GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11807, 9 August 1900, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. SECOND READING. The Thames Borough Endowment Leasing Bill and the Gisborne Harbour Board Further Empowering Bill were read a second 'millers' hours of labour bill. The Millers' Hours of Labour Bill was considered in committee. The provisions giving certain powers to the Governor-in-Council were struck out of clause 3, and also the words "occupier to keep register." To clause- 4, " limitation ot hours of labour," ;v proviso was added that three hours overtime' per day snould be allowed for three montns of the year. Ino Hon A. L. SMITH, who was m charge of. the bill, moved the addition of the words - provided, further, that extra hours worked in any week in lieu of the weekly lialt-hoh : day fhall not be deemed to be overtime. ■ After discussion, the amendment was withdraWn- PASSED. • The Canterbury College Empowering Bill was passed- through committee without amendment, read a third lime, and passed. -The Council rose at 4.40 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES*

TUESDAY, AUGUST 7

After the telegraph office closed consideration of the Ministers' Salaries and Allowances Bill was continued hi committee.

Mr Ell's proviso to clause 2, that the new Minister to be appointed bo elected by the House, was lost by 33 to 24. Mr PIRANI moved an amendment to clause 6 in .the direction of abolishing Ministers' travelling allowances.—Lost by 38. to 13.

Mr J. ALLEN moved to add a new clause, rsoealing the second part of the second schedule of ttie Act of 1873. The schedule provided for the appointment of two members of the Native race as members of the Executive.—Lost by 37 to 20. Mr ATKINSON moved a new clause, that the act do not come into force until Ist January. 1903.—Lost by 36 to 14. " Air J. ALLEN moved to reduce the Ministerial house allowance from £200 to £150, the original amount. —Lost by 37 to 13. The bill was reported with amendments at, 3 a.m.. Mr COLLINS moved to report progress.— Lost by 22 to 17. GOVERNOR'S SALARY AND ALLOWANCES. Tha Governor's Salary and Allowances Bill was committed. At clause 2 iho PREMIER moved an amendment that the allowances do not exceed £2000, exclusive of the £5000 salary.— Mr KOItNSBY, .as a prior amendment, moved to reduce Iho Governor's allowances to £1000. —The Premier's amendment was carried by 26 to 17. At 4.10 several members objected to sitting later, and Mr COLLINS moved to report progress. —Lost on the- voices. A new clause was added xo the effect that the Governor do not receive allowance during absence from the colony, while the person ad-, ministering the Government receive the lull establishment allowance while in office.

Progress was reported, and the House rose at 4.25 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8. The House met at 2.30. FIRST READING. The Coromandel Harbour Board Dissolution Bill was introduced and read a first time. PROVINCIAL SERVANTS. .The question of compensating old provincial servants for loss of oflice consequent upon the abolition of the provinces came up, and was discussed upon the report of the Petitions Committee that the petition of Captain Leach, late harbourmaster at West-port, bo referred to the Government. Mr GUINNESS moved to add the words " for. favourable consideration." Several members advocated that all such claims should bo taken into consideration, and if an obligation existed on the part of the Government some provision should be made ac-1 cordingly. The Jion. Mr HALL-JONES said if such claims were recognised it would bo a big- contract for the colony. The Right Hon. Mr SEDDON'contended that old provincial servants had lio claims whatever upon the Government. If they. were recognised it would mean further loa-ns for the coiony. The matter had been considered years ago, and he tuisied it would not be revived.

Mr E. G. ALLiiN moved a further amendment so as to include all similar cases.

Captain RUSSELL said such petitions wore like flowers in the1 grass—they had great vitality, and came up annually. The only way to test the question was to bring it before the Supreme Court. . ■ . On a division, both amendments were lost.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, The lion. Mr DUNCAN said he thought the publication of a book by the Agricultural department giving a description of the diseases among stock in the coiony and the measures of cure would do more harm than good. The leriHet-s issued by the department, it was thought, stipplied the information required. With regard to ballot for sections of land, the Hon. Mr DUNCAN said ho intended in future that the ballot should be drawn by rjersons who were not applicants or relatives of applicants. The question of removing quarantine restrictions on vessels arriving in New Zealand ports from Sydney or Melbourne is under the consideration of the Government.

In the interests of the safety of the public it was not desirable to give railway surfacemen a half-holiday every fortnight. It is proposed.to introduce amendments to the Shops and Shop Assistants Act this session preventing the systematic employment of shop assistants at night. The House will than be given an opportunity of saying whether bank and mercantile clerks should be so frequently engaged at night. It is not deemed advisable to periodically remove inspectors on public works on the ground that their services would be of less value if they were shifted from district to district.

There is no hurry about appointing a Sur-veyor-general, and the Minister has not made up his mind! as to who will be appointed. The question of amending the Rabbit Act is not so iirgent as the necessity for inspectors exercising their functions with impartiality and tact.

The question of recouping sufferers from fires caused by railway trains has been given much attention by the department, and everything possible has been done to prevent them.

The Government. will relieve loca.l bodies from the expense of conducting licensing elections if the fees are handed over to them. . In reply to Mir Smith, who asked if the Government would bring in a bill to consolidate all local loans held by local bodies, including harbour boards, The PREMIER said the proposal was a large order. The Government had at present enough to do with its own loans, and in view of the demands made by members upon the Treasury it would be injudicious at present to consolidate local loans. Mr SEDDON also stated that it was the intention of the Government to increase the capitation allowance to education boards, and also give subsidies to technical schools. Mr PIRANI gave notice to introduce the .Libel Bill No. 3.

The House adjourned at 5.30.

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30. THE MARRIED PERSONS' SEPARATION

, BILL. Mr PIRANI moved the second readingof the Married Persons' Summary Separation Bill pro forma.—Carried.

COMPULSORY DRILL. The adjourned debate on] ihe second reading of the State School Children Compulsory Dril 1 Bill, rendering compulsory on education boards to teaci) military drill to hoys attending schools, was resumed.

The Plon^Mr HALL-JONES advised delay with the bill as the matter /as already under the .-onsideratio-. Of the department.

Mr GUINNESS said eduction b-ards had not fuids to give ;nstruction, and the State would have to supj>iy same. The matter should not bo loft to i.ho boards, but should bo compulsory. The second rosdin;* was carried on the REPRESENTATION ACT. Mr El ij -noved the second reading of tlie Jveproatation A.ct Amendment 3-ill, whicli provided ior altering the mode uf computing Uie pilots so thiil. there should be epresentaiir more m accordance wioh the population, and ".-luced the concession g an</*d to eount-y i],istric J« ;* ipi 28 per oc»-t. to 5 ncr cent. Mr T. M_* GKENZIE urged thai representation she \1 not be b-fcecl altogether upon t'».e pc Tjlstion of dis: ieW. The Hon. Mr WARD »».« ught it premature tt jjresant to deal With the ql'~stiorr ) and ad-'/-<ed the laenr.bcr ii charge ot the bill that r*r should b- c*.t'sßi.cl with talcing the Keeond {■filing, ar .. »'auing his dews on record. The sccoid r-^-lirnj was lost on the voices. CRIMINAL CODE. j- _e Cn'xJJ.Ta.' Ood.i Act Ame—iment Bill iwiA tl ov?,\ c«mmlHee v .thout -i^rsnd-n-sRf. \vais read a tnird time, anJ passed.

POLICE OFFENCES ACT.

. Mr GUINNESS moved the second reading of the Police Offences Act Amendment Bill, which proposed to amend a defective definition of public place as set forth in. the act,

and give court discretionary power to inflict a fine in lieu of imprisonment for offences under the act.

The bill was supported by Messrs HERRIES, WILFORD, and WILLIS. The Hon. Mr M'GOWAN paid he would not oppose the bill, but while it wont in the right, direction, he thought the definition of " public place " too wide. Captain RUSSELL thought the bill went too far in giving the option of a fine for certain offences. Messrs G. W. RUSSELL, COLLINS, and LAURENSON supported the main principles of -the bill, but were of opinion it would require amending in Committee. The second reading was carried on the voices. IMPOUNDING BILL. Mr HOUSTON moved the second reading of the Impounding Act Amendment Bill. Mr HEKE thought the bill would interfere with the Native landholders, and thought it wa3 unnecessary. The bill was read a second time by 40 to 9. SALES BY MORTGAGEES. Mr MILLS moved the second reading of the Sales by Mortgagees Bill. Mr T. MACKENZIE moved that the bill bo read that day six months. The Hon. Mr WARD supported the second reading of the bill. The second reading was. carried on the •voices. POSTPONED. The second reading of the Inspection of Schools and the Press Association Copyright Bills were postponed for a week. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE. ' The Rating on Unimproved Value Act Amendment Bill was committed. After some discussion, Mr R. M'Kenzie moved to report progress. —Lost by 23 to

20. . ■ The bill was reported with amendments, The House rose at 12.15 a.m.