PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LV, Issue 9969, 2 August 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

legislative council,

TUESDAY, AUGUST 1. Tbo Speaker took the ohalr at 2.30 p.m. IMPREST SUPPLY RILL. An Imprest Supply Bill (M O , 2) for £255,500, was put through all stages. SATURDAY HALF HOLIDAY.

The Hon Sir Gao. Whitjork presented a petition, signed fay over 1900 sl-.opkeepera frooa Caoterhury, praying that Saturday should cot be made the compulsory closing day under tho Shops and Shop Assistants Bill.

magistrates’ courts bill. This Bill was further considered ia flora* mlttee.

In clause 121, the Hoa J. MacGrloor moved an addition by which shares in a Joint Stook Company might be seized by a bailiff on a distress warrant.

Tho ArrosNEY.GGNEr.AL opposed tho amendment, which was not pressed. The Hon T. Kelly proposed that tbo maximum amount of property which must be left after seizure should be increased from £25 to £SO.

The amendment was lost on the voices, and the clause agreed to. Tbo remainder of tbo clauses, with tho exception of one or two proposed new clauses, were agreed to, the amendments made by the Joint Statutes Revision Conn mit ee being adopted. NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISTS

This Bill was read a thud time and passed on the voices. The Council then rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 1

The Speaker took tho chair at 2.30 p.m PRIVATE BIL* S.

The Camara Loans Consolidation Bill and the Gore Electric Lighting Bill wore referred back to the Private Bills Committee,

Sir John Hall moved tbo second reading of the William Kibinsoa (• states trust Bill, which, ho said, proposed to vest the estate of the late Hon W. I obinson in separate trustee , iuato&d of iu ouo trustee. The Premier stated that this was a Bill which annulled tho will of the late Han W. Robinson. The ! oa J. 5. Ward considered that tho BUI attempted to establish a most dangerous precedent. If one will o-uld be totftsido by legislation, what about tho many other wills in this Colony which might be taken exception to ?

Sir Robert Stout did not think tho Bill proposed any material change, instead of keeping the trust in one estate, it divided it into five, but the trusts of tho will wcio not interfered with. The Hon VV. P, Reeves disagreed with the view taken by tho Colonial Treasurer, and tupportod tho Bill. The motion for tbo second reading was agreed to. BRUNNER COALMINES. In reply to Mr Guinness, the Premier said that thn attention of the Government has been directed to the condition of tho coalmines at Bruonorton, aud that applies tioa bad been made by tho leasees to tho Government to grant thorn assistant in prospecting. An enquiry was now being held into the wholo question of tho present posit tion and future prospects of tho Grey Valley coalmines. Tno Government would indicate what action it was propose i to take alter the report of the persons appointed to enquire had boon received. Considerable discussion took place on this subject, Mr Fish moving tho adjournment of the House.

The following Bills were road a first timo : - Native Laud Validation of Title j Bill, the Hoa J. Carroll j Cintorbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association Empower* lug Bill No. 2, Mr Handford ; Christchurch Hospital Act 1887 Amendment Bill, the Hon VV. P. Reeves ; Trustees Aots Amendment Bill, the Hon VV. P. Reeves. NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. Sir Robirt Stout and Captain Russell were appointed members of the Native Affairs Committee. WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RBSBR7C3 BILL. On the question of the second reading of the West Coast Battlement Reserves Aot Amendment Bill, the Hon J. Carroll said the provisions of the Aot of last year word not alt rod oxo'pt to be made clearer. Tho second reading was agreed to, and tho Bill was referred to the Native Affairs Committee. NATIVE BILLS. Tho Hon J. Carroll moved tho saoond reading of tbo Native Trusts and Claims Definition and Registration Bill, explaining that it was designed to define Native trusts iu different parts of the Colony. After a brief debate, io which Mr Parata supported the measure, the second reading was agreed to, and the 8.11 was referred to tho Native Affairs Committee. On the motion of tho Hon J. Carroll, the Rohe Potae Investigation of Titles Act Amendment Bill was road a second time, and referred to the Native Affairs Com l mittee.

The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m., and resumed at 7.30 pm.

CHEVIOT COUNT? RILL. On the motion for committal of the Cheviot County Bill, Mr Rhode-) presented a petition from several people who wished to be left out of the county. He hoped the Minister would postpone the Bill for a few days, *o as to allow the petition to be com sidorod.

Tho Minister for said that tho petition would not make the slightest difference, b:C»U3o It was not propoiod to declare a new oouaty at all. It was necessary, bo pointed ou :, to set up a locil Indy to tike control of tho roads which would be made there.

The Bdl was passed through committed without amendment.

On the question of tho third reading, the Hon \V. Rollkston maintained that the proper course to have taken in this matter was to alter tbs boundaries of tho Cheviot county, and attach Amuii to the electoral district of Ashley. The Bill was road a third time and passed. NORTH or AUCKLVND COUNTIES VEHICLE BILL.

The Premier moved the second reading of the North of Auckland Couatlee Vehicle Licensing Bill, which, ho explained, was designed to extend tho powers of the County Councils North cf Auckland to license vehicles, so as to raise the funds necessary to defray the cost of tho maintenance and repair of the county roads. After some debate, the motion was agreed to on the voices. TUB WELLINGTON DRAINAGE SCHEME AND TICE CARLES. The Postmaster-General iqoved tlje second reading of the Subtqariod Telegraph Cables Protection Bill. He said that laqb year tho Wellington City Coqncll obtained authority for a drainage scheiqe. It was understood at the time that a se wago farm would be included lu the sohcjae. and therefore the measure of protection considered necessary for the cables was not provided. It was impossible to remove the cables from Lyell'a Bay ; and as £40,000 worth of pro< party was involved, the Government asked, not that tho system of drainage or sewage should be interfered with, but that tho Corporation should pay any damage none to tho cable.

Mr Dutuib opposed the Bill. It was, bo said, indisputable, on the evidence of such engineers as Messrs Ferguson and Biggin* son, that no damage could arise to the o&ble. The BiU war superfluous, and should be quietly dropped. Dr Lemon himself had admitted that 25 years would elapse before the cable would be damaged, whilst he bad said at the same time that the shore end of a cable lasted only 12 years. Mr McLean said that if the PostmasterGeneral did not drop the Bill, the Government would find the citizens of Wellington coming upon them for damages, as they bad permitted the citizens to raise a loan for drainage. He' maintained that the Bill was unnecessary.

Mr Wright also argued that the Bill was unnecessary.

Mr Willis said the measure was sitqply a precautionary one, and could not cause any hardship if the cable were not damaged. The Hon Mr Ward pointed out that there were already on the Statute Books Acts for the special purpose of protecting telegraph and telephone wires all over the Colony. No one wanted to cause irritation to the people of Wellington, and the Bill was merely a measure of protection. Tho second reading was agreed to,

THE RIGHT) OF JUDGE WARD.

The Ward Conservation of Rights Bill was pqt through its remaining stages and passed.

AD)LI I lON Off ROB DEE^r. The debate on the second revßog of the imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill was resumed by Mr McLe&a, who urged that the BiU should not be proceeded with. After some discussion, in which considerable opposi’ion was shown to the measure, ir R. Stout moved that the debate be adjourned. Tho Premier did not agree with this motion, which, on a division, was lost by 26 votes to 23.

The motion for the second reading was carried by 27 votes to 23.

Tbo discossion of the Electoral Bill in committee was resumed.

Mr Shsra moved that the first paragraph of danse 7 be struck out, bis object being to abolish the special Maori representation. The Premier said that a proposal of so important a character as this should be brought down in a separate Bill. Captua Russell supported the amende meat.

Mr Doth b did not think the suggested change was desirable. Sir R Stout also urged that the special representation should not be abolished. They might seem an ondesirable class of pakeba Maoris returned. Mr Hamlin’ warmly enpported the meat.

Mr Ta ? pua urged that the amendment was just. Mr Kapa did not think tho change would be opportune at preseat. The Hon J. Caiuoll pointed out that whilst they had a Native Department they must have Native representation. If the Natives were rendered liable to taxation as Europeans were, they must have the earns

electoral privileges an Europeans. It tney flid not have that, they mutt have extra Maori representation, bccaimo on tho population Imsio they wore not sufficiently roproRented now. , . Tho amendment of Mr Baern wa* lo»- »y 35 vote* to 11. Tho lltmae adjourned at 12.50 a.m.