HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11797, 28 July 1900, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FRIDAY, JULY 27. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ' Leave of absence was granted to Mr Fraser {Napier) for one week.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

In answering questions, Ministers said:—'

The question that grants for Easter volunteer encampments be abolished, and in lieu ■to' make provision for all volunteers to go into camp for at least U days, would be considered if corps of all arms could be got iogether for training. Ilr SEDDON said he did not approve of jhanging the present names of places and disSricts for Maori designations, believing the Did names were the most appropriate. The Government have legislation in hand in the direction of suppressing illicit .tot^ betting and walking totes.

It is the intention of the Government to acquire more land in South Canterbury for settlement purposes. Until a bill which is in preparation has been passed the instructions issued not to grant occupation leases without the Midland Railway Company's land reservation would not be withdrawn.

The Government considered it against the interests of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank that adult depositors be allowed to withdraw their money hy means of cheques. In answer to Captain .Russell,

The PREMIER said that arrangements had been made with Mr W. P. Reeves satisfactory to himself and the Government for his reappointment as Agent-general for a definite time. He (Mr Seddon) had no intention ongoing Home to occupy that position under any Government, believing that he would be of greater service to the colony if he remained here.

The Government do not approve, except in special cases, of asking the Imperial authorities for permission for members of the New Zealand contingents who have joined the Imperial Army after serving in South Africa to'wear the New Zealand medal.

The Government do not at.present intend to bring in legislation dealing with the old soldiers' claims stiirunsatisfied.

The question of introducing penny postage in the colony was one of finance. As soon as the finances permit the system will be adopted.

Fifty rounds of blank ammunition were supplied to volunteers, and if more is required, an additional 25 rounds will be furnished, which should prove sufficient. The field batteries to be obtained in pursuance of the defence policy would be of a type showing an improvement upon those recently imported.

The concessions in railway fares granted to children attending State-and private schools lad been in force since ISB6.

To give Mount Cook site for a university college would mean a grant of £100,000, and the Government were not prepared to recommend this. Other suitable sites had been offered and refused.

The Government did not intend to enlarge the order of reference of the inquiry into the management of the Stoke Private Industrial School from two to five years. Captain RUSSELL moved the adjournment of the House, to complain of the dictatorial attitude of the Premier in answering his question about the reappointment of the Agent-general and other matters. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

The adjourned debate on the report of the committee on the Imprisonment "for Debt .Limitation. Bill was continued The Right Hon. Mr SEDDON said lie would agree to accept an amendment that the provisions of the bill be not retrospective bo as not to apply to past debt?. The bill was recommitted.

r..^rT,n^ w clause was proposed by Mr O'MEARA-"That the bill shall not apply to debts contracted previous to the passing- of the act."

Mr, WILLIS condemned the provision already agreed to that no order of committal to prison shall be made for default in tho payment of a, judgment summons where the debt does not exceed £20, contending it would be a hardship to business people, and injuriously affect poor people who wished to obtain credit.

Mr BOLLARD moved to report progress Lost- by 35 to 21.

Mi HOUSTON-believed if the bill was postponed for a few weeks and people understood its purport such monster petitions would be lodged against it as to cause the Premier to desist with its further progress The PREMIER said he undertook to see that the minimum amount for which fin order of committment can be made would be reduced from £20 to £5 when the bill reached another place. The new clause was adopted and progress reported. On the motion that the bill be read a third time.

Mr WILLIS said he believed the bill would cause great dissatisfaction throughout- the colony. • '

Mr HOUSTON protested against the bill on the ground that it was of a most vicious character.

Messrs M'GUIRE and G. W. RUSSELL opposed the bill.

The PREMIER said he believed the bill would strike a blow at the credit system, while in practice it would be found that the honest poor, when the necessity arose, would not be refused accommodation. t The bill was read a third time by 36 to 19 and passed.

On the motion that the Public Contracts Bill be read a third lime the House divided. *—Ayes 41, Noes 12.

A CONTRADICTION.

The Hon. Mr WARD read a telegram from the district traffic manager at Cliristehun-h contradicting the statement that delay had been caused in unloading the coal steamer at Lyttelton for want ot trucks, and the objection raised to allow overtime to be worked by the men. BILLS PASSED. The Native Interpreters' Classification and Lunatics Act Amendment .bills were read a. third time and passed. NOXIOUS WEEDS. .The- House went into committee on the Noxious Weeds Bill. The bill was amended so as to extend the third Echedule by including therein other plants than those mentioned, on the recommendation of the Joint Stock and Agricultural Committee.

The proposal to add a new clause making the occupier responsible for keeping a road abutting on his property clear of weeds to the centre thereof was agreed to by 25 to 17. The bill was reported with amendments. 'f he House rose at 1.40.