GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11795, 26 July 1900, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

.WEDNESDAY, JULY 25.

The Council met at 2.30-p.m.

GAMING AND LOTTERIES BILL.

The Hon. W. C. WALKER, in reply to a question, ' said it was the intention of the Government to introduce, during the current session a bill to amend the Gaming and Lotteries Acts. FIRST REABING. On the motion of the Hon. A. L. SMITH the Millers' Hours of Labour Bill was read a first time. A. AND P. SOCIETIES' BILL. The Hon. D. PINKERTON moved the second reading of the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Aot Amendment Bill. After remarks 'by the Hon. Messrs W. C. Walker, Pitt, Bowen, and Bolt the bill was read a second time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. • , WESTPORT HARBOUR BOARD BORROWING. The Hon. .W.. C. AVALKER moved the second reading of the Westport Harbour Board Loan Bill. In reply to • the Hon. Mr Shrimski, who said he thought the board had already borrowed an excessive sum, several members spoke of the success- of the harbour works so far carried out at Westport. The second reading was agreed to. DUNEDIN AND SUBURBAN TRAMWAYS. ; On. the motion ,of the Hon. D. PINKERTON, the Dunedin City and Suburban Tramway Bill was read a second time. GREYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD. The Hon. Mr KERR moved the second reading of the Greymouth Harbour Board Loan Bill, which was agred to. The Council, at 3.45 p.m., adjourned till 8 p.m.

EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 8 o'clock. An Imprest Supply Bill was passed through all stage?, and the Council adjourned.

HOUSE 01 REPRESENTATIVES.

■ WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, The Housp met at 2.30 p.m. BELLAMY'S.

The SPEAKER intimated, as a.result of the poll taken among members of both Houses of the Legislature as to whether or not alcoholic liquors should tie sold within the precincts, of Parliamentary Buildings, there was a majority of 34 in favour of the proposal.

SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE.

The Right, Hon. Mr SEDDON said he had received a cable .from th,e Premier of Tasmania stating that he had agreed to the request of -members of the Tasmanian contingent to be allowed to join the South African Mounted Police. The Premier said he had received a similar request, and his reply had been that he did not agree to discharge men of tho New Zealand contingents to enable them to join the force. The men had been, sent to Africa as soldiers, not as police. There had been some discontent amongst the men on account of their being drafted amongst other men and-losing their individuality as a corps: He thought the South African authorities, should first have consulted the Government before engaging the men for the police force. He explained that the men had been engaged for three months at 10s per day and find.their own horses, with liberty to join the corps at the end of that time.

IMPREST SUPPLY.

The Imnreat Supply- Bill No. 2, for £520,000 : was introduced.

Captain RUSSELL complained that with the sum named the House would have passed 'by way of imprest £750,000. He thought the Government should give the House some idea when the Financial. Statement would be brought down. Although one-third of the financial year had passed, the House knew nothing about the finances of the colony. Under.such circumstances, all other business should be postponed until the House had dealt with the finances of the colony.

Mr J. ,ALLEN complained of the waste of time by the Government not bringing important bills earlier in tho session, instead of leaving them till the dying hours of the session.

-Mr HERMES took exception that of the amount voted last year for roads and bridges only about one-third had actually been expended. He hoped the new Ministers would see in. future that moneys voted "uy_ Parliament were expended within the financial year. Mr W. ITtASER blamed the Government for not bringing down tho long-promised and much-needed Local Government Bill.

Air PIRANI wished to know the intention of the Government with respect to the million loan authorised last year and which had not yet been floated. On the motion for the third reading of the bill, The PEEMIER said members were only voting that day on the expenditure authorised bj- the House last year. The principal instalment of the Local Government Bill was already before the House in the shape of the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill, and the other part was ready for introduction, but he did not wish to feed the Opposition too fast. As to bringing down the Financial Statement, ■he first wished to pass a number of bills for submission to the Upper House. Members of the House already possessed information regarding the finances of the country, as they were published in the Gazette. As to the proposals of the Government, he was satisfied they would' be of such a nature as would prove acceptable to the House. He contended that legislation was very far forward this session, and hoped to see both Local Bodies Bills passed before the session ended. The bill passed all riages. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

Replying to questions. Ministers said: — With regard to a higher rate of pay to casual hands in railway sheds for the work they performed outside 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Government were in sympathy with any employees not in receipt of sufficient wages for services rendered, and would make inquiries into tlifi matter-

The question of issuing free passes on railways to teachers while attending classes of instruction in drill was a matter for the Education department

An amendment will bo made in the Land Act to enable village settlers to acquire adjoining holdings. The matter of giving a local body £1 for £1 subsidy for the x>urpose of forming bicycle tracks on any existing road will be considered.

The Government have not been aaked foi compensation by Mr Grey, late'chief Hansard reporter, for the loss of office, but the doctrine that an officer of the House could be guilty of insubordination and then ask for compensation was not sound, or in the interests of the efficiency of the public service.

Volunteer corps are supplied with small arms in order of priority of application.

A RETURN BLOCKED,

On the motion of Mr ALLEN, that a return showing the moneys raised by loan on debentures since March. 1899,

The PREMIER objected, as it would prematurely disclose the financial affairs of the colony. He moved the adjournment of the debate, which was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING- SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. SECOND READING. The School Attendance Bill (Mr Piranfl was read a second time pro forma. ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. Mr COLLINS moved the second reading of the Abolition of Capital Punishment Bill. He contended that capital punishment did not act as a deterrent to offences incurring that penalty, either of the order pf planned or arranged crime or when overcome by some over-mastering passion or malignant spirit of jealousy. If a man was seized with any of these impulses, he was not likely to be restrained by the death penalty, therefore some other mode of punishment should be inflicted, and "he proposed imprisonment for hie. It was to be noteu that the death penalty was very seldom carried out. Aeain, no_ matter how careful the jury may act, cases arise where men are innocently condemned, He believed the bill would tend'to the greater security of the peopled the country Mr MORRISON thoueht the bill a most extraordinary one. It failed to convince hici that the abolition of capital punishment would be in the interest of the people of the colony. Ho pointed to Switzerland, where capital ■punishment was abolished in 1874, but so great had become the increase of murders and crimes of violence that capital punishment was reenacted. It would be a bad day for the colony if capital punishment was .abolished.

Mr M'GOWAN admired the academical style of the mover, but it was not -suited to a, practical body like Parliament. jHe believed if capital punishment was abolished the crime of murder would be much more frequent than at present. His opinion was so pronounced upon the subject that he would vote against the second readme: of the bill. r

Captain RUSSELL dissented from, the proposal in the bill, believing, no matter how feeble the brain of a man may be, the fear of punishment acted as a deterrent to committing crime.

Messrs Stevens, Meredith, and Fisher opposed and Mr Barclay supported the bill. Mr COLLINS having replied, the motion for the second reading was lost by 49 to 9.

IMPOUNDING BILL.

Mr PIRANI moved the second reading of -the Impounding Act Amendment Bill pro forma.—Referred to tho Stock Committee. The House went into committee on the Absolute Majority Vote Bill (Mr M'Nab's).

Clause 3, contingent vote may be given, caused considerable discussion, several members commenting adversely upon the difficulty the electors would have in understanding how to vote.—The Hon. Mr HALL-JONES said he opposed the bill, expressing,the belief that any alteration in the electoral system, should. be in the direction of a second ballot.—^Captain RUSSELL meved to report progress, and ask leave to sit again.—Carried by 22 to 18. The House rose at 0.10 a.m.