Tuesday, Ist August.

Otago Witness, Issue 1602, 5 August 1882, Page 11

Tuesday, Ist August.

' Mr FULTON brought up and read the following report by the Waste Lands Committee on the Deferred-payment Settlers Belief Bill -.—

" The Committee have given careful consideration to this bill and taken valuable cvi dence bearing on the subject. Interpreting, however, the desire of the House, as expressed by its resolution of 31st July, that questions or public policy relating to the wastelands of the Crown should not stand referred to this Committee, and finding that this bill is of that character, they beg to report the bill to the House without recommendation."

Sir G. GREY moved that the bill be committed on the 11th inst.

The Hon. Mr ROLLESTON said he understood the position of the affair to be that while the Committtee did not consider it was called upon to deal with bills of this kind after the resolution of the House passed the previous evening, still the House might, by special instructions, refer bills of this nature for the consideration of the Committee. He moved a resolution to the effect that this bill should be and is referred for consideration by the Waste Lands Committee.

Sir GEORGE GREY said that if the bill went back to the Committee it would be mutilated out of all shape, and the possibility was that .they would hear no more about it this session. It was sent to the Committee on the 6th July. Motion put that the bill be committed for the 11th inst. — Ayes, 32 ; noes, 40. Mr SEDDON moved as an addition "That it be an instruction to the Committee to report upon the Deferred-payment Settlers, Pastoral Lands Occupation, and Elective Land Board Bills within seven days."

Sir G. GREY supported this, and said that if these bills vrore not reported on as proposed, a great injustice would be done, as the bills would not be dealt with this session, and he knew that they were anxiously looked for by the Colony. The Hon. Mr ROLLESTON suggeted as an addition to the motion that the Land Amendment Bill be included amongst the bills to be reported on. Mr Seddon's amendment, that the Committee be instructed to report within a week on the Deferred-payment Settlers Bill, Elective Land Boards Bill, and Pastoral Lands Occupation Bill, was agreed to. Mr MORRIS moved the further addition that the Land Amendment Bill be added.— Agreed to, after debate. The Hon. Mr Rolleston's original amendment, as amended by Mr Seddon's and Mr Morris' motions, was passed. 1 • LOAN BILLS.

The House went into Committee to consider messages from the Governor transmitting the North Island Main Trunk Railway-line Bill, New Zealand Loan Bill, and Payment of Expenses of Members of General Assembly Bill. Mr MONTGOMERY said that while agreeing to the loan bills being brought down, it was not to be understood that he was in any way committed to theirprinciples. The Hon: Major ATKINSON acquiesced in that proposition, adding that the _ fullest opportunity for discussion would be given on the motion for going into Committee of Supply, and. prior to the second reading of the bills being taken. Captain MACKENZIE did not feel disposed to give assent to the borrowing of £4,000,000 until he knew how it was to be spent, and was likewise assured that it would be spent in the true interests of the Colony. In reply to further remarks, The Hon. Major ATKINSON said that the bills were ready, and would be distributed so soon as the House gave authority to introduce them. Mr MACANDREW objected to two loan bills. If there was to be a second loan, then let the two be embodied in one bill. He did not say he would support it then, but certainly he would not support two bills of the kind. In reply to Mr Hutchison, The Hon. Major ATKINSON said that there had been no estimate of the cost of the proposed North Island trunk line made. The motion for introducing the three bills was agreed to by the Committee. The resolutions were reported to the House, and the bills read a first time and ordered to be read a second time on Friday.

LICENSING AMENDMENT BILL.

The Hon, Mr DICK moved-" That the

DEFERRED-PAYMENT SKTTLSBS.

House go into Committee on the Licensing Bill." Mr STEVENS moved an amendment— " That the bill be referred to a Select Committee consisting of Messrs Dick, Trimble, Barron, Wynn Williams. De Lautour, Bracken, Conolly, and Levestam. Mr SUTTON was sorry that Government had not looked more into the subject of licensing houses. He would support the amendment. Mr PEACOCK would vote against the amendment, on the ground that at this lato period of the session it was not fair to ask any member to give up his time. He thought it should be adjourned for another year. Mr FISH objected to the amendment, and said if the proposed amendment of the bill was carried, the Act would be a beneficial one to the country. Mr CONOLLY would like to see the discussion adjourned for another year. The House divided as follows :— Ayes, 42; noes, 38. The House then divided on going into Committee — Ayes, 51 ; noes, 25. The House then went into Committee on the bill.

Mr SUTTON moved that clause 2, referring to local bodies, be struck out. The House divided as follows :— Ayes, 31 ; noes, 32. The clause was struck out (?).