PARLIAMENT.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 175, 14 September 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LKGLSLATi V K COUNCIL* W.i:m;iX(JTOX, September 10. The Council mot at 2,30, The Labour Hills Committee reported that the Workmen’s Lien Bill was an impracticable measure and one calculated to stop contract work, but they recommended that it be allowed to proceed with certain amendments. The Hon Mr Wilson resumed the debate on the Female Franchise Bill, which lie supported. The Hon Mr Buckley opposed the Bill, as being calculated to degrade women. The Hons Walker, Bamicoat, Grace, and McLean opposed the Bill. The motion for tin; second reading was lost by 17 to la, tire Bill thus being shelved. The Dentists Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Hon Mr Buckley moved the second reading of the Post Office Acts Amendment Bill.

The Hon Mr Whyte moved as nn amendment, that the Bill be read a. second time that day six months.

11th September. On the motion for the second reading of the Law Practitioners Bill, Mr Stewart moved an amendment, that the Bill be read a second time that day three months, winch was carried by 18 to £. The Bill was thereby killed. The Mining Bill was read a third time and passed. i The second reading of the Property Tax Bill was agreed to.

An hostile amendment to the effect that the Bill be committed that day six months was proposed by the Hon Mr Pharazyn on the motion for tho committal of the Workmen’s Lien Bill.

The amendment was put and carried by 1(5 to 12, the Bill thus being killed.

The Council decided to insist on its amendments in iho Factories Bill, and a. Committee was appointed to confer with the Lowin' House. The Council adjourned.at 0.3 U.

HOLISM Ob' lIM i ’ i 1 MS MIS TAT 1V K S. Wki.i.inuton, tub September. After a. protracted debate' the motion for the si ‘rood reading of the Hand for Settlement Bill was agreed to on the voices. The Wader Supply bill and the Property Tax Jlill were put through their linal si ages. On the motion forgoing into Committee of (Supply, Mr £l. M. Smith moved as an amendment a. resolution aiUrming the desirableness of appointing a itoya.l Commission to experiment in the smelting - of New Zealand ores and sands. The amendment was lost on the voice's. The House then went into Committee of Supply for the consideration of the ISsiimatos, Education Department--

£369,776. —Agreed to without alteration. Lunacy and Charitable Department-£4o,9lß.—-Agreed to. Progress was then reported, ’and the House rose at 2.5 a.m. 10th September, The House mot at 2’30. In reply to the Hon Mr Eolloston, the Premier said lie could assure the House that the successor to Sir F. D. Bell had not yet boon chosen by the Government. The Hon Mr Ballaucc announced that Ministers intended to proceed with tho following Bills this session;—Greymouth Harbour Board Loan, Public Trust Office, ■Stamps Act Amendment, Payment of Members, Coal Mines, Small Birds Nuisance, Selectors Land Revaluation, Land for Settlement, Municipal Corporation, Borough Reserves, Private Tramways, Naval and Military Settlers, Sites from Grown Land s Restrict] on, Rabbit Nuisance, School Committees Election, and Counties Act Amendment. The (Jovcmmoht had decided to hold over the Local Authorities Accounts and Audit Bill till next year, but they would proceed with tho Libel Bill if time permitted.

With regard to the Bankruptcy Bill, lie was informed it would go through in two or three hours, and if that were so the Government would give facilities for it passing its final stages.

As to the Civil Service Bill, Ministers bad received such a largo number of amendments from the Civil Service Association that they had not had time to consider thorn, and tho Bill would, there-

fore, have to stand over. Tho Indecent. Advertisements Bill, another private measure, might also be taken charge of by tho Government.

As to the date on which the House would bo prorogued, thei. depended greatly on the action of the Onposition fur the remainder of the session.

It was decided to disagree with the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Dentists’ Bill.

The Greymouth Harbour Board Loan Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Public Trust Office Act Amendment Bill was considered in Committee. Clause 3—Public Trustee to hold office at pleasure. After crnsiderable discussion the clause was passed without, amendment.

Tho Small Bird Nuisance Bill was committed, and went through with amendments made by the Stock Committee. The Payment of Members Bill was committed.

Mr Duncan moved that the payment of members of the House of Representatives bo £l2O per annum instead of £240, as provided in the Bill. Sir George Grey moved that tho sum be £l5O per annum, which was negatived bv 32 to 23.

Mr Duncan’s amendment was also rejected by 30 to 24. Clause 9—which provided that payment should not bo anticipated, pledged, nor seized in execution, was struck out on the voices.

Ou the motion for the third reading, Mr McGuire moved an amendment that the Bill bo read a third time that day six months, which, after a long debate, was lost, by 30 to 14.

The third reading - was then agreed to and (ho Hill passed. The Public Trust; Office Hill, Small Birds Nuisance Bill, and Stamp Act Amendment Bill, wore put through their linal stages, and the House rose at a. in. 11 tli September. The Land for Settlement Bill was taken in Committee, when all reference in the measure to native land was struck out. The Bill was reported and put through its linal stages. Trio Babbit Nuisance Amendment Bill was committed, read a third time, and passed. On the motion that ithc House go into Committee of Supply, Mr Mitchelson spoke at some length in criticism of the Public Works Statement. He referred to several of the paragraphs of the Statement in detail, and condemned as useless several of the Avorks for which the money was to be diveited from other unexpended votes.

Mr (1. Hutchison said as a matter of fact the Government wore borrowing at present, and borrowing surreptitiously by the conversion operations now going on at Home. These operations, he considered, wore not only borrowing in another form, but; stock jobberry, and the amount that was now being converted would no doubt reach a million. He thought the proposal to carry on the Eketahnna-Woodville line from both ends to satisfy some local demands, ho supposed —was perfectly usch and it would require .£IOO,OOO to complete the line. Dr Newman said it was very evident that money was to be, expended when' Government supporters were thickest, and a particular case in point was the To Are line, in which the Native Minister and another faithful Government supporter were interested.