PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 29, 9 October 1894, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington, October 3. FINAL STAGES. The Rating Bill and Lands Improvement and Native Lauds Acquisition Bills were put through their final stages. The Council decided, by 19 to 14, to insist on its amendments in the Shop and Shop Assistants Bill, and the Hon Messrs Bowen, Bouar, and Reynolds were appointed managers to meet the managers from the other House. GOVERNMENT ADVANCES. Sir P. A. Buckley moved the second reading of the Government Advances to Settlers Bill, but the debate was adjourned. CONSOLS BILL. The debate upon the second reading of the New Zealand Consols Bill, to which the Hon Mr Bowen on the previous day moved an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months, was resumed by the Hon Mr McLean. He said the present money panic all over the world was due to general distrust. He was convinced that the Government were making a grave mistake in their endeavor to withdraw money from circulation which should be devoted to developing the resources an£ industries of the country. The Hon Mr Kelly, in supporting the Bill, denied that it was a policy measure.

The Hon Messrs Oliver and Bonar opposed the Bill. The Hon Mr Kerr strongly supported the Bill, and said if this and the other policy Bills were not agreed to pressure would be brought on the Council to pass them. The Hon J. B. W r hyte said it was absurd to suppose that small sums would be invested under this Bill.

The Hou Mr Reynolds opposed the Bill on the ground that the country at last elections had declared against borrowing. Sir P. A. Buckley said that after consultation with the Colonial Treasurer he had been authorised to say that the Treasurer would, by Governor’s message, reduce the amount under the Bill to half a million, extending over two years. The debate had been carried out with a stern determination to kill the Bill, and Mr Bowen had been deputed to “ Bell the cat,” which he had done with much effectiveness. He hoped the compromise that he had made would be to the satisfaction of the Council. * On division, Mr Bowen’s amendment was rejected by 16 to 18, and the second reading carried on the voices. Wellington, October 4. CdNSOLS BILL. The New Zealand Consols Bill was committed. In reference to clause 3—“ Deposits not exceeding one million may be received ” —the Colonial Treasurer repeated the assurance he previously made that the amount would be reduced by message from the Governor to half a million. On this understanding the clause was agreed to. On clause 4—fixing the date of repayment of consols —an amendment by the Hon Mr Bonar, substituting 20 years for 40 years, was carried by 24 votes to 11. The Hon Downie Stewart moved a further amendment, its effect being to confine the purchase of consols to the colony. This was agreed to by 22 to 14. The Bill, without further amendment was reported, and pat through its final stages. FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES. After a short debate, the Foreign Insurance Companies Deposits Bill was read a second time on the voices. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. The Hon E. J. C. Stevens resumed the debate on the second reading of the Government Advances to Settlers 13111. He said it was utterly fallacious to hold up some of the European countries as examples of the success of this scheme, and he failed to see why the State should borrow money for the purpose of assisting any particular class of persons. He believed no more abandoned Acts of the Legislature bad ever been brought before Parliament during the present session. He entreated members to Stay their hands, and not permit this Bill to become law.

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, October 2. INKER A.NCB BILL.

The Foreign Insurance Companies Deposits Bill was farther considered in committee. t ln the i interpretation clause, Sir R. Stout moved the “approved securites ” mean Government securites of any other Australian colony, as well as of New Zealand.—Agreed to. W. G. Smith moved an amendment to exempt Fire and Marine Insurance Companies from the operation of the Bill.

Mr Ward said that most discreditable things had been done by some Fire and Marino Insurance Companies; he wished by this Bill to stop that, but he was quite prepared to exempt those companies from payment of deposits on condition that they gave satisfactory proof that they were' what they represented themselves to be. Mr Smith then withdrew his amendment, and the clause was eventually postponed so as to prepare other amendments.

Mr Ward said he proposed to amend the Bill so as to provide that where policies of a company did not exceed £IOO,OOO the deposits should be £SOOO and an additional sum of £SOOO for every additional £IOO,OOO until the total amount deposited had reached £50,000. Clause 3 was amended in this direction.

Clause I—providing that no foreign company with limited liability shall

carry on life insurance was I'iruok out* • Progress was reported on the Bill to enable clause 2 to be redrafted.

LAND BILL. The Land for Settlements Bill was received from the Legislative Council with amendments, which were ordered to be considered next day. Sir R. Stout raised the question whether the Council could amend this Bill, which was an appropriation Bill, setting apart £250,000 a year for five years for the purchase of land. He thought if the Council could alter this Bill they could also amend the Consols Bill, Advances to Settlers Bill, and other money Bills brought down by the Government. The Speaker said that whilst the Council had no power to alter money clauses in the Bill they could amend the machinery clauses. He was not aware of the nature of the amendments made. Before they are considered he would look into them and give hia ruling on the matter. NATIVE BILL. Mr Mitchelson resumed the debate on the committal of the Native Land Court Bill. He complimented .Mr Seddou on the grasp he appeared to have of the native question since he took the portfolio of Native Minister. The Premier had told them that if this Bill were passed it would settle for ever the question of native legislation, but he (Mr Mitchelson) wafi not so sanguine of such a result. He quite agreed with the first part of the Bill, and he thought it was a great improvement on the present state of things, Part 2 of the Bill, however, relating to the right of pre-emption would not, in his opinion, be acceptable to the natives. The Premier should postpone this part of the Bill for another year. * Mr Bell regretted that the Bill had been brought down so late in the session. The Bill was an attempt, and he hoped it would be a successful one, to modify the existing law. He feared however, the provisions relating to rehearing of cases would lead to hope- * less and endless legislation. Mr Houston complimented the Premier on his endeavor to deal with this difficult question, but was entirely opposed to the Government having sol® pre-emptive right over native land. Wellington, October 3. ROYALTY AND OUR LEGISLATORS. Mr W. Hutchison gave notice t® move that no money be spent by the colony on entertaining members of the Royal Family.

A LONG SESSION. Captain Russell asked whether the Premier intended to discharge any other Bills from the Order Paper. If not, the House would probably sit till Christmas, especially as five new Government Bills had just been introduced.

Mr Seddon said these Bills were necessary* and would not take up much time. He was doing his level best to get through the business, and' he hoped the House would assist him by proceeding more expeditiously than it has hitherto done.

' LANDS FOK SETTLEMENT BILL. The Speaker expressed the opinion that according to their Standing Orders the Legislative Council could not alter sections 5 and 21 of the Lands for Settlement \Bill, as they dealt with the appropriation of money. Sir Robert Stout moved that section 39 be added, which was agreed to. It was decided, on the motion of the Minister of Lands, that the amendments made in these three clauses, and in the new clause 8 be disagreed with, and that a committee be appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing. LAND COURT BILL. The Native Laud Court Bill was further considered in Committee, and an amendment, proposed by Mr Houston, to prevent lawyers and agents appearing before the Native Land Court, was discussed at very great length, and eventually negatived by 35 to 22. Wellington, October 4. Bellamy’s A lengthy discussion took place on the report* from the House Committee with respect' to. sending Home the usual orders for Bellamy’s for next season. Mr Seddon disapproved of the report, and moved that it be referred back to the Committee on the ground that it was not a report from a Joint Committee of both Houses. Mr W. Hutchison moved an addition to the Premier’s amendment, “ That no order for alcoholic liquor be in the meantime given.” Mr Seddon accepted the addition, and the amendment was agreed to, and the report referred back to the Committee, NATIVE LANDS. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Bill were agreed to. # SHOPS BILL. Messrs Tanner, Ward, and Reeves were appointed a conference to meet the Legislative Council in reference to the amendments in dispute in the Shop Shops Assistants Bills. WARLIKE. Mr Seddon moved that tfce' House empowers the Government to enter mto a contract for a period n<Jt exceeding live years, for the supply of ammunition and warlike stores for the colony, the same to be manufactured by the Auckland Ammunition Company. He spoke strongly in favor of such a contract being entered into, and said he hoped to have the approval of his colleagues to send Home next day for one thousand Martini-Henry rifles.. It was impossible with the means at the disposal of the Government to arm the whole of the volunteers with Martini-Henry rifles, and they must proceed cautiously. The late Volunteer Conference had been very satisfactory, and its recommendations would receive every consideration from the Government.

The motion was agreed to on the voices.