N.Z. PARLIAMENT

Colonist, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8062, 5 October 1894, Page 3

N.Z. PARLIAMENT

(Fei United Press Association.) Wellington, Ootobor 4. COUNCIL* The Council met at 2,30 p m The New Zealand Consols Bill was committed. Clause 3 — "Deposits not exceeding one million may be received." The Colonial Secretary repeated the assurance he made yesterday that the amount would be reduced by message from the Governor (o half a million, and on this understanding the clause "was agreed to. On clause 4, fixing the date of repayment of consols, an amendment by Mr Bonar, substituting 20 years for 40 years, was carried by 24 to 11. Mr Stewart moved a further amendment, its effect be ; ng to confine the purchase of consols to the Colonj. This was agreed to by 22 to 14. The Bill without further amendment was reported and put through its final stages after ft short debate. The Foreign Insurance Companies Deposits Bill was read a second time on the voices. Mr Stevens resumed the debate on the second reading of the Government Advances to Settlers Bill, and spoke until the dinner adjournment. He said it was utterly fallacious to hold up some of the European countries as an example of the Buccess of this scheme, and he failed to see why the State should borrow money for the purpoae of asiisting any particular class of persons. He believed no mere abandoned Acts of legislation had ever been brought before Parliament than had been introduced during the present session. He entreated members to stay their hand?, and not permit this Bill to become law. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Stevens continued the debate on the second reading of the Government Advances to Settlers Bill. He said no worse time could have been chosen than the preseot for bor-

rowing purposes, because there was every prospect of a falling revenuo in the near Ik suture, and industries were in a languishing condition. He moved, as an amendment, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr Bigg said it the country was to accept the dictation of Mr Stevens there would never toe any progress, He (Me Bigg) regarded the measure as one of the greatest experiments of Stite Socialism ever attempted. He supported the Bill, but should like to have seen a State Bank established, which would have enabled the struggling farmer' to obtain an advance to tida him over his temporary difficulty. Mr Pharazyn looked upon the Bill bs an

experiment of State Socialism, and as such he was opposed to it altogether. The Government were not fit to become money lenders, and if they obtained the powers they sought under this Bill they would make a mess of it. The Bill would probably resu't in a large quantity of State mortgage land being thrown into the market, and people who were not in the slightest degree fitted for farming would be shovelled upon the land. Sir G. Wbitmore supported the Bill, but could not agree that it was State Socialism. Mr Swanson thought all other industries should participate in the scheme. On the motion of Mr Bowen the debate was adjourned till next day. The Council rose at 9.15 p.m. HOUSE. Continuation of Wednesday's Parliament. The Native Land Court Bill was further considered in Commitiee, but up to the 5.30 adjournment it had net been materially altered. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. In Committee on the Native Land Court Bill, an amendment was proposed by Mr Houston to prevent lawyers and agents appearing before the Native Land Court and was discussed at very great length, and eventually was negatived by 35 to 22. The vaiioua clauses of the first part of the Bill were discussed at great length, but aU the proposed amendments were rejected, in most inetanoes by large majorities. Progress was then reported. The Pabiio Works Bill (Ko. 2) was committed, and thoEe clauses which were not objeoted to were passed, the debateable clauses being postponed. The House rose at 3.50 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. A lengthy discussion took place on the report from the House Committee with respect to sending Home the usual orders lor Bellamy's for next session. Mr Seddon disapproved of the report, and moved that it be referred back to the Committee, on the grounk that it was not a report from the Joint Committee ol both Houses. Mi G. Hutchison moved an addition to the Premier's amendment (hat 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, The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Bill were agreed to. Messrs Bell, Tanner, Ward, and Beeves were appointed a Conference to meed the Legislative Council in reference to the amendments in dispute in the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill. Mr Seddon moved that the House empower the Government to enter into a contract for a period not exceeding five years for the supply of ammunition and warlike stores for the Colony, the Bame to ba manufactured by the Auckland Ammunition Company. He spoke strongly in support of such contract being entered into, and said he hoped to have the approval of his colleagues to send Home

next day for a thousand Martini Henri rifles. f It was impossible with the means at the disV posal of the Government to arm the whole of v tha Volunteers with Martini-Henri 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. The House rose at 5.30 p.m, The House reßomed at 7.30. The aniandments made by the Legislative Council in the Bating Bill were agreed to. The Public Works Bill was further conBidered in Committee. Clause 32, Cases in which compensation is not payable, caused very lengthy cliscusBion. It was finally decided that the power given in tbat clause to the Crown to take possession of land vested in any local au horily without compensation, except for improvement, should apply only to reserves for endowment granted before the Public Works Act of 1876 waa passed, and should not apply to any land of more than three acres io extent within a borough. A. new proviso was added, on tbe casting vote of the Chairman, to the effect that no suoh reserve should be taken without the consent of the looal authority, and it the reserve has been pledged ns security for borrowed money. Mr Seddon then moved that the whole clause be struck out, and this was carried.