GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4240, 20 September 1875, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wellington, September 18th. ■'

THE ABOLITION BILL.

' On the House resuming at 7.30 last evening,. ..after half an h6iu's further discussion on clause) 12 of theXliblitibn;.Bill,.at was passed without j amehdinent. l i.,:i • ... ■■.■■::>< ■ ■■■.'■ ■ -■■■*■■■ : Clause -13. Jong discussion ensued as to whether officials of -Provincial Governments of; abolished' Provinces should be placed in the^ .same position1 as Civil servants of the General Goyerament in'respect to. pensions, &c. ■ *-. , ' The Hon; Treasurer pointed out: that by the; Civil Service Act of .1806 .the Provincial officers/ when taken over by the General Government, were placed in the same position as officers of; the'-Geheral'-Government, so far as their time in computing the amount due as to compensation for loss of office was concerned, but that' the question of pensions must be dealt with by •■a-separate Act. The honourable member said: be would undertake to give the House an opportunity during the present session of expressing; opinions as to the question of awarding jjen-1 smns to Provincial Officers. The words in the: ■ first line within'one year were struck out, and .in the sixth-line after the wcrd " Colony," the following words, on the motion of Mr O'Conor,: were inserted:—" Such sum as he may be en;titled to xiucler the terms of any agreement' .entered into previous to 1875 and in default of any such agreement then.1' : :. ■ . ; After two hours' discussion,r the clause, as above amended, was passed. ;.'".' • Clause 14. — Mr Reid suggested that the: .-license fees and fines for scab in sheep should; '■ be paid direct to the Municipalities and Road: Boards, instead of to the public account. t : .'Mr Wood moved an amendment in the clause riving effect to the above suggestion. 1 'The.Hon; Treasurer said the ; Government: r would accept"the amendment. _ ; ';. Mr- Harrison protested against license_ and' "other fees being handed over to municipalities. In Westland the license fees amounted to nearly L 10,000.: Municipalities did not want; •^0 large a revenue.. It was much more wanted I'out-districts. -. .•..-.■ „ :, An amendment^ proposed by Mr Sheishard, Nelson, that publicans' licenses should be mitted, was lost oy 40 to 9. - Mr Wood's amendment was then carried on : the .voices, . ; ". '~ ,r.-1 ' A verbal alteration was made;in the tnircl .line 6f the second paragraph of the clanse. The following proviso was .added to the clanse':—: " Provided all fines and penalties inflicted for a breach of the bye-laws of any Road .Board shall be paid to the Road Board in which the, fine has been inflicted." The Chairman reported progress at 1 a.m., with leave to sit again on Tuesday. The House.then adjotirned. :