THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5.

Otago Witness, Issue 2168, 12 September 1895, Page 21

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5.

In the Legislative Council this afternoon the Dunedin Loans Conversion Bill wao read a second time. The Servants Registry Office Bill wan under consideration in Committee. The Mttnagdrs reported the result of the conference on the Family Homes Protectiou Bill. The coufecenco had, in the main, agread to the Council's amendments in the bill. The report was agreed to. In the House of Representatives to-day a motion was canied unanimously recognising the great services ths Right Hon. Sir George Grey has rendered to the colony and Empire. Most of tbe rest of the sitting was devoted to Committee work, some progress bciDg made with the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill. The Sale of Goods, Unclaimed Goods, and Industrial Conciliation Act Amendment Bills were passid. sir a. obey. Tho Hon. Mr SEDDON moved—" Thab the House desires, ou the, retirement of the Right Hon. Sir Guorge Grey, X.C.8., from h's seat in Parliament as member for Auckland, to place on record its high sonflo and appreciation of the groat services rendered by him to New Zealand as Governor in obtaiuin^ for it a free Constitution, And conducting its affairs in a time of great difficulty, aud as member of the House in promoting beneficent legislation, and displaying the deepest interest in everything that concerned ihe welfare of the colony ; and that; the House trusts that he may long be spared to enjoy the repose which he has justly e*rued For his services to bis country." Mr Sfddon said he moved the motion with pleasure mingled with regret, as he felt sure every menber of the House regretted Sir George Grey's retirement from active political life. He thought history would place Sir G. Grey in the foremost place of any. man in the colony. After referring at considerable length to the great services reudereot by Sir G. Groy, not only to this colouy, but to oth'ir colonies as a Governor aud a statesman, bo B*id events would prove that Sir G. Grey was farseeing, and that be had always worked for the benefit of bia fellow men. He was sure he was echoing the general wish when he expressed the hope that Sir G. Grey would return to the colony and spend the remainder of his days arnougat the people who loved him S3 well. Captain RUSSBLL Bftid ho wished to add hi 6 culosium to the tributfl of admirttkn exprtss-d by tho Premier for Sir G. Groy. He considered Sir G. Grey's name wou'd be honoured in the annals of historic nieo, aud he felt mre tbat the right hon. gentleman's life had beea devoted to the service of the Empire. No man in the Empire would ever ngain huva an opportunity of playing so many and varkd pat ts and placing them so well. As a member of the House Sir G. Grey was a model of eloquence and courtesy of demeauour, aud if he should return to the colony (which they all hoped he would do) it would he a singularly graceful act to offer him a seat in the other branch of the Legislature. They all hoped that Sir G. Grey, who bad spent so many years iv the service ot tbe Empire, would now enjoy the rrposo he so well deserved. Mr HONE HEKE expressed tbe gratitude felt by the Natives for the great kindness and consideration always shown by Sir G. Grey towards the Native poople. Messra Mills W. Hutchison, Saunders, Carroll, Crowther, and Sir R. S'out warmly supported the motion, which was carried on the voices. CONCILIA! IOK AMJ AIUiITfiA'IION. The Hon. Mr RISEVES moved the committal of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill, providing that the minimum number of persons to enable an industrial unioß of employers to be registered be five. The chief provisions were to enable employers to come under the act to the same extant as employees. The bill did away with the possibility of employers, in cases of dispute with their employees, quibbliDg by taking on more employees and sayiug they had no dispute with their men. Ho olso substituted "workers" for " workmen," so as to include women. Sir R STOUT thought the bill might have a trial, but he objected to tome of the details. Mr T. MACKENZIE strongly opposed the bill, and said he hoped the House would reject it, so as to show it was sick and tired of labour legislation. The bill was oGßUQttttfi

CUuee 6, provision where a dispute relates t« employment or wftgea.— Mr G\ S, (Smith move£ that Industrial disputes be referred to tU4 board in a month Instead of three months, nl proposed by the bill. — After a lengthened disLcusbion, the Hon. Mr Reeves agroed to accept a compromise of six weeks, whioh was agreed to. The remaining ohueea of the bill were agreed to. CORRUPT PBACTICES. The Corrupt Pr*ctioes Prevontion Aot Amendment Bill wai committed. Claufe 3, r.o payment for election expenses to be made accept by a candidate. — Mr Piranl eaid some difference of opinion existed amongst members of the Government over tbis bill, and the Houie should know it. He considered thai; if this clause were passed no man would be able to run' an election without zisk of being unseated. — The Hon. Mr Skddon said it was advisable to preierve the purity of Parliament, and he knew of oopcs in whioh the expenses of candidates ran into four figures. Ho denied that any difference fx : stod in tbo Cabinet over this bill. There were differeuce* as to details, but not to the principle of the bill. — The olanie evoked - strong opposition. — Mr Hogg moved tbat progrcsf be reported. — Mr Massby suggested that the expecacs of an election should be limited to £260 or £250 —The Hou. Mr Skddon did not wish to m»ko the bill tco draitic, but he held there should be some limit to candidates' expenses. He should not object to £200 being fixed at a limit, but he bad kn->wn case* where flections had cost £1000. — Afteg considerable discussion, the motion to report progrefls was lc«t by 36 to 24 — Mr Pibani moved that the Chairman leave the ohair. He said it was absurd that many members who had not heard a word of the discussion should vote on thi* motion — Lost by 33 to 24.— Captain Rosskll moved an amendment in the clauae to the effect that no money for an election shall ba provided by ivuy person other thau the candidate —Mr Pi rani raid this amendment would absolutely prohibit poor men from contesting au elccliou. — Captain RosSKLLsaid, on Iha contrary, it would pravenb rich men from helping their friends to run an election as wes frequently dove at present.— Lost by 32 to 22, and the clauso passed without alteration. Clause 5 was amended so as to make the time fur sending in claims for election expenses 30 days imte*d of 21, and 60 days fur payment of expenses instead of 30. Clause 6, election not void if payment with* out the sanction of candidate. — The Hon. Me Skddon moved that this clause be struck out. Agreed to, aud several other oUases were alio struck out ou Mr Seddon'u motion. Clauie 14, limit of election expenses. — Th« Hon. Mr Ski. don moved that the limit be £200, inclusive of advertising and reht of rooms for public meetings.— Ayes, 24 ; noes, 24. The Chairman voted with tbe ayea and £200 was inserted. The Hon. Mr Sbddon moved that progress be ieported.— Carred. UNCLAIMED MONKY. The Unclaimed Moneys Bill wae committed. Mr T. Mackknzie msved that progress be reported.— Lost by 26 to 19. The bill pas«ed through without amendment. CORRUPT PRACTICES. Speaking on the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill, Mr Crowther created great amusement by stating that he was not one of thoso Simon Purrs as regards tbi* matter. He did all ha could to win hfs election by running outside the act aud not being caught. This was spoken in reply to a previous remark by the Premier that tho»e who voted against the mexßure would show that they did not care for the purity of Parliament, aud that iv his part of the colony they, did not know what corruption meant. It ib needless to say that Mr Crowther's open confection oonvuhod the House with laughter, mingled with hearty che*r«. PATENTS. The anuusl report of the Registrar of Patents shows that the surplus of income over expenditure of thi« department for fche year IPS*1 P S* wai £1941. Thu total number of applications fos patents aud regintration of deaigno and trade marks was 1118, made up as follows :— Patents, 756 ; designs, 15 ; trade marks, 347. In eaoh instance there was an increase over the previous year. JOTTINGS. The Pw-fibyterian Church of Olago and Southland petition Parliament complaining of income tax being charged on the fund dorived from property which is devoted to the erection and repair of churches and manses, and also on the fund for the maintenance of aged ministers and widows and orphans, which should be placed on the same footing ao the funds of friendly societies. The Petitions Committee, reporting upou the petition of Andrew Clark, of Portobello, for redress on account of want of access to his land, recommend that £50 be voted to open roads. A thiuly-veiled stonewall wis kept up all last night to block Mr M'NaVs liquor bill.