GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12783, 2 October 1903, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL . / THURSDAY, OCTOBER I.' The Council met at 2.30. A RULING CHALLENGED. . The wholo sitting was occupied in discussing the Hon. Mr Bo wen's motion disagreeing with the ruling of the Chairman of Committees that clause 30 of the Stato Firo Insurance Bill could not bo amended, as it affects money raised by a charge on the people. Tho Hon. A. PITT warned the Council to bo careful about urging claims which could not bo upheld. Ho supported tho Chairman's ruling. The Hon. Mr M'LEAN denied that the clause affected the public revenue, and thought tho Council ought not to raise objections to its own proceedings. The Hon. A. LEE SMITH and Sir A. J. CADMAN recommended the Council to give in graccfully, as preferable to being forced to do 'so. After further discussion the motion disagreeing with tho Chairman's ruling was carried by 21 to 10. The Council adjourned at 1.30.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1. The House met at 2.30 p.m. FIRST READING. Tho St. Albans Special Loan Validation and Empowering Bill (Mr Davey) was introduced and read a first- time. THE STANDING ORDERS. Tho Right Hon. Mr SEDDON moved tho recommittal of certain clauses of the new Standing Orders. This gave rise to a lengthy discussion, during which tho consideration of other amendments in tho Standing Ordors was urged. Several members spoko against the alteration of the hour after which no new business shall bo takon from 12 to 12.30, but tho PREMIER suggested that the new system should be given a trial, as it was likely to facilitate business. An amendment by Mr MASSEY to also recommit Standing Order 55, which was altered to provide that no fresh 'business shall bo taken aftor 12.30, was .carried by 36 to 32. Mr WITHEFORD moved to recommit for the purpose of striking out Standing; Order 229, which prevents the publication of matters before select committees, but aftor some discussion he withdrew tho motion. Mi Seddon's motion for recommittal was negatived by 42 to 22 (Mr Sc-ddon and the other Ministers voting against it). The Hon. Mr M'GOWAN then moved that the Standing Orders as reported from committee on the 17th September bo agreed to. Mr MA.SSEY referred to the absurdity of the position. He had carried a motion to recommit for the purpose of reconsidering the hour after which no new business could be taken, and because that did not suit the Promier he and his party had voted against tho recommittal of that and other clauses which Mr Seddon himself had moved to recommit. The discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The Houso resunrcd at 7.30. THE STANDING ORDERS. Ccaieideration, of the report on the Standing Orders was continued. Mr SEDDON said lie preferred rather to take tho Standing Orcfers as amended in committee on tli& 17th September than acoept Mr Massey's proposed amendment to fix midnight (instead of 12.30) as tho limit !for now business. | Mr BARBER moved an amendment to Mr M'Gowan'a motion ■ with the object o[ leaving the new business limit as at present —viz., midnight. After a lengthy discussion Sir Barbor's amendment was rejected by 38 to 25, and the Premier's motion for tho adoption of the Standing Orders as reported from committee of the whole on September 17 agreed to on the voices. A (NATIVE RESERVE BILL. Tho Hon. Mr CARROLL moved the committal of the Poukawa. Native Reserve Bill, to provide for the administration and improvement of the Poukawa Native reserve in Hawke's Bay. Ho said the bill would bring this reserve under the West Coast Settlement Roserves Act of 1892.—Agreed to cn the voices.

A point of order raised by Mr 31a,«ey as to whether the measuro was not a local or priyato bill was reserved, and on the bill being committed progress was immediately reported. NATIVE TO-WNSHIPS. Mr CARROLL moved the committal of the Native Townships Act Amendment Bill. Ho explained that it was necessary, in order that tho errors and mistakes made in the laying off of such townships might bo rectified by tho Governor by notice in the Gazette. The 'bill was reported from committee without material amendment. INTESTATE ESTATES. Tho Intestate Estates Bill was committed. Clause 3 provided that where the net Talus of the estate exceeds £500 the widow shall be entitled to £500, and shall have a charge on the estate for that sum, with interest thereon, from the date of death of the intestate, at 4- per cent, per annum until payment.—On Sir W. R. RUSSELL'S motion the rate of interest was altered to 3£ per cent. Mr M'NAB moved the following new olauso:—"The estate of every person who dies intestate after tho coming into operation of this act without leaving a wife, husband, child, or father, but leaving a mother, shall go to such mother absolutely."—'This was lost by 30 to 24, and the bill was reported as amended. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN. The Shipping and Seamen Bill was put through its final stages after 'brief discussion, in which the Hon. \V. HALL-JONES and Mr MASSEY spoke of the businesslike manner in which the bill had been dealt with in'committee. Tho Minister said he believed they now had as good a bill as Obtained in any part of the .British Empire. LEGITIMATION. The Legitimation Act Amendment Bill ■was committed. Sir W. R. RUSSELL urged that- the bill was very inimical to family life and to morality, and he would take no part in putting it on tho Statute Book.—Tho Hon. Mr M'GOWAN said the bill -was intended to remedy injustice in certain eases.—Clause 2 (tire operative clause of Tho bill) was agroed to by 36 to 13. Tho bill waa reported without amendment. Tho Commissioners Bill passed through committee without material amendment. FISHERIES CONSERVATION. In committee on the Fisheries Conservation Act Amendment Bill, At clause 2 Sir J. G. WARD moved to amend t!ie_ rate for fishing licenses as follows Uniform licenses available throughout Now Zealand, £1; available throughout a provincial district, 10s; licenses to women and toys under 16 years, ss—available throughout the whole of a provincial district.—This was agreed to on the voicos.— Sir J. *G. A\ ARD also moved, in the samo clause, that debris from any mining claim shall not be deemed to be pollution of a fishing stream.—Tho clause was still under discussion when the telegraph office closed at 2 a.m.