GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1916, 13 July 1889, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Wednesday, : ‘ The Church Property Trust (Can-] terbury) Act 1879" Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed, and two Bills were introduced. On Thursday, On the motion of the AttorneyGeneral, a Bill to prevent aboriginal natives assembling in a manner calculated to create alarm, or inconvenience, or endanger the public peace/ was introduced and read a first time.? The Law of Libel Amendment Bill] was passed through Coinmittee, and' was reported-with amendments. '

HOU3B OE REPRESENTATIVES.

On Wednesday 1 ( Mr Fisher explained that the cones-] pondence relative to the Gasparirii 1 affair which was laid on the table last' night was printed I by him at the request of the late Governor, who after-' wards expressed his regret that Mr Fisher had been subjected - to annoyance ou such unfounded accusations. 1 Leave of absepcewas granted to 1 Mr Beetham till the end of the session, j : Replying to questions, Ministers' said that they would shortly propose a reduction in the fee charged far registration on letters. They did hot see their way to’ legislated the better preservation- of New Zealand flax. They had no desire to hurry the passage of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill. They desired to give the ' local bodies reasonable time fo under-' stand its provisions, but hoped that the Bill would be. passed this session'They would extend the scope of thk proposed commission on sweating, and include the case of shop girls. ' <

Mr Duncan moved in the direction of home distillation' of all spirits in ’ the colony, and the early erection of central distilleries of sufficient capacity to produce all the spirits con- ■ Burned in the colony under excise regulations. He argued that such an industry would be a great advantage to the farming interest.—Mr Ballance' suggested that the motion should be : amended to enable the distilleries to' be erected in any part of the colony. Farmers would be benefited, while the revenue would not suffer, arid an important colonial industry would be established. —The debate was adjourned for a week. * Mr Barron moved that the property tax, unless it can he abolished, should be annually decreased.—Mr Scobie Mackenzie supported, and Mr Bal lance opposed the motion.—The debate was adjourned. The Cemeteries Act Amendment , Bill was read a second time.

-Mr Pyke moved the second reading of the Private Schools Bill, the object of which was neither : more nor less i thqn to give justice to the Bomari t Catholics. He ouloguised the Remain ■ Catholic community in building and i maintaining their own schools-. The v Bill provided that;, private schools should, upon complying with the regulations of : the Education Act, rO- - ceive capitation allowance, the amount r of which was left blank at present, . and which be proposed to makehalf that now paid to the State Schools.-f- ---;• After a, long debate the motion for the i second reading was lost by 37 to 25. , Oh Thursday, ; .■ f Replying to questions, ( Ministers said, that Gqypmmsnt,. ;to .give every assistance : to education board* :to enforce 1 the .compulsory . attendance clause of the Education ."Act. A:;:, . ... . | The WAimea River Works Bill was committed, ' reported without amendments, read a third time, and passed] The Napier High School Leases Validation Bill, ithe OamarU! Harbor Loan Bill, the Devonport ; Cemeteiiy‘ Bill, lhe ( Onehunga Cemetery; .Bill, arid the, Nelson , Foreshore, Reserve Bill were; read a second time. rv/Several motions were agreed to; ' - r - Mr Samuel moyed the second reading of the Auctioneers’ Bill, providing thqt all licenses .and; fees received .under the . Act shall ,be ] divided amongst the-; local-authorities in Provincial .Distriots, Licenses would enable; the holders to .sell in any part pt the colony.-—After ■ some, disdussio'u 4he second reading was agreed to.- 7. r. jQn the motion of iMr Mackenzie, the, ; Californian Thistle Eradicatiori Bill was read a second time.—Mr Buxton opposed this measure* as he considered the, thistle was not nearly as bad as other weeds. The second reading of the Licensing Act 1881 Amendment Bill, enabling married women to hold i publi,can’s licenses, was, .agreed' to* as wbs also that< of . the Otago University Oouncil Election Bill* and the Dog Registration Act Amendment < Bill (providing for the reduction of registration fees on shepherds’ and rabbiters’ dogs).. The Registration ofßirfchsExteri- . sipn Bill was committed, repbrted without amendments, read a third time, and - passed- rt; > :