PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 204, 3 October 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

[PBB PBBSS ASSOCIATION.] I 1 —* J LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. I • —— , - t Tuesday, October 2, The Council met at 2.30 p.m. 1 Leave of absence for the remainder of the session was granted to the Hon. W. Kelly, on account of ill-health. Leave was granted to the Hon. R. Reeves to introduce the Victoria College Act 1897 Amendment Bill, whioh was read a first time. The recommendation of the Fublio Petitions Committee that legislation, to suppress gambling, was evidently necessary, on account of the number of petitions presented, was agreed to. The Publio Petitions Committee's report, recommecding to the consideration of the Government the petition of 620 teaohers for uniformity of salary throughout the colony, was agreed to. The Land and Income Assessment Bill was read a first time. The Indicable Offences Summary Jurisdiction Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Government Railways Bill was further considered in Committee. A proviso was added to Clause 11 —that while regulations for checking of luggage are in force, no liability will be incurred by the Government in respect of luggage that has not been duly checked. Clause 8, relating to protective works, was amended, by adding a proviso that all claims for compensation for such works shall, unless by agreement, be determined in accordance with the Public Works Act. The powers of the Ministers to make regulations were modified by amendment of Clause 11. Permits for heavy traffic crossing roads and bridges on and over any railway line, Will be given free of charge. No. security for damage likely to be done to such roads or. bridges, will be required, and heavy traffic may crosd a bridge over a railway if there is no level crossing within one mile, The Bill was reported with amendments.

The Slaughtering and Inspection Bill was further conbidared i i Committee. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OF RE PRESE NTATI VLS, Tuesday, October 2. The House met at *2 30 p.m. Mr. Lturansoa gave n Jtice jto ask she Premier iE he would set up a eemmittee to enquire into the question of federation; and Mr. Stevens, to ask what steps the Government intend to take to celebrate th 9 conclusion of the *ar in South Africi, seeing that there would b) no form il declaration of paaoe, L?ave of abseuco was granted to )lesßrs. Massey and J. Alloa for the remainder of the session on account of til-health. The Maori Lands Administration Bill was read a first time. The Premier presented a petition from the inhabitants of Fiji, praying with tbii colony.

, A communication was read from the of S>ate for the Ojlonifes to t lia Government, acknowledging the receipt of the invitition to the Dake a id Duchess of York to visit New ZeiI tad, and stating that- Hw Alijts'y wat pla.ißsd at fclio invi'atioi, and at th. 'jy il spirit th if prompted it. Mr. ijJJ.m t'uribor sxid tint ha hid cabled or inform itiou in to t'le prjbibla d.itt f the and racoivid a reply stating lint it w.id imp risible at tiiat irne to nauie tha date. From intorma■ion ho hid received, tha Federal olecion would take place at the end of March or beginning of April, and that Parliament would be op ined about the bagianing of May. Mr. Seddon algj epoi'jed thU he had cabled asking oh it a member of the Hime Governnant should accompany the Dake and Duchass, but the reply wai that it ivauld be impossible at the present tirns. Mr. Saddoa continued by sayiog hat he intended to pross that question.

The Premier moved thit amendments in the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill by the legislative Council be disagreed with, and that the Premier, with Messrs. Jackson Palmer iad Houston be appointed to draw up reasons for disagreement. The motion was carried.

The amendments made ip the ladioable Offjucei Summary J urUdioion Bill by the Council were, on the motion of Mr. McGowan, agreid to. Cae principal amendment was where the acous ad pleaded guilty to an offence he oauld be remanded for sontanca to a judge of th) Supreme Court without the trouble and expense of a trial before the Court. Tne New Zialand Consols Act A.nmdment BUI was read a second time. It provide) for increasing tha imount recoivibla by tha Colonial Treisurer by way of deposit by two hundred and fifty thous mi pounds.

Air, Siawtird moved the aecand readiogjof the M'dlaud Authoriasd Area Laad Sjttlernont Bill, which provides for dealiDg \yith lauds realised by the sattloment; of tbe Midland railway qussluu.

Mr. Millar said ho would, in jCommittee, oppose the clause proposing to alienate these lands under the present system of 999 years.

Mr. Stevons said that to induco confidence they must give fixity of tenure, and, unlcsa that tvere done, the six million acres dealt with in the Sill would not bo utilised to the best interests of the colony.

Mr. Laurenson said he would rather seo the freeiold tenure of lauds reverted 1 10 than see the area comprised in tho 11.5:11 thrown open utulor the 999 years 'system without re-valuation at fixed and reasonable tjnna.

Mr. Meredith hoped there would, in dealing with theso lands, bo no reversal uf the pjlioy of Mr. John McKon/.ie. The nature of the country should be taken into consideration. He did not think thure was more than 1 per cent, af iigrieultui al land ia the area, nor mora th.m 5 per cent, of lirst-chss pastoral country, the balance being third and fourth class, much of which I would not carry a grasshopper to tho I acre. I

Mr, Mills said the iiill was one of! the most import,-mt dealt with this j session, und he believed it would result.] in a rapid settlement of the largo ureal ■of land dealt with in the I'iil. j

Mr Cul*in congratulated the Governmoat on the back-bone they had die- . played' in dealing with the Midland '7 Railway question, and the subsequent I proposal to throw the land area open to settlement, Mr. G. W. Ilussell was glad the question of external loaae had beoo raited in connection with the settlement of the Midland area, lie objected to handing over for a period of 999 years a block of land at 4 per cent, on its present value without re-valuation. Ju\ Graham was also pleased at the Mhd being thrown open. While he agreed that a vary large portion was comparatively valueless, still there were other portions that were very suitable for pastoral purposes, and the Bill would prove of immense benefit to the district he represented, Mr. Fowlds contended that * lease for 999 years without re-valuation was the most inipuitous system that the mind of man could oonctive, and he trusted that the lands under consideration would be disposed of on some ether tenure.

Mr. Collins believed that long before the expiry of 999 years the entire lend system at present in operation would be swept away. He disapproved of that tenure without periodical re-, valuation.

Mr. R. MeKenzie was pleasod that the rights of those who liald occupation lices over tho lands had been conserved. He hoped that liberal reserves would be made for educational and other put* poses, Mr. Ell contended the freehold of none of the land should be dispoeed of either in midland or any other perl of the colony, and advocated that lease* holds should contain a provision for revaluation.

Mr. Guinness protested against the question of tenure being nosed in connection with the Bill, and hoped that the conditions aa to the disposal o! the land would be the same as those obtaining in other parts of the colony. Mr. Seddon, iu replying, said thin hid been a great deal of MtnMMurj discussion on the Bill, in connection with which the whole question at land tenure. The ordimry land lam of the colony would applied to the Bill, which wan introduced merely to deal equitably with those who held occupation licenses on portions of the land. Ho objected to the WestOoast being a district upon which a land Mtueamt policy should be experiment upon. The Bill was read a second time OQ the voices.

The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr, Seddon moved the second reading of the Government Loins to Loofl Bodies Act Amendment Bill, extending the provisions of the Act of 1896 and imposing upon all property that bowmen rateable during thi currency of i loan, the liability to be rated for that Ijaa shall extead and apply to loans current at the time of the oommenoernaut of that Act.

Mr. W. Fraser asked the Premier to igree to insert an amendment making .he Act apply to local bodies who had wrrowed prior to the Ait ooming into owe, and who had not paid off the «hole of the sum borrowed. The imiunt required would not be to large ts to cmbirrai colonial finanoe, and to ild prove of immense advantage to osuy local bodies, Mr. Miller also advocated an extenuon of the privilege, but only to bad loJiej who hid borrowed prior 1885.

t The Premier said he was prepared ta - oriag within the rating area Crown - lands which had been benefited by the ' jpoaial expenditure. At to granting ; loans to local bodies to pay off portion ! of loans that had matured it would be i a large order, and would lay the ; Government open to a charge that ■ -hey were heaping up the public debt I of the colony, fie thought it would be i oettsr to let that question alone at i present. The Bill was read a second time. The Ljcal Bodies Loans Act Ameadmeat Bill was read a sexmd time. The Fishe.m Eaoouragemtnt Ask > intendment Bill, providing for the i extension of time for granting a boaoi ' for tinned fish, was road a soeood time. Mr. Duncan moved the second reading of the Botorua Town Council Bill, encorporating the town at a borough. Mr. JS addon, in reply to a question, admitted that building*and baths were i obsolete, and that it was intended to expend a considerable sua in affecting i improvements. With muniaipaigovemi ment and baths in proper order and , under improved management, thedit* i tries ought to advance greatly, i Mr. Powlds called attention to clause 14, " the Counoil to ast as a licensing committee." He was afraid, looking at the constitution of the Council, that the brewers would gain too groat an influence in regard to licenses. _ Hou. Mr. Duncan said the excap- * tional constitution of the borough would give it sufficient revenue to keep the place in good order, and that the propojal to give the council power to control the licenses was an experiment. The Bill was real a second time 04 the voice*. SoJdon moved the second reading of Uii Manual and Technical Instruction Bill, Mr. G: W. ltussell objected to tha inclusion of private school*. Mr. liuddo did not thjnk boys undbr thirteen had time to spare from primarf instruction. ' Mr. Monk said it was cruel to educate a boy to a trade and then debar him from getting employment, ai the restrictions as to tha employment of apprentices did. Mr. Meredith said the Bill would have to be scrutinised carefully jML ascertain whether denominational oatiou did not lurk in it. Mr. Piiaui thought the Bill should apply only to primary schools. Messrs. l£il u.ui Willis supported the Bill. Mr. T. Mackenzie slid that more attention should be dovoted to qualify youths for agricultural and pastoral pursuits. Mr. Seddon eaid it would be for u majority of the House to say whoUier she two private (schools in the wthodulu —tho Wangnnui Collegiate School nud Jlirist's College Grammar Sohool olumld bo included in the Bill, but. iaemmlly lie would object to their Illusion, Some members wew

on the subject of denomina- • t%al weuld sooner Bee the youth ef the colony suffer than 1 that private schools should be encouraged in giving technical instrnction, He would sooner drop the Bill than exclude these schools, but he was not t going to drepthe Bill. The Bill was readla second time on the voices, '. Mr. Seddon moved the second reading of the Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill, which was agrtfed towithout discussion, TheJbori Ooanails Bill was read a second and referred to the Native Affaire Committee. went into Committee on the New Zealand Cousols Act Amendjnentßill. The Houseadjourned at 10 o'clock,