GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8596, 11 September 1889, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Mondat, September 9.—Evening* Sitting. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. in committee. NGAPAHA AND VTAIPERO INVESTIGATION BILL. This bill passed with several amendments and some new clauses, NATIVE LANDS FRAUDS PREVENTION BILL. This bill was further considered in committee. The new clauses prepared by the Native Affairs Committee in reference to the proceedings of the Trust Commissioners were agreed to, and also clauses to enable deeds which had been executed in accordance with the formalities then provided for prior to last year's act coming into force to be given effect to; to enable Ihe Trust Commissioner to call in an assessor to assist him if he is required by any of the parties to do so, and providing that the Trust Commissioner shall satisfy himself that the consideration is sufficient. The two bills passed through committee, were then read a third time, and passed. officers' uniforms. Mr FISH asked whether there was any truth in the report published in that Evening's Post to the effect that the officers who had recently been promoted by the Defence Minister were provided with uniforms obtained from England at a cost to the colony of £960. The Hon. Mr FERGUS said there was no truth whatever in the statement. He regretted inquiry had not been made at the Defence office before giving publicity to such a report. NON-PAYMENT OF HONOHABIUH. The SPEAKER called attention to the fact that an order, signed by himself as Speaker, for the payment of a member's honorarium of 2gs a day, had been refused payment at the Treasury, and he thought the House should be made aware of the fact. Tho order was refused on the ground that the money would have to be reserved for other purposes. Sir H. A. ATKINSON moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the reason why this order had been refused payment, which, after a short discussion, was agreed to. MISCELLANEOUS. The Property Tax Bill was introduced by message and read a first time. Sir H. A. ATKINSON moved the second reading of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill, which enabled local bodies to pledge their third of the land proceeds as security for a loan, and also to spend the loan money for a ferry where there is no bridge or road. Agreed to, and the bill was committed, read a third time, and passed. Sir H. A. ATKINSON, at 10.30, moved that the House do now adjourn. Sir J. HALL said he had been waiting a considerable time to ask the Premier whether he meant to fulfil the promise he made earlier in the session that an opportunity should be afforded the House of dealing with the important question of female franchise. Mr WALKER hoped the Premier would also give some information as to the filling up of the vacant seat in the Cabinet. Mr TURNBULL also said he should like to know whether there was any truth in the report that the Government meant to dissolve the House during the recess. Mr SAMUELS said there were many other important questions that should be dealt with, as well as that raised by the member for Selwyn. He thought it would not be wise for the Government to postpone the prorogation in order to take up a question of this kind. The Hod. Sir H. A. ATKINSON said that he, like the member for Selwyn, was a firm believer in woman's franchise, and he would have been very glad to give an opportunity for discussing it if possible. He was afraid, however, that the House would not listen to any such discussion at this stage of the session. The House had that day done very good work, and he thought they would be able to finish the business by the end of the week. The House rose at 10.30.