GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12471, 30 September 1902, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MONDAY,'SEPTEMBER 29. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Leave of absence was granted to the Hon. W. ltblly for the remainder of the session, on account of illness'in-hie family. BILLS PASSED. Tlic following trills passed their final stages:—Legislative Council Act Amendment, West. Goaefc Settlement Reserves Act Amendment, Accident Insurance Companies. j PROTECTION. OF LAND TITLES. '• On the motion tbat the Land Titles Protection Bill be committed, The" Hon. Mr ORMONp spoke in support of a. measure to afford protection from, .frivolous ' attacks against titles to lands ceded to the, .Crown or private persons byNatives. • •■''., > The Hon. Mr TOMOANA looked upon the bill, as placing the Maoris at a disadl- - ae compared ' with Europeans in raiding a, question as to titles obtained for Native lartds. " • •■ The Honj Mr TAIAROA thought some oases brought by Natives were frivolous, but there were others 'that required investigation. ■ ■ i •'. j '. j The debata was interrupted by the 5.30 • adjournment. ■' ■ : ■ . i The Council resumed at 8 p.m. ' Tho debate on the motion that the Land Titles Protection Bill be committed was continued by the Hon. Colonel PITT, who admitted the necessity for a provision such us was contained'in the bill an the interests aliko of the Natives themselves and holders of lands, whose titles might be attacked. I The bill was committed and reported without amendment. BILLS PASSED. The Solicitors' Bill of Costs, Licensing 'Committees' Quorums, and Polls Bills were I read a second time, .and subsequently passed ' their final stages without amendment. I The Companies Aot Amendment Bill was committed. • . i The Hon. A. LEE SMJTH moved a new sub-clause to-clause 5, providing that .every director who fails within 14 days ot due date to pay a call shall cease to be a director. This effect of this amendment Will be that no shareholder will be able to evade payment of call? on account of a director ' having failed to do so. The motion, was agreed to, and the bill read a third time and-passed. ' ! '.. TIED HOUSES. ! The adjourned debate on a motion to go into committee on the Tied Houses Bill was resumed by the Hon. Mr JENNINGS, who defended the committee to whoiw the bill-had been referred from the charges • made by Mr .Rigg, that the committee had ' shown biaes and attempted to suppress evidence in favour of the bill. Referring to the" provisions of the bill, he quoted'the ' evidence given before the committee by wit--1 nesses that if would ruin them. The Hon. Mr LOUISSON reviewed the evidenoe given before the committee in proof of his contention that the recommendation of the committee that the bill 1 j be dropped was justified. At 12.10 a.m.. the Hon. Mr TWOMEY moved tlio' adjournment of the debate, which Wan opposed by the Hons. Messrs lligg, Lee-Smith, and Jonee, who urged that there should be a settlement, of the question, a3 there was a possibility o'f it's not again coming up .this session.' . Mr Twomey's motion was carried on the : casting vote of, tho Speaker. ■ [ ; WABIAEINO COUNTY. ( The AVaimarinp County Bill was read a third time and passed. j. The Council rose, at 12.30. ■ HOUSE :QF'REPRESENTATIVES. : MONDAY,- SEPTEMBER 29. | j The House met at 2.30 p.m. ;! FIRST READINGS. i I The Hon. Sir' J. G. WARD introduced L the Methodist Church, of Australia and New i Zealand Bill, giving statutory power to i change the none of tfie Wesleyau Church i of New Zealand, consequent on its union ; with the Wesleyan Methodist Church of r Australasia.—The bill was read a first time. ! -The Assets Realisation Board Lands Bill , was introduced: fey Sir J. G. WARD and read a' first time, ' [ The Poison* Importation and Carriage Act Amendment Bill was introduced "by the Hon. '. O. H. MILLS and , read a first time. i j ; REPORT ON A PETITION. ' ! The Railways Committee reported on the " petition of William Oague, of Waianakarua, fc who prayed , , for compensation for loss and ' damage by flood water dammed up by the 1 railway formation adjoining his property. ' The committee referred the petition to the 1 Government'.for consideration. [ Mr THOMAS MACKENZIE urged that i. this, was a, oiiee in ivhioh the Government ■ should 1 grant compensation. 1 Mr J. PALMER "considered that if the ■ Government gave compensation in this case 1 it .should do so. in all other ea&ee of a like ■ character throughput the colony. ; . FIRST- READINGS. j The Military Pens-ion® Act Amendment , Bill-and Railways'. Authorisation Bill weie [ introduced by Governor's Message and road a first time. '; ! THE MINING BILL. ' J A new clause in the Mining Act Amend- ■ : nient Bill was brought down by Govertfoi«'s > Message. It provides that where a mineowner gets protection from being fully manned the men employed shall be wages men. The clause, the. Hon. Mr M'GOWAN explained, does not affect mines worked by tributers.—The new elause was agreed to. THE STAMP ACT. An amendment in the Stamp Act Amend- , mwit Bill -was- brought down by Governor's j Message for the purpose of removing the ' ambiguity of the language in clause 14, which imposes stamp duty on contracts for the sale of'equitable interests.—After oon- ; eidera'ble discussion, iu whioh objection was taken to the amendment on the ground that 1 the proposed tax would pr&ss heavily on the poorer classes, the Hon. Mr CARROLL moved to withdraw it.—The House agreed ' to this course. '■ i AMENDMENTS BY THE COUNCIL. Tlie amendments made by the legislative , Council, in the Inspection of Machinery Bill and Bank Holidays Bill were agreed to. J OTHER BILLS. ■ i Sir J. G. WARD moved tlie second reaci- ' ing of the Victoria College Site Bill, which has passed tlie Legislative Council. —Agreed ' to. , ; _. The Legislative Council Act Amendment Bill wa« received, from- the Upper' House 1 and read a first and, second time. j The House.rose at 5.45 p.m. SITOING. The Mouse resumed at 7.30. ACCIDENT INSURANCE. The amendments mad© by the Legislative Council in the Accident Insurance Companies Bill were agreed to. POISONS. The Hon. -C. H. MILL.S moved the 1 second reading of the Poisons Importation j and. Carriage Act Amendment Bill. He exj plained "that" fhe "bill provided that notwithstanding anything in the principal act 1 it shall bft lawful to import or send to any ; port or place •in New Zealand sheep dip in powder,- although containing arsenic or compounds of arsenic, if securely packed i!i t wooden. boxes.-—t-TJie second reading was agreed to on the voices. CONSOLIDATING THE STATUTES. tt was decided to concur with the resolution passed by the Legislative Council instructing the Solicitor-general to compile (under the Statutes Compilation Act, passed i this session). "The Education Act, 1877," I " Licensing Act, 1881," and Municipal CprI porationa Act, 1900/' with their respective amendments. GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS SUPERANNUATION FUND. When the amendments made by the Legis-

jatiye ijounow in we irovernnieni; railways Superannuation Fund Bill came up for consideraticm, . Mr PIRANI asked whether the Legislative Council had not exceeded its right in reducing the contribution to be paid by the men, and thus increasing: the contributions to be paid to tho fund by the State. He did this not with the object of imperilling the passage of .the bill, but because ho thought the House should jealously guard its privileges. Sir M. O'RQRKE said he did not consider there had been any encroachment upon the privileges of the House.

In reply to questions, Sir J. G. WARD stated that the revenue that would have been derived from the men's contributions in the first year under - tho scale. as fixed by the Hou3e was £35,200; while under'the amendments made by the Council it would be £33,000.. He thought it safe to accept this. ■ Objection was tafcen to the action of the Council in striking out the proviso to clause 14- to the effect that if tho business of any railway company is taken over by the department the continuous service in the employ of such company of any contributor shall bo dwmed to be service in tlie' department. On tho other hand, ,ifc was pointed out that tho Government employees now in the service would begin to" contribute to the fund at once, whereas employees of any private company would-be able- to come in after x, lapse of years and secure the increased benefits of the fund. After some discussion it wa« decided, on. Sir „'. G. WARD'S motion, to disagree with all tne amendments made in the bill, and a conference was Jev up to consider the points in dispute between the two Horace. i"ORMA*.. The PoulcawS' Native Reserve Bill was introduced by Governor's Message and reed * first time. The Hon. Mr CARROLL said it wa.3 not intended to proceed further with tho bill this session, bub Jie desired to have IV circulated during the recess. BILLS PASSEL-. vhe V ietoria College Site Bill and! Jtfoisone Importation and Carriage Amendment Bill passed their final, stages. JfUBLIC WORKS Bi'Li.. it e Hon. Mr HALL-JONES moved the second reading of the Public Worke Bill. He explained that its chief provision dealt with the width of streets which had been formed for iv Jong timo and were lees than 66ft m width. It provided that in the event of subdivision of land abutting on a narrow street tlie buildings should be set back a distance of 33ft from tho centre of the road. Alany might object to the provision requiring the consent of tlie Minister of Land*, in such eases, instead of that of the local authority, out he defended this provision an the better course. Mr HERRIES objected that clause 8, which provides that questions in dispute shall be referred to th& Minister of Laride, gave the Minister the power of a Supreme Court judge. .»■'' Mr MASSEY objected vo the action' ofthe Government in bringing in a bill -of this importance in the dying hours of the session. Mr SIDEY called attention io the diffi-. culty which would where a road line was in one borough while the land to ba subdivided was in an adjoining borough. Mr HONE HEKE hoped a tribunal would bo o©i, up to assess the value of all Maori lands' , to be taken under the aw. Mr HUTOHESON described tne bill as ferocious ait some of its provisions. It affected not only every subdivision, but every other transaction in land'. Mr HALL-JONES: X will bring it down to subdivision. A long debate ensued, m the course of which several membera urged that the bill was of such importance that it ought to be held over until next session, when it oould be- dealt with with greater deliberation than was possible at present. Tlie Hon. Mr HALL-JONES, in replying, said his idea was, that compensation should be paid for every inch of land taken, and he. would vote in that direction. The second reading was agreed , to on the voices. A LOCAL BILL. The New Plymouth High School Board Bill was read a second time. COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENT. The Horn. Mr HALL-JONES moved the committal of the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act Amendment Bill. _ He said there* appeared to be a general feeling among farmers that agricultural labourers came under the operations of the aot, and as are* eult agricultural labourers were generally insured. This act specifically included agricultural labourers, and bo set at rest all doubts on. the point. With regard! to the othei provisions of the bill, he explained that if a man. met with an accident and was nos incapacitated for more than 14 days he, did not come under the aot, bub if b.ie incapacity extended beyond 14 days he was entitled to compensation from the date of the commencement of his incapacity. The debate was proceeding when the Telegraph Office closed at 2 a.m.