LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, 21 July 1892, Page 31

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13. The Council met at 2,30 p.m. THE FRANCHISE. The Hon Mr Oliver presented three petitions in favour of granting the franchise to women, one petition including 18,407 signatures. The Hon Mr Shrimski objected to the latter petition, on the ground that it was not in keeping with the Standing Orders, the sheets being pasted together ; but the Speaker ruled that the petition was in order. THE VOLUNTEERS. The Hon Sir G. Whitmore moved : • That a Select Committee be appointed to enquire whether it is not possible to arrange that the Volunteers should be encouraged by any privileges or concessions, which, without affecting the revenue, would have a beneficial effect in maintaining the efficiency of the Force ; the Committee to consist of the Hon Dr Grace, Hon Captain Morris, Hon Mr Bonar, Hon Mr Dignan, Hon Mr Walker, Hon Captain Baillie and the mover.” Speaking in support of the motion the hon gentleman mentioned that among concessions which might be made would be that of cheap travelling by the railways. The Hon Dr Grace seconded, aud the Hon Mr Bonar and Hon L. Walker supported the motion, which was carried, power to call witnesses being added. TECHNICAL defects. The Courts of Justice Technioal Defects Removal Bill was passed through committee, and the third reading fixed for next day. UNCLAIMED LANDS BILL. The Hon the Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of this Bill. The Hon Mr McLean, Hon Mr Stevens and Hon Mr Ormond spoke on the Bill. LAND CLAIMANTS. The Hon the Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the New Zea* land Company’s Land Claimants Bill, which was carried, and the Bill referred to the Waste Lands Committee. LIBEL BILL. This Bill was taken in committee, and the last olause was reaohed without opposition, when at 3.30 the Colonial Secretary moved that progress be reported, and the Council then adjourned. THURSDAY, JULY 14. The Council met at 2.30. consolidation stock committee. The Hon Mr McLean moved that his n»me be discharged from the Consolidation Stock Committee, and also that the name 'of Sir P. Buckley be added. He himself could not devote the time, and as the Colonial Secretary had mentioned that the Go. vernment was not well represented on the Committee it would be desirable to have that hon' gentleman on the Committee. The Hon the Colonial Secretary hoped that Mr McLean would permit his name to remain. That hon gentleman’s qualifications specially fitted him for work of the kind. The latter motion seemed to be a joke, for he (the Colonial Secretary) had plainly stated that he had no objection to the personnel of the Committee —it was to the appointment of a committee at all. He himself conld not possibly give careful attention to the woik required in a committee of fcbis kind. The Hon Mr Reynolds alluded in compllmeatary terms to Mr McLean’s capabilities for the position, and hoped he would withdraw the motion regarding himself. The Hon Mr McLean said he felt that he could not oonßcientiously undertake such work when he- could not give it the necessary time. Mr McLean oalling for a division, the first motion was lost by 18 to 6, and then the hon gentlemen pressed his motion that the Colonial Secretary’s name te eubatituted, notwithstanding that that gentleman objected. The motion was lost by 19 to 6. THIRD beading. The Courts of Justice Technical Defeofcs Removal Bill was read a third time and passed. The schedule of the Libel Bill was approved of, then the Bill was read a third time and passed. INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS. Before the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors Bill was taken in committee, the Hon Mr Shrimski raised a strong protest against this principle of incorporating bodies, which he believed to be a very injurious thing to the Colony They had enough of these close bodies, which seemed only to be for the purpose of getting as much as possible out of the public. In the case of the chemists an i dentists it had been an unsatisfactory measure, and ho believed it would be unworkable in this case—it would not ensure any greater skill in the profession. The Hon Mr Stevens saw no objection to the surveyors being permitted to have an incorporated body, but he considered clause 11 (that a register of surveyors be kept by the Surveyor-General) to be superfluous.

The Hon Mr Barnicoat feared that a measure of the kind might lead to a tyrannous state of things. He had every confidence in the present Surveyor-General, but they might not always have such a worthy officer, and the power under this Bill might be cruelly and wantonly used, in refusing to allow one qualified surveyor to work alongside another one whose only other qualifica* tion was that of being a member of this Institute.

The Hon Mr Scotland agreed with Mr Stevens as to the eleventh clause. [The Colonial Secretary : That will be amended in committee.] He hoped the Bill would be so mangled that it would never pass, or be thrown out elsewhere. The Institute would grow to a laud company. A division was called for as to whether the Council would go into committee on the Bill. Ayes, 16 ; noes, 5. There was discussion on clause 5, permit* ting the Institute to acquire and dispose' of land, the Colonial Secretary making an

addition restricting the area to be bought to ten acres.

The Hon Mr Barnicoat said there was no question as to the ability of surveyors to select, buy, and lay out land, but he thought the Council should legislate for the public more than for surveyors. The clause was adopted, with the amendment. On clause 8, permitting the Institute to make by-laws, Mr Barnicoat said the surveyors might say they would not work except at a high figure of remuneration. Mr Oliver said the profession had now such a scarcity of work that there was no fear of unfair charges. The clause was adopted. On clause 9 the Hon Mr Stevens took objection, saying that it might in time lead to the institution becoming a restricted Trades Union, which, from the very cause mentioned by Mr Oliver, might evolve that no more members be permitted. The Hon the Colonial Secretary said the section required further consideration, and on his motion progress was reported, the Bill to be taken in committee again next day. SETTLED LAND ACT. The Hon the Colonial Secretary Baid that the Settled Land Act Amendment Bill should have been referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, and he now moved that that be done. The motion was carried, and the Council adjourned at 3 35. FRIDAY, JULY 15. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. The Hon Mr Stevens asked, Whether it is the case that in the assessment of death duties a valuation of assets is insisted on, instead of the valuation of estates made under the law regulating the taxation for Government purposes ; and if so, will the Government take steps to secure that the latter valuation shall be sufficient ? The Hon the Colonial Secretary replied that in the assessment of death duties there is no special mode pursued and there is no special law for regulating taxation for Government purposes. The Hon Mr Stevens asked the Colonial Secretary what amount the Lake Forsyth and Akaroa railway account now owes to the Public Works Fund. The Hon the Colonial Secretary replied that the amount owing on March 31 was £33,830, but £3383 had to be deducted from this amount for Crown lands which had been sold for cash in contravention of the law, and as soon a 9 this sum could be recovered from the persons liable it would be credited to the account. NEW BILLS. The following Bills wore read a first time: —Orakei Succession Further Investigation Bill, Kaiapoi Native Reserves Act (1877) Amendment Bill, Rohe Potae Investigation of Title Bill, Oyster Fisheries and Grey Educational Board Bill. LAND CLAIMANTS : UNCLAIMED LANDS. The New Zealand Company’s Laud Claimants Bill was dealt with in committee. Clause 14 was altered to the effect that the names of original claimants, with further particulars, should be published in two conseoutive numbers of the New Zealand Gazette, and once in one or more newspapers published in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin. The Unclaimed Lands Bill was dealt with in committee, and amendments made, the third reading being fixed for Tuesday. INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS. The New Zealand Institute of Surveyors Bill was resumed in oommittee. Clause 9 was amended so that anyone over 21 years of age qualified as a surveyor may become a member of the institute. Clause 11 was amended so that the Surveyor-General will not be required to keep a register. The third reading of the Bill was fixed for Tuesday. The Council adjourned at 4 p.m.