PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 206, 6 October 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

(PUB PBBSB ASSOCIATION.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Friday, October 5, The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to the Hon. Col. Pitt, the Minister of Education said he thought the Railway Department would be prepared to do something in the direction of enabling Government railway tickets to be purchased at Post Offices in the four chief centres and secondary towns through whioh the railway runs.

The Pacific Cable and Electoral Act Amendment Bills were read a first time.

The report of the Conference on the amendments in the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill wis laid on the table, and it was decided to consider it on Monday. In committees on th& Municipal I Corporations Bill, the following amendments weremade in accordance with the recommendation's of the Seleot Committee : Clause 9—To provide that mayors, in office on the-passing of the Act, shall remain until their successors are elected under the Act. Clause 48 Council of an undivided borough to be not less than six or more than twelve members, and in a divided borough, not less than six or more than ten. Clause 82 —The power given for the Council to appoint a medic J officer was withdrawn, and a sub-clause added. Clause 96—That not less than onethird of the total amount of general rates levied pn any ward shall bd expended therein, 'A new Clause 100—And every separate rate levied within any ward to be subject to deduction to as much as the council think fit to defray the expense of levying and supervision and clerical work .necessary for the expenditure thereof. The amount deducted going to ordinary revenue of the borough, aud the remainder to the separate rate being expended in the ward, Clause 101— Water rates levied on land and buildings to which it is supplied at not more than 10s per annum where the rateable value does not. exceed twelve pounds ten, not to be more than seven percent, on the first hundred pounds, and, wher« the value exceeds twelve poundß ten, at six per cent, on the second hundred ; five per cent, on the third hundred; four pei cent, per hundred over three hundred. Clause 45 —ln providing for tho repayment of loan, a Sinking Fund is made optional. A new sub-clause was added to Clause 17—That where a petition for the constitution of a borough has oeen unsuccessful, no similar petition can be presented for two years. Subclauses to Clause 176—Petitions for union of contiguous boroughs can only be presented after a poll similar to a loan poll has been taken in both boroughs simultaneously, a majority of the votes recorded to carry the pro posal in each borough. New Clause 232 A—On the fulfilment by the owner of land of the requirements of the Uouncil and Act, every private street shall be declared a public'street. New Clause-233 A—On tho application of the Council, the Governor may permit a private street of less than sixty-six feet wide, under exceptional circumstances, to be declared a public vided the width is not less than 40 feet. Sub-elause to Clause 237—1f thelandset apart for a street is not required, the council may apply it to any purpose of pub ic convenience or utility approved of by the Governor, or grant a lease fo the same. Clause 315—Anuual in spection of buildings for provision and means of escape in case of lire not to be compulsory,

The further consideration was interrupted by the dinner adjournment at 5 p.m.

EVENING SITTING. The Oouncil resumed at 7,30 p.m. In Committee on the Municipal Corporation Bill, further amendments were Clause .329—Making is lawfulforja Counoil to establish eleotrio light works to supply a locality where such works already exist. Clause 332- -Empowering Councils to contraot for the supply of electrioity and supply sa>ne to the inhabitants, Clause 334 —Empowering! Councils to put into effect the provisions of the Public Health Act. All the clauses providing sanitiry measures were deleted, as provided for in the Public Health Act. Clause37B—Empowering a Oouncil on its own motion, j or on the recommendation of the District Health Officer, to make by-laws regulating the number of inmates in a dwelling, and the cubic feet space for each. A new Clause, 443 A—Providing that all by-laws of separate boroughs united become the by-laws of the united borough, and can be repealed' by such, but, until repealed, shall apply only in. the boroughs to which they originally belonged. Clause 9, as amended, comes into operation upon the passing of the Act. The Bill was reported. In Committee pn the Assessment Bill, clause 43 was amended, by 16 votes to 6, to provide that in case of an owner who has been absent from the colony for a period not less than two years the graduated land tax payable shall be increased by 20 per centum.

The following Bills were passed through Committee without amendment, read a third time, and passed: —New Zealand Consols Act Amendment, Midland Authorised Area Land Settlement, Fisheries Encouragement Act Amendment, RotoruaTown Council, and West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment. The Council rose at 9.45 p.m., and adjourned till Monday, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Friday, October o, The House mot at 2.:!0 p.m. Tho Dorcased Husbands Brother Jlarriage Bill, notified by the Governor's uitssagc, passed the Council, and lias b; cn reserved for the Queen's ajSent. Mr. Seddon read a copy of tin cable sent to Lord Roberts, congratrlatm,* him upon being appointed Comfiiander-in-Chief of the JJ: itish forces/and expressing a hope tint ere long (lie position would apply to all the \pilitary forces of the Empire. < A roply was also read froij Loid Roberts thanking thy fw its coogratulatiuus.

Tho Premier moved that Iho ropai 1. of the managers on tbo amaDdmomte made by the Council in tho Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill bo I agreed to. Oaptain Russell moved the adjournjment of the debate to enable the I amendments to be printed and studied by the members. The motion was agreed to, and the debate adjourned accordingly. The Petitions Committee reported on the claims of a Dumber of old soldiers to pensions, recommending that further enquiry be made into the claim.

In reply to Mr. J. W. Thomson, Mr. Duncan said he was in communication with the Land Commissioner at Dunedin on the subject of the alleged ejeotmentof settlersfrom the Pomahaka Estate, and hoped to be able to make a statement on the subject on Tuesday., I In the meantime the settlers weuld not be distnrbed.

The Premier gave notice to set up a commission to enquire into the question of federation with Australia, and in reply to Captain Russell said tho debate on tho subject would probably be taken that day fortnight. Roplying to Captain Russell, who asked what officers he intended to appoint, and what course he intends to take to insure the proper Government of the South Sea Islands proposed to be annexed to this colony, the Premier said it would not be necessary to appoint officers to govern the Islands, which would have a system of local self-government, and would be more than self-supporting. In reply to other questions, Ministers said it was proposed to take the census of the colony on the 31st March next; that'there was a vote on Estimates for the section of railway from Heriot towards Roubargh, which would serve either for Moa Flat or Rae's Junction route, according as either was adapted. The 5.30 adjournment was then taken,

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The debate on the motion that the report of the Conference on the amendments made by the Council on the Imprisonment for Deb; Limitation Bill be agreed to was resumed. Clauses 3 and 4 were amended to read:—(3) "Except in cases which by section three of the principal Act are declared to be excepted from the operation of that section, and except also in oases where the debt has been incurred by fraud, or where it is proved, or by the debtor admitted, that he has money of his own which he has refused to pay to the judgment creditor, no order of committal to prison for default in payment of a judgment debt, or of any instalment thereof shall hereafter be made under the principal Act against a judgment debtor. Provided that no such order of committal .shall be made where a judgment creditor is a person, firm, or company whose business is that of collecting or recovering debt#, unless the Court is satisfied that the judgment debt was incurred to the judgment creditor directly, and was not acquired by assignment from the original creditor." (4) " The provisions of the last preceding seetion hereof shall not apply "to any debts contracted previous to the pasting of this Act, except in the case mentioned in the proviso to suoh last preceding sectiin."

| Messts, Herries, Guinness, and [ tlanan objocted to the amendments on the ground that they practically did .w.iy with imprisonment for debt iu chsos whore the debtor had means, but failed to pay the amount ef the judgment, as the debtor was not compelled to attend the Oourfc, when summoned, to be examined. The Premier denied that was the case, as section 8 ef the Aot was still retained. He said some magistrates had strained the law in imprisoning debtors for contempt of Oaurt. The Bill, while it did not go so far as he would like, did away with the power of debt collecting agenoies to imprison for debt, and he hoped next session the power to imprison for oontempt of Court would be taken away, The motion that the report of the conference be agreed to, wasoarried by' 31- to 18. j Mr. Sedden moved the second reading of the foreign Insurance Companies Deposits Bill, providing for a fee of trustees certificate, was carried on the voices! The Bill was afterwards committed and reported/without amendment.

The Honse went into committee on the Oivil Service Examination Bill, (Left Sitting.)