PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 956, 27 June 1890, Page 18

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. Leave was given the Hon Dr. Grace to introduce without notice a Bill to extend the Roman Catholic Land Act, 1566. Sir George Whitmore introduced a Bill to amend th 3 Legislative Council Act, IS9O. The Bill was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Wodnesday next. Several notices oE motion for the appointment of the usual sessional committees were agreed to. The Speaker left the chair at 2.40 p.m., in order to present tho AddreßS-in-Reply to his Excellency the Governor, and on resuming the chair announced that he had presented the same in company with the mover and seconder, and that his Excellency had made the usual formal reply. The Council rose at 3.20. p.m. till tomorrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY, JUNE 25. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. The Minister of Lands, replying to Mr W. C. Smith, said there had been nounreasonable delav in enforcing the Selectors’ Land Revaluation Act, and he thought the Land Boards were doing all in their power to effect the alterations. Settlers in arrears were entitled to have their holdings revalued under the Act, but he had refused to approve the reduced valuations until arrears had been paid. Mr Hutchison said the Wellington Land Board had refused to consider applications for revaluations, and the Minister promised to inquire into that matter. The Minister, for Mines said the applications for mining reserves in the Midland Railway area far exceded the 750,000 acres available, but the Government would see that no auriferous lands were lost to the Colony. The Minister of Defence, in answer to Mr Anderson, said the Government desired to encourage rifle clubs, but the details of the manner in which these clubs were to be officered could not be stated at present, in view of the fact that the organisation of the Volunteer force was to come under consideration shortly. The Postmaster-General, in answer to Mr Bruce, said the extension of telephone communication to Hunterville would be provided for in the Estimates.

The Pgstmast t:r-General informed Mr Parata that during the session the Government would state what they proposed to do in the wav of amending the Stamp Act. The Minister of Lands, in answer to Mr Lance, said the Government were making inquiries as to the outbreak of Cumberland disease in Tasmania. The Colonial Secretary info-med Mr Mnrchant that the adviaaol- ness of allowing settlers to slaughter one head of larye or four head of small cattle per month without a license would be refeired to the Stock Committee. The Minister of Lands, in reply to Mr Monk, Baid the Government had prepared, and intended to introduce, a Bill to prevent dummyism and forbid the speculative acquisition of land at Government sales. The Colonial Secretary promised Mr Fish to make inquiries into the seizure of the plant of a Dunedin paper called the Otago Workman, At the same time he deprecated any interference with the functions of the officers of justice. Mr Fish said he believed the reason given for the seizure was that the paper was not registered. ADDRE°S-TN-REPL.Y. The House adjourned for a quarter of an hour in order that the Addrrss-in-Reply might be preeented to the Governor. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time -.—Major Steward A Bill to further amend the Don Registration Aci, 1880; Sir G. Grey—A Bill to regulate the Admission of Persons to practise in the Courts of Law, and a Bill to provide for the Election of the Governor of New Zealand ; Mr Turnbull—The Timaru Harbour Board Empowering Bill; Hon Mr Hislop—The Factories and Shops Bill, the Shipping and Seamen’s Act Amendment Bill, the Truck Bill, the Building Lien Bill, and the Employers’ Liability Bill. MOTIONS. A number of motions were carried, among which was the following by Major Steward -,

—That it be an instruction to the Stock Committee, when appointed, to take into consideration the regulations now obtaining with regard to the quarantining of imported dogs, with a view to such reasonable modifications as the Committee may deem expedient. Several motions for appointment of committees were also carried. TODMAN LAND GRANT Bl' L, This Bill was read a second time. f KEEP BILL AND CATTLE BILL. These two Bills (tho purpose of wbioh has already been explained) were read a second time and referred to the Stock Committee. AUCKLAND ROMAN CATHOLIC RESERVES BILL. A discussion took place on the second reading of this Bill (moved by the Minister of Lauds), the object of the measure being to vest in the Roman Catholio Bishop of Auckland certain lands set apart for the purposes of that sect in Auckland. As there appeared a doubt whether the Bill was a local Bill, the debate was adjourned till noxt day. GTMMERBURN FOREST RESERVE BILL. 'This Bill, which vests forest reserves in tho Maniototo County Council, was adjourned till to-day for the same reason. REGISTRATION' OF ELECTORS BILL. The Minister of Educaiion moved the second reading of this Bill, explaining that it was practically the same as that of last session. It provided for the issue of electoral rights, for which voters had to renew their applications every three years, An innovation was granting special repre. sentation for seamen, though he should leave it to the Committee to say whether the representation should be special or not. It waa also proposed to give electoral rights to persons already on the rolls, but not to extend that privilege to such people, in future, the Government being of opinion that in a country where there was a free system of education electors ought to qualify themselves for electoral rights. Mr Ballance, while he complimented the Government on the abandonment of the proposal toohange it for an electoral right, ex pressed disapproval of the Bill generally, on the ground that it was not shown to be necessary,, or an improvement on the present law. He objected especially to the special representation of seamen or any other class, suggesting that the only way to give seamen true representation was to let them vote at different ports. He thought, also, that the Bill would disfranchise half the population if it were brought into force at the next election, because it would not be understood.

In the discussion which ensued, Major Steward opposed the Bills on similar ground to those cf Mr Ballance. Mr Tanner supported the Bill, though he agreed that special representation for any class was undesirable. One reason why he approved the measure was that it would abolish all the present rolls. Mr W. 0. Smith opposed the Bill, pointing out that it admitted of abuse, and that in his district, for instance, large numbers of bushmen would not hear of the electoral right principle. Mr Fulton was the next speaker, and was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.