GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6750, 6 July 1883, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

IB* TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday. TnK House met at half-past two. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. Replying to Mr. Sutton, Major Atkinson said an officer of the laovorment not connected with the Life Insurance Department made an investigation and report on tho department in 1879, but it was of a private character and would not he produced. Replying to Mr. Steward, Mr. Conolly siid Government did not propose to take up tho Chattels Securities Bill, introduced by Mr.Feldwiok, but Government would interpose no obstacle to its passing into law. As a number of amendments had, how--ever, been given notice of, it might be desirable to refer it to a select committee.

Eeplying to Mr. A. McDonald, Mr. Dick said the promise to refund halt the fines imposed under the Sheep Act upon •certain sheep farmers in Poverty Bay had already been complied with except in one case which was still under consideration. The fines on English and Gordon, at Kaikoura, were remitted on the recommendation o£ the Besident Magistrate who inflicted them.

Beplying to Mr. Toijb, Mr. Dick said while Government recognised the merits of Mr. Pyke's handy book of local government law, they did not propose making a present of a copy of the work to each member of the Legislature.

Replying to Mr. Mr. Stewart, Mr. Conolly said all prison regulations, prior to the coming into operation of the new Act, would, if contrary thereto, be rescinded and remodeled in conformity with the Act.

Replying to Mr. Shaw, Mr. Rollkston said the terms under schedule 3 of the Land Act Amendment Act, ISS2, providing for payment of rent in advance waa extremely liberal, and Government saw no necessity for altering the same. Beplying to Captain Morris, Mr. Dick said Government had no information as to the existence of hydrophoba in the adjoining colonies, and if it had been at all necessary to adopt quarantine precautions, they would have been bound to have had advices from the Governments of those colonies. They had called for information.

BILLS READ FIRST TIME. The following Bills were introduced and read n first time : Juries Act, ISS2, Amendment (Mr. Tole) ; to amend "The Hawke's Bay and Marlborongh Rivers Act, 1865," (Mr. Fulton); to amend the law so that no person shall have more than one vote in the election of members of tho House of Representatives ; to amend "The Regulation of Elections Act, ISSI," so as to extend the hours for polling (Mr. Barrou) ; New Zealand Government Railways and other employes (Mr. Seddon); the Wtiitara Harbour Board Loan Bill (in committee) (Mr. Tumbull) ; for the amendment of the law relating to Gambling and Lotteries (Mr. Shaw). VENTILATION. On the motion of Mr. J. W. Thomsox it •was agreed that a committee be appointed to consider the best means to remove draughts and improve the ventilation of the Chamber of the House of Kepreaentatives. R-EAD A SECOND TIME. The following local Billa were read a second time : Dunedin Southern Market Reserve ; Leasing Timaru Racecourse Reserve; St. Peter's Church (Caversham). BILLS ADVANCED. On the motion of Mr. Conolly the Tenants' Fixtures Bill was recommitted and further amendments made. The Bill was then reported, read a third time and passed. The Prisons Bill was read the third time and passed. . The Municipal Corporations Consolidation Bill was read a second time. gThe House adjourned at half-past five. The House resumed at half-past seven. PATENTS BILL.

Mr. Dick moved the second reading of the Patents Bill. Carried. MARRIED WOMEN'S PROPERTY BILL. Mr. Co.'.'OLLY moved the second reading of the Married Women's Property Bill, ne explained that it was a transcript of the Act passed by the British Legislature, with such alterations as were required by the particular situation of this colony. He gave it as his opinion that the Bill simply secured married women in their proper rights, and he hoped it would recommend itself to tho House. Mr. Montgomery did not think the principle or the Bill was open to objection. Mr. Grebn suggested that the Bill should be postponed until members had had an opportunity for examinieg it more closely. He had been informed that it was no uncommon thing for wives, in their husbands' absence, to secure protection orders, without proper canse beiDg shown. A state of things like that was calculated to do serious injury to domestic happiness. Mr. Fekgus spoke in favour of the BUI a3 being an improvement on the present law. The Bill was read a second time. BANKRUPTCY.

The Bankruptcy Bill was considered in committee. Mr. Barron moved that all the clauses down to the last one be postponed. His object was to give effect to the opinion he had already expressed, that there was no necessity for a bankruptcy law. Mr. Cosolly pointed out that 11 this Bill wae not passed into law, the existing Act ■with all its acknowledged defects, would remain in operation, as the Government would not, without taking the opinion of the country assume the responsibility of repealing all the bankruptcy laws. The motion for postponement was lost on a division of 52 to 15. Clauses 1 to 10 inclusive passed. In clause 11, Mr. Holmes moved an amendment to substitute " shall" for "may," bo as to render it compulsory to try the issue of facts before a jury.

Lost by 46 to 22. The clause was agreed to. Iα clause 14, Mr. Shaw moved to strike out the words allowing appeal to two Judges of the Supreme Court instead of to the Court of Appeal. The amendmeut waa negatived. Mr. Smith moved an amendment to make the appeal to two Judges final. This was negatived.

The clause passed. ""The proviso of clause 2S was struck out. — Clause 31 was amended eo as to allow of the appointment of more than one assignee in a judicial district. The minimum security to be given by an assignee was reduced from £5000 to £2000. In clause 43,. sub-section 3, the words ♦'three days" were altered to five days. Clause 45, sub-section 1 was amended, to compel the bankrupt to file in the district in ■which hehasresided or carried on business for the greater part of the previous six months. In clause 47 the word " fifty" was inserted in place of " twenty-five" as the minimum eum on which, a debtor could be adjudged a bankrupt. By division of 38 to 4 clauee 56 was amended, so that on the filing of a debtor's petition his property should vest iu the assignee. Clauses down to 59 inclusive passed. Progress was reported, and the House rose at twenty minutes past twelve.