GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8986, 17 September 1892, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

{BY telegraph.— press ASSOCIATION.] "■ : LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday. . The Council met at hall-past two p.m. i! - BILL PASSED. ' ' The Deropsey Trust Bill passed its final Stages. THE LAND BILL. Sir P. Buckley moved the second reading Of the Land Bill. Mr. Stevens at length adversely criticised the provisions of the Bill, fie objected to elective Land Boards, and ridiculed the idea that married women should be debarred from selecting land, or that rents should not be allowed to take up id for their children, on the absurd ground that they might be guilty of dummyism. He spoke in favour of the deferred payment system, and also of the freehold tenure, and said the abolition of the latter system would inevitably prove disastrous to the tenants tod the revenue, which would be unable to find fees for surveys, etc. Ho was convinced that the 999 years' lease would not prove acceptable to the majority of the people; besides which settlers would be unable to borrow money unless at usurious rates of interest. He predicted that the Bill, if passed, would not only cripple the farmers, but would have the effeot of driving them from the colony. He strongly opposed the "one-mau-one-run" clause, and lie also objected to the power vested in the Minister of setting: apart 250,000 acres per year for village settlement. It was placing too much power iu the hands of the Government of the day, in addition to which it would injure other systems of tenure. Dr. Grace opposed the perpetual lease scheme, as also clause 44, by which the Crown might cancel a lease without hearing evidence. Be strongly opposed women being debarred from acquiring homes for themselves and children when they were burdened by drunken or thriftless husbands. Dr. Pollen, in a caustic speech, opposed the Bill. It was not land settlement so much as settlers, good hard-working yeomen of England, etc., that the colony required, and which they would have but for the blatant cry of the so-called unemployed and trade unionists who ruled the present Ministry. He expressed the belief that the Council, despite threats, would do their duty to the public and to themselves, so far as this Bill was concerned. Mr. Barnicoat generally supported the Bill, whilst Mr. Stewart opposed it as being calculated to withdraw money at present invested in pastoral lands, which, if the Bill passed, would be left to rabbits. The Bill was read a second time on the voices, and referred to the Waste Lands Committee. The Council adjourned at five to Tuesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday. The House met at half-past two p.m. Replying to Mr. Fish, Mr. Seddon said an attempt had been made to relieve the congested state of the labour market in Dunedin, by placing some of the men on the Otago Central line, and bringing others up to the North Island. INDUSTRIAL" CONCILIATION BILL. The whole afternoon was occupied in debating the motion for the third reading of the Industrial Conciliation Bill. A large number of members took a last opportunity of expressing their views on the measure, which some claimed was one of the most important that had ever been before the House. The debate was interrupted by the halfpast five adjournment. The House resumed at half-past seven p.m. After further debate, the Industrial Conciliation Bill passed its final stages on the voices. COMMITTEE of supply. The House went into Committee of Supply for the further consideration of the Estimates. Postal and Telegraph salaries, £167,590. Passed without discussion. • Telegraph and cable subsidies, £309. Carried after considerable discussion. Conveyance of mails by sea, £32,695. In reply to Mr. Dcthie, The Hon. J.. Ward explained the whole position of the San Francisco service, for which it was proposed to take a vote of £18,500. He said he believed that, even if this colony did not increase the present subsidy, the San Francisco service would not be discontinued, as the contractors would carry it on themselves. In his opinion, the San Francisco service was a fast one, and bad on the whole proved of great benefit of the colony. After a lengthy discussion, the total vote was carried. The other items in the department were passed without alteration. Education Department : Head office, £2130. Considerable discussion ensued on the Item, £310 for Assistant Native School Inspector. Several members expressed the opinion that the native schools should be under the supervision of Education Boards. The Hon. W. P. Reeves explained that he had been doing his utmost to accomplish this object, but as yet had failed to do so. Eventually the vote was passed without amendment. House left sitting at two a.m.