GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1533, 17 July 1886, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Legislative Council on Thursday, Dr Monzies presented a petition with regard to the Contagious Diseases Act. The Civil Service Reform Bill was received from the House and read a first time. TheNewm rket Reserve Bill, Wyndhum Show Ground Bill, Destitute Persons Bill, and Gisborne Prison Bill were read a second time. The Municipal Corporations Bill was further considered in Committee. A number of amendments were agreed to, and the Bid was reported as amended.

The Harbors Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee and reported. The Council then adjourned till next dav.

In the Legislative Council on Thursday, - The Harbor Act Amendment Bill recommitted for tlie purpose of considering clauses 12 and 13. These were agreed to, and the Bill » as reported with amendments. The Municipal Corporation* BUI ,'-vts further considered in Committee, and reported with amendments. The Gisborne Piison Bill was committed and reported without iimenainen', read -■ third lime, and pas-eo. The Sharebrokers Bill was thrown on? on the motion for committal, by a nr-j Ol ity of 20. The Local Bodies Loans Bill was recommitted, and trifling amendments agreed to, and the Bill rtported. The Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill was read a first time. The Council adjourned till next day. HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. In the House on Thursday, Replying to questions it was stated that the claims of the Southland district would be considered by the Cabinet in making future appointments to the Legislative Council. The East and West Coast Railway Construction Act Amendment Bill was received from the Legislative Council with one verbal amendment, which was agreed to. Major Atkinson asked whether the Premier would state definitely when the discussion on the Public WorksStatcment and Representation question weald take place. The Premier said the Loan Bill would probably he brought down on Monday nr Tuesday next. He said that the Pnh'ic Works discussion would then take i> .«*■>-. He would give an opportunity fordhcnxsing the Representation question on F iday.

The Government Loan to Local Bodies Bill was reported from Committee, read a third time, and passed. Mr Peacock and Mijor .Steward then made personal explanations regarding the selling of certain debentures to the Government by Major Steward. Sir Robert Stoat, remarking that the Chairman of the Committee had not risen to move the adoption of the ’6: ort, ex* oneiated both gentlemen from acting improperly in ihe matter, and then moved —“That while it appears;sthere was no corrupt motive on the part of Major Steward, whose action in relation to the matter in question lias been epen and straightforward, this House desires to express its opinion that members of the Legislature should not act as paid agents in, or receive any remuneration for, ns. goliating any transaction in which Government is directly a party, either as buyer or seller.” The motion was carried without opposition and the matter then dropped; ; The Fisheries Conservation Act Amend* mcnt Bill, the First Offenders Probation Bill, and the Workmen’s Wsjjhs Act 1884 Extension Bill; wore >ead a second time. During the debate on the latter Bill Mr Fergus characterised * a remark of the Premier’s as false, and was made to with* draw the expression by the Speaker. Sir Julius Vogel announced that Government had received a cajole regard* ing the exhibition 1 , which meeting of the Commissioners had been held at which >a resolution was passed that the aspersions on the New Zbkiand Court wen utterly unjustifiable and'unfair, the Court being the most attractive and representative >is far as the exhibits admitted. The best assurance was that no such comments had appeared in English papers. On the motion f -r going into Committee of Supply, Mr Pearson moved that contributions for hospital and charitable aid should be raised by a tax on property without any exemption#; also that Government be requested to bring m a Bill to that effect. Sir Julius Vogel said the Government cou'd not support such a proposal. The Premier said the mptibh proposed was practically that local 1 bodies should have the expenditure of money raised by other persons, who waie to have no share in the expenditure. It would increase the burdens and taxation of the colony and do no good whatever if the Bill was brought into effect. With this object he would move it to be discharged from the Order Paper,—Ayes, 26 ; Noee, 35. After some discussion Mr Pearson's resolution was carried by* 30 to 25. Mr Ivess moved an ‘amendment that the ordinary property - tax exemption should be allowed.—Carried. The resolution as amended was then put—Ayes, 25 ; Noes, *25. The Speaker voted with the ayes and the resolution was carried. j ;• The House rose at 1.15 a.thi The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Than* day. The Premier gave notice of the introduction of the Representation! *Act 1886. Replying to Sir George Grey, the Premier said that a Bum would be placed on the Supplementary Estimates for relieving urgent cases of suffering by the volcanic eruption? at Rotorua, Mr Samuel moved the committal of the New Plymouth Harbor BilL Mr Hurt-tbouse, Mr Bucklaud, and Mr Turnbull strongly opposed the Bill, and the latter was speaking at tbo 5.30 p.m. adjournment. On the House resuming, the Speaker informed Mr Brown that the New Zealand Note Cuirency Bill introduced by him, could not be allowed to 'proceed, as it proposed to deal with the ipsua of notes amounting to four millions; of money. Government had entire control of such matters. The Salmon and Trout Act Amendment B ill was passed. The Hawkers’ and Pedlers’ Bill wan thrown out on the motion for its third reading by 26 to 21. ; > Mr Reid moved the second; reading of the Employers Liabilities ; Act 1882 Amendment Bill.—Agreed to. The second reading of ;the Nelson Crown Tenants Relief: Bill,f which wee intended to modify the penalties for nonpayment of rent within a prescribed period was agreed to, and the Bill waa refer l d to the Waste Lands Committee. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Lives of Children Preserve* lion Rill, 'he object of which was to remove toe iiok ol chi.ilrfcii: being poisoned by.lnciter raateher.—The Bill was lost by 18 to 16. Mr B ndshaw moved the second reading of the Eight Hours’ Bid,''which provided that f ight hours should'beaday's work, and 48 a motion was lost. The House rose at11.55a.m.