PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8354, 6 September 1890, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BT TELEGRAPH- —PRESS ASSOCIATION,]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday. The Legislative Council meb at *.30 p.m. JUDGE EDWARDS' APPOINTMENT. In answer to Mr. Reynolds, the AttorneyGeneral declined to ask the Supreme Court Judges whether the legal business of the colony justified the appointment of an additional Judge. With regard to Judge Edwards, his appointment was primarily that of Native Land Commissioner, and ho merely assisted, when required, in Supreme Court work.

BILLS PASSED. The Gimmerburn Forest Reserve Bill, the Hokitiki High School Act Amendment Bill, and the Police Offences Act Amendment Bill, were road a third time and passed. The Council rose at 3.15 till Tuesday.

BOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday. The House met at half-past two.

leave of absence. Leave of absence was granted for the femainder of the session to Mr. Pyko on tccount of ill-health.

THE federation" proposal. Mr. Mxtchelsox moved that the House A it-? rising adjourns till to-morrow (Saturday), at half-past two, for the consideration of the federation proposals. Carried by 39 to 34. the railway commissioners. Mr. Fish, in asking a question regarding the action of the Railway Commissioners in having called on platelayers to load and handle goods on the wharves, spoke strongly of the necessity for the Commissioners staying their hands at present, and said that if, unhappily, a general railway strike occurred through the action of the Commissioners, the curse of every man, woman, and child in the colony would rest on those who caused it, Mr. Mitchelsos said he would not reply to Mr. Fish's remarks beyond saying that the Government had no risrht to interfere with the Commisssioners in their railway management, as those officers had been appointed by the House. It was the duty of the Commissioners to convey the goods of the public, and in the present case it; happened that they undertook to carry goods from Christchurch to Lyttelton, and to see that they were placed on board the ships at that port. THE PARALYSIS OF TRADE. Replying to Mr. Joyce, Mr. Mitchf.lson sakl the Government did not intend this cession to introduce a Bill by which it should be unlawful for any shipping or commercial company trading in New Zealand 'to bo with any other company beyond New Zealand in producing that paralysis of trade now existing in the colony

nationalisation of coalmines. In reply to Mr. Feldwick, Mr. MitchelSON said the Government had not at present under consideration any scheme for the nationalisation of the coal mines of the colony, but as it was such a large question they would fully consider it during the recess. THE PRIMA'IK DUTY. Mr. Mitchelson said in accordance with the promise he had made to the House he new desired to say that ho intended to introduce a Bill providing for the imposition of the primage duty to the 30th September. He also thought it, necessary to state that owing to the unhappy struggle row going on in the colony the Government considered it quite probable they would have to meet the House with a deficit next year. , ~ . In reply to Mr. Ballanck, he said it was impossible to estimate the loss in revenue at present, .-is it depended altogether on the length of the strike. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Estimates, and the few remaining items in the Public Works Estimates were passed as printed. NATIVE LAND LAW BILL. Mr. Mitchelson moved the second reading of the Native Land Lp.w Amendment Bill, which was brought in to remedy certain defects in the existing law. Mr. Hutchison said the Bill contained some provisions which would render it extremely likely it would not pass this session unless members were prepared to remain in the House much longer than was intended. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. The second reading of the Native Land Laws Amendment Bill was agreed to on the voices. PROGRESS OF BILLS. The Railway Construction and Land Act, 1881, Amendment Bill, which gives power to private railway companies to acquire land for railway construction purposes in the same way as the Government now do under the Public Works Act, and the Whangara Land Bill were read a second time. The Valpy Crown Grant Boundary Definition Bill, Administration Acts Amendment Bill, the Government Life Insurance Acts Amendment Bill, and the Children Protection Bill were also read a second time. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Sheep Bill were agreed to, with the exception of clause 74, which provided for the ear mark being made with a punch, upon a petition of the majority of the sheepowners in the district, rep. resenting two thirds of tho sheep of the district. Managers were appointed to confer with those of the Legislative Council on the clause. The Railway Construction and Land Amendment Bill was committed and passed Kith verbal amendments. The Gold Duty Abolition and Mining Property Rating Bill was considered in Committee, and reported with few verbal amendments. The Valpy Crown Grant Boundary Definition Bill, and Government Life Insurance Act Amendment Bill were committed without amendment, as also was the Children's Protection Bill.

All the Bills were put through committee, reported, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at twenty minutes past one.

After the telegraph office closed yesterday morning, the remaining items on the public works estimates (with the exception of a few, under the head of railways, which wero held over for further consideration) were passed unaltered, and progress was reported, the House rising at 2.20 a.m.