Coast of the North Island ; how long have they, or each of them, been so detained ; how many have died during the term of imprisonment; what is the cost per week of their maintenance and safe custody. Mr. Bryce replied : 130 were detained for eleven mouths, one died, and tha maintenance cost por week was £75. In reply to Mr. Bowes, Mr. Oliver said, the cost, during the quirter ending the 31st of March last, of the working of the Christchurch passenger station, was £1,221, that of Dunedin, £971. The pissenger traffic of the one was 45.070, the other 45,072. a bill committee. Mr. Seymour moved, "That a Select Committee be appointed consisting of ten members, to whom all local B.lls shall stand referred after the first reading, the committer to consist of Messrs. Ballanco, Bowen, J. B. (Fiiher, Fulton, Ormond, Shepherd, Stewart, Tole, McCaughau, and the Mover." Mr. McCaughan objected to his name being placed on any committee in this way, his name haviHg been studiously kept off committees by the Government when appointing the committees iu the ordisary way. Mr. Hall denied that the Government had done so. His name had been omitted as it was understood he objected to committee work.

On the question of expunging, his 'name from the committee being put to the House it was carried on the voiccs THE EVIDENCE AMENDMENT BILL was introduced by Mr. Stewart, and read a first time. PHARMACY BILL. Mr. Dick moved the seoond reading of the Pharmacy Bill. Dr. Wallis said the proposal was premature. The Government should have in the first instance made an effort to sooure a combination on the part of the medical profession, and theu a subsidiary meveinent of this kind might follow. He suggested that the measure be postponed. Mr. BjWEN said the Bill was very urgently demanded, and no one acquainted with the poahion of affairs in connection with the trade at present could doubt its importance. Mr. MaCandrkw did not see any pressing necessity for the bill. Mr. J. B. Fisher supported the Bill. Mr. Dick replied that it would be competent for the Boatd to provide examinations throughout the colony. It would not be necessary that the candidates go to Wellington as some speakers appeared to apprehend. The objection that women were not provided for by the Bill was a good one, and he would be prepared to admit an amendment in this direction readily. If the bakers and brewers were in the habit of mixing poison with the articles they supplied, it would be as n«ceasarv to see they were daly qualified, as it "was proposed to do with droggists. The motion was put and carried. ELECTION PETITIONS. Mr. Hall moved the second reading of the Election Petitions Bill. _ It wis iden-J tical with the Bill of last session. Dr. Wallis denounced the Bill as unconstitutional. The proposal to remit &e

.petitions- to, jodges was an abrogation of English law on the point. He contended that the conditions in the colony were different from those at Home. Here tin majority of the judges were politicians of recent date. Jastica Gillies, for example, had a seat in the Hoase of a very recent date, and at that time was known as one of the most vigilant partisans in the House. Then, again, a petition may be presented at any time at a place coterminous to a p'ace where the offence is alleged to have been committed. That state of things placed the members in a very false position. Members present in Wellington might be called upon to defend a petition of this kind at a time when it might be highly inconvenient to leave their legislative duties. Mr. Tole was of opinion that it would be well to relegate questions of this kind to a tribunal outside, and independent of the Hous2. The object of the Act was that questions of fact, as well as of law, were left to the decision of the judge. What he would suggest on that qne9tioo was that the Act be left for the decisions of a jury, and that an appeal on points of law be reserved for the Court of Appeal. Mr. Tujisbull thought that the corrupt practices provided against in any Bill should be defined by the Act itself, and not left fur the interpretation of another statute. The debate was interrupted by the 5 30 ■ p.m. adjournment. ELECTION* PETITION'S BILL. I The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr. Hall replied on the debate on the second reading of the Election Petitions Bill. He maintained that questions of this kind at trial by a jury would not be so safe as by the Judge of the Supreme Court. Before the Bill parsed into law he would consult the judicial authorities as to the pr.»priaty of getting the case tried by two judges instead of one. Tho motion for the second reading was passed. CORRUPT PRACTICES. Mr. Hall moved the second reading of the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill. Dr. Walws blamed the Government for introducing important measures similar to the present without affording proper information as to the principles of such measures. He criticised the provisions of the Bill. He then went on to criticise the omissions of the Bill, in connection with which he had intimated that he would move an amendment on the second reading of the Bill, though he would not novc do so. That no Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill will be satisfactory to the House which sanctions payment for the conveyance of voters to the poll, and which does not give a definite agency in connection with election, and which does not rccognise the distinction between necessary expenses of elections and those other expenses which, though not necessary, are at present legal, and which does not propose to enact that the aforesaid necessary expenses must be paid through the Returning Officers. Sir W. Fox said he hoped the Government would see its way to make better provisions in the Bill for the closing of public houses at election times. There was another matter to which he would call attention. In San Franciseo, they found a difficulty in doing this. The Bill was inconsistent as it stool. If one gave a man a sandwich aud a

glass of water that was corruption, and would invalidate the election, whereas if you paid" £300 for cab hire that was legitimate. Mr. Moss could not see how the necessary work of an election was to be done, unless the candidate was allowed to pay certain reasonable and necessary expenses, such as canvassers, clerks, &c. Mr. Thomson supported the proposal for the closing of public-houses on the day of poll, aud that at general election all elections to be fixed on one and the same day. Mr. Speight thought the Bill went in a good direction, and supported it. Mr. Seddon contended that the electors of New Zealand, were, practically speaking, insulted by much that had been said that night. Air. Tole thought the Bill premature, and very properly be delayed till after the Bill for the re-distribution of seats. Mr. Reid was not in favour of the proposal to close public houses. A prohibition against agents and committee was rather extreme. Sir George Grey agreed with the suggestions made by members. The Bill was under the care of Sir W. Fox aud Dr. Wallis, as representing the two extreme sides ot the House, and would, he thiught, be made into a very fair measure indeed. Mr. Hall, in replyiog, contended that if the House wants to prohibit the use of conveyances while it gave a l*rge number of people votes, it would be practically excluding them from the exercise of their votes. That was more particularly the case in large districts. The motion was carried, and the Bill was read a second time. RUMOURED RESIGNATION OF SIR JULIUS VOOEL. Mr. George asked, without notice, "If the rumour was true that the Government had received a cablegram from England announcing the resignation of the Agent-General." Mr. Hall said there was no foundation for the rumour. PROGRESS OF BILLS. The House then went into committee on the Taonui-Ahauturanga Bill, which passed, and was reported with amendments. The Regulations of Election Bill was further considered in committee. An ara-ndment to substitute the word " person " for "registered elector," in clause 11, was negatived on a division, as was also the proposal to strike out the words requiring the written assent of candidates. Several verbal amendments were made. A proposal to extend the hours of pilling to 7 o'clock p.m. was lost on the division by 38 to 21. Progress was reported on clause 28, and leave obtained to sit again. The House rose at 12.40 p.m.