THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7656, 5 June 1886, Page 6

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[BT TELEGRAPHPRESS ASSOCIATION. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Friday. The Council met at the usual hour. Bible reading in schools. Mr Mkkzirs gave notice that on Wed- : nesday he would move " That power be given to masters to read the Bible in school hoars. the new minister. Mr. Buckley informed the Council that Mr. Reynolds had been sworn in as a member of the Government. CHARITABLE extension bill. Mi*. Buckley, in moving the second reading of the Charitable Extension Bill, briefly explained that the Bill was designed to enable trustees of property devised to charitable purposes to acquire the same in an easy and inexpensive manuer. Sir F. Whitaker would not oppose the resolution, but he intended, when the Bill was in committee, to move an amendment whereby in case of property being left for the comfort of patients of charitable institutions, it should.not be diverted to the public revenue. He supported the motion for the second reading. Mr. Brandon objeoted to certain clauses In the Bill. Mr. Holmes designated the Bill as being an unjust one. He moved, with a view that members might have an _ opportunity of farther studying the provisions of the Bill, that the debate be adjourned to Tuesday next. Mr. Menzies considered that Mr. Holmes had gone too far in denouncing the Bill in the manner he had done. While it was desirable that funds devised under the provisions of the Bill should be left in the bands of some responsible Government official, he thought it would be as well that the responsibility should not be left in the hands of a political head of any Government department. He should like to see the power vested in the Judge of the Supreme Court. Dr. Pollen objected to the powers sought by the Bill being vested in the hands of the I Attorney-General. At present the colony was in the happy possession of a thoroughly capable Crown Law Office, but they could scarcely expect to be always so fortunate, and therefore it would be as well if the powers sought by the Bill were vested in the Judge of the Supreme Court. The debate was adjourned to Tuesday. The Council adjourned to Tuesday, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday. The House met at half-past two. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Mr. W. F. Bpckland asked the Native Minister : (1) Whether Dr. Buller mentioned in the Premier's memo., annexed to the Owhaoko and Kaimanawa Native Lands Bill, is the same Dr. Buller, whose services were secured last session as Commissioner for the Indian and Colonial Exhibition ; (2) whether the £1000 authorised to be paid last session to certain natives, under the heading " Himatangi rental," was handed over to Dr. Boiler on the strength of some old native orders which he produced J Mr. Ballance said Dr. Buller was appointed Hon. Commissioner to the Exhibition on account of services rendered to the Exhibition. The £1000 was put on the Estimates on the recommendation of the Native Affairs Committee. Mr. Peacock asked the Premier whether he has received a copy of a resolution unanimously passed by the Auckland City Council urging the desirability of having the local •upervision over destitute children maintained at the public expense ? Sir K. Stout said he had received a resolution, but his opinion was that the Auckland Council should establish an orphanage. Mr. Rolleston asked the Government whether they proposed to introduce any amendment of the Bankruptcy Act daring the present session. Mr. Tolk said the matter was now under consideration ? Sir G. Grey asked when the report of the Pacific Islands Committee would be taken into consideration ? Sir R. Stoct said he would give an opportunity n&xt week for considering the report. He could not say the exact day, THE ESTIMATES. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Major Atkinson asked what course the Government intended to pursue with the Estimates. Sir J. Vogel said be proposed to consider the Post Office estimate only on that occasion, and the remainder as he thought would be convenient for the House. Major Atkinson said that after the vota of yesterday he, and those who thought with him would not attempt to offer any factious opposition. He thought the Government should have acted upon Mr- Montgomery's motion, but not having done so, the Opposition threw the whole responsibility of making the reductions on the Government. The House went into Committee of Supply for the consideration of the Estimates. Vote of £7710, General Post Office. Carried. Chief offices, £123,353. Mr. Batch suggested that a classification should be adopted in this department. Sir J. Vogel said he proposed to go into a classification system during the recess, to see if it could be adopted with advantage. He was favourable to the system. Mr. G. F. Richardson asked whether the Government intended to make any reduction in these departments ? The increase on this -vote was £4600. Sir J. Vogel said the total increase in salaries was only £1100. Some of these votes were for new offices and new officers, and extension of business. Mr. Bryck asked whether the Treasurer could see hia way to make any reductions in this vote ? Sir J. Voqbl said he received applications daily for new offices. The Government were careful not to grant any new post offices, which would be reproductive, and no telephones were granted uniess they paid from 9 to 15 or 20 per cent. He thought a reduced expenditure would mean reduced revenue. He could not; see his way to make any reduction in the vote. A lengthy discussion ensued, various members taking exception to some of the increases shown. The vote of £123,353 was finally passed without alteration. Maintenance, repairs, and miscellaneous, £40,246. Carried. Cable subsidies, £3500. Carried. Conveyance of mails by sea, £72,878. Sir J. VcGELsaid, in reply to Mr. Turnbull, that the total amount paid to the direct service last year was £20,000, the bonuses being about £7000 or £8000. Vote carried. Conveyance of inland mails, £28,180. Carried, after some discussion. . Carriage of mails by railway, £10,000. Carried. Progress \jrjs reported. BILLS IN committee. Qn the motion that the Native Equitable Owners Bill be committed, a lengthy discussion ensued, in which Mr. Locke, Mr. Bryce, Colonel Trimble, and others took part. The House went into committee on the Bill, which passed with verbal amendments. The Municipal Corporation Bill was further considered jn committee. The House rose at half-past five p.m. The House resumed at half-past seven p.m. in committee on the Municipal Corporation Bill. A Urge number of clauses were passed without material alteration. In clause 406, providing that a council may contribute funds for school buildings, Mr. Hatch moved that it be struck out. The committee divided : Amendment lost by 27 to 16, and clause retained. The remaining clauses were then passed, leaving only those which had to be postponed to be dealt with. COAL MINES BILL. Mr. Larnach moved the second reading of the Coal Mines Bill. He said the object of the Bill was ' to place the coal mines of the colony under separate enactment?. It was thought beneficial that this should be done. Tbe Bill was entirely a technical ' measure. Mr. Seddon disagreed with the clauses in the Bill relating to certificated inspectors. It 1 did not provide for the present managers 1 holding certificates. He thought, however, the Bill was u necessary one. He hoped the I Bill would be referred to the Goldfielas Com- J mittep for, their consideration. < Mr. Connolly, regretted to sea. some j clauses in the Bill, specially those for the J employment of women and children in 1 mines. He thought in this country the wages of men Here so good that Women , should not be employed even outside of » ,

mine. He was surprised to see a provision that children of ten years of age may be employed in mines. The motion was agreed to. THE COUNTIES BILL. Sir R. Stoot moved the second reading of the Counties Bill. He explained it was simply a consolidating Bill. Mr. Seddon considered that as a number of miners were leaving the colony at the present time, it was advisable that the Gold Export Duty Bill should be proceeded with. Sir R. Stout said he would take the Gold Export Duty Bill on Tuesday. * Sir G. Grey objected to the principle of reading a Bill a second time formally. There were some amendments he proposed to make. He desired to have them brought before a full House. He moved that the second reading be adjourned till Tuesday next. Sir R. Stout hoped the motion for adjournment would be withdrawn. He might say that Sir G. Grey's aotion would not do his own Bills any good. Mr. Seddon hoped the second reading would not be pressed. He desired to discuss the whole system of local government on the Bill. str. Fulton thought the Premier might fairly adjourn the debate, as many members were absent who did not think it would be brought down on that night. Mr. Hurstiiouse said the House should not be deterred from doing its business because some members happened to be absent. Mr. Cowan said if the Bill were not committed till Friday, there was no reason why the second reading should not be taken now. Mr. Laki£ said last session a consolidating Bill—the Land Transfer Bill— lost, in which was contained several new provisions. The motion for the second reading was agreed to on the voices. The House rose at five minutes to twelve.