GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1521, 19 June 1886, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

In the Legislative Council on Wednesdsiy, Mr Menzies moved the second reading of the Bible in Schools Bill, and titer several members had spoken for and against it, was carried on a division of 20 to 17 votes. In the Legislative Council on Thursday, Dr Menzies presented a petitiou from Presbyterians in favor of reading the Bible in schools. Captain Baillie presented the report of ths Joint Committee relating to congratu'atingthe Qusen on the anniversary of her accession to the throne. The name of Mr Taiaroa was added to the Native Affairs Committee. The Council went into Committee on the StockbrokiDg B.ill. On the Becond clause a long discussion ensued,—Mr Robinson suggested tliat the Bill be referred to a Select Committee.—Mr Buckley offered no objection aud progress was reported, The Codlin Moth Act Amendment Bill and Criminals Protection Act Amend uoeut Bi'l were reported without amendment. The first mentioned Bill was read a third t ; me and passed. The Council then adjourned.

HOUSE OF KBPRESENfATIYES.

In the House on Wednesday,

Mr Mackenzie üßked the Government whether they hare considered the advie* ability of instructing the Agent-General by cable to offer such inducement as may seem reasonable to a seismologist of eminence to visit the scene of the recent volcanic disturbances, and report thereon. —ln reply the Government promised lo consult Dr Hector on the subject.

Mr Macandrew's Loan to Farmers Bill was made an order of the day for Thursday, July B'h. The Parcels Post Bill passed its second reading.

Sir J. Vogel moved the second reading of the Local Bodies Loans Bill. He said the Bill to some extent consolidated the existing law relating to loans for local bodies, but also contained some new provisions. The Bill had received a lurge amount of attention, and it would be found very useful to 100 ->1 bodies. Ho had so arranged the Bill that local bodies could adopt the Bill in its entirety, oi only in respect to one particular loan. He then detailed the new provisions of tbe Bill at some length. He aaid the whole Bill was the outcome of difficulties that had been experienced in regard to borrowing of local bodies and payment of interest. The motion was carried.

Sir J. Vogel moved the second reading of the Government Loans to Loral Bodies Bill. It was of great importance to lo al bodies throughont Iho country, and was an accompaniment of the Local Bodies Bill paased that afternoon. The Bill did not apply to large cities, but to counties, road districts, liver Boards, &c. It provided that Government might lend those bodies money on favorable terms, whereas the Local Bodies Bill provided that those bodies could borrow themselves. The sole object of the Bill whs that it should be left to the ratepayers themselves to decide whether the money should be borrowed, and on what works it should be expended. He referred at some length to the provisions of the Bill, and said that it covered a very large princip'e, which must prove of immense advantage to local bodies throughout the country. Major Aikinson spoke approvingly of the Bill, and Mr Rolleston thought the Bill, on the whole, was what the House would have to accept and deal with in Committee. He did not think it vould be very satisfactory, but it was the best they could get. He considered the clause relating to school buildings was a mandate. It meant that local bodies would in fu!ure have to pay for buildings that formerly were paid for out of the Consolidated Fund. The Bill was an inevitiible following out of tba f.ite that bad been following them with regard to borrowing.

Several members having spoken for and ngainst it, it was carried on the voices.

In committed on the Justices of the Peace Bill, Sir G. Grey moved his new clause for making Justices of the Peace elective. He hoped the House would affirm the principle of elective Justices, and pointed out that the sy.,tem worked admirably in the United Stales. After the clause h>ul been fully dis cussed it was rejected by 38 votes to 18.

The Counties Bill was further considered in committee and the House adjourned at 1.15 i.m. (Phe Honse met at 2.30 n.m. on Tbaroday. Replying to questions it was stated that arrangements would be made for providing extra railway accommodation for passengers on the Napier-Woodvilie lino; that Dr Day, although he had severed bis connection with Kumara Hospital, did attend the patient Peter Smith at the Hospital, and that there was a rider attached to the verdict at the inquest on the body of Smith.

Mr Macandrew brought up the report of the Joint Committee, concerning the address to Her Majesty on the occasion of the Queen's jubilee.

The address was read as follows: "Most Gracious Sovereign,— - " We, the members of both Houses of the Legislature of New Zealand in Parl'.ament assembled, humbly desire to be permitted to convey to your Majesty our warmest and most respectful oongn*tuliitions on the occasion of the jubilee of your Majesty's distinguiihed and illustrious reign. We do so under a deep feeling of gratitude to Almighty God for having so long spared your Majesty to be the instrument of so much good to the vast Empire over which your Majesty has been called upon to reign. We believe that in no part of the Empire is there a warmer feeling of loyalty han in this colony, and we venture to hope your Majesty may be graciously pleased to accept this assurance of the devoted and dutiful attachment of the people of New Zealand." He pointed out that there was no part of Her Majesty's dominions in which a stronger feeling of loyalty was displayed than in New Zealand, and referred in eloquent terms to the beneficial reign of the present Queen, and said the world was now probably on the eve of great changes, but he hoped that whatever else would pass away, that wherever the British flag was nnfurled, the same Bentiment of loyalty to Her Majesty would continue.

The Premier seconded the adoption of the report. In doing so he said there was probably no other sovereign in whose reign so much real liberty had been enjoyed as in the reign of Queen Victoria. He also said that our present Queen hud always maintainel strict impartiality between the two rol'tical parties at Home, and he pointed ont that her high personal character hnd endeared Her Majesty to nil her subjects in all her dominions. The Queen had shown herself to be a true woman with kindly feelings and sympathies-. Mr Macandrew then moved that tie substauce of the address, with the signatures of members of both Houses, be oabled Home to Her Majesty, The motion was agreed to.

The Premier introduced the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act Amendmeutßill.

The Wyndham fchow Ground Reserves Act Amendment Bill, the Hakateramea Racecourse Reserve Bill, and the Wanganui Harbour Bill, were read a second time.

The House went into committee on the One Tree Hill Reserves Bill. -The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

On resuming, the Wellington and Otago Harbor Boards Leasing Bills were read h third time and passed,

The. Premier asked that Mr Seddon's motion re breach of privilege might bo withdrawn. He believed the matter nould be taken up in another place.— Tho motion was accordingly withdrawn.

After the Limitation of Votes Bill had been passed, Mr Steward moved the second reading of the Licenwing Committees Election Bill, the main features of which were that the franchise should be extended to include all adult residents in the district for six months, and that elections bhould be held triennially. Mr Fergus moved the bill be read that day six months. The Premier believed in fema'e franchise, but thought that feeling wns eo strong it would be waste of time to go on with the Bill. The present Act was working very well. He complimented Mr Steward on the manner in whir-h the bill was drawn up, but counselled him to withdraw it.

Mr Seddon objected to "petticoat" government, The House divided—Ayea 29, Does 35, and the second reading was lost.

Mr Pyke mover) the second reiding of the Land Act Remedies Bill, explaining that it was intended to remove some difficulties which had become apparent in the working of last year's Land Act, but there waR no new principle in it. The Hecond, reading was lost. In Committee on the Employment of Females Bill various amendments were proposed, which elicited a long discussio", but none were carried, and the Bill eventually passed without alteration.—A new clause compellingeroployers of saleswomen in retail flaces of business to provide sufficient seating accommodation for their use when not actually engaged en duty was added And the Bill was reported with amendment. Mr O'Connor drew the attention of the House to the fact that two boys were employed in the House from 7 a.m. to mid. night. Great opposition was also shown to the committal of the Small Birds Nuisttnce Ameudment Bill, but it waa carried by 48 to, 15.

The Wellington and Wanganui Education District, Fish Auction, ani Small Birds Nuisance Amendment Bills were passed through Committee. A number of amendments were proposed in the latter, but were successfully restated. The House rose at 1.J5 a.m.