GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2077, 26 July 1890, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Thursday, ...... . lepeosy. ?■■ The Public - Petitions Committee recommended Dr Bakewell's petition, which prayed that steps be taken to prevent the spread of leprosy, to the favourable consideration of the Government.

HOUjE OF EEPBE3ENTATIVES. On Wednesday, bum passed. The Church Property Trustees (Canterbury) Indemnity Bill and the Eomah Catholic Lands Act Extension Bill were read a third time and passed. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated that the Government could not introduce a Bill for mining on private property (on the same lines as the Tictorian Act) this session; that the Government could not agree to fix the postage for all letters throughout the colony (outside of towns) at 2d for all letters not exceeding ene ounce and Id additional for every half ounce, as it would involve a loss of revenue of £6167 per annum* and the privilege would only be used by the business people; that probably during the new session some better scheme would be devised for collecting the agricultural returns; that the Government would give the usual subsidy to the local bodies unless the House ordered otherwise ; that it was not the intention of tbe Government to bring in a measure 'dealing with the isolation of the lepers, as the disease had decreased a great deal lately amongst the Maoris, and the Government were of opinion that it could be stamped out completely were it not that the natives were not very amendable to legislation such as would be necessary.

THE POLICEMEN AT BETTNNEETON. # Eeplying to Mf Guinness, Captain Eussell said that the reason why four or fire policemen were sent to Brunnerton lately was because of the impending strike. <Mv Guinness moved the adjournment of the House in order that he might protest against the police being sent, as there was no danger whatever of a strike, much less of any disturbance. After a warm debate, during which the West Coast members strongly condemned the action of the Department, the motion for the adjournment was put and lost. : ' - IMPOBTAOT? INDUSTEIES. Mr" Beetham moved that a Select Committee be appointed to consider all matters pertaining to the development of the flax, the dairy produce, and the wine producing in uustries. The motion was agreed to. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. •STBIKES AND BOARD OF CONCILIATION BILL. Mr Stewart (Dunedin West) moved the second reading of the Strikes and Board of Conciliation Bill to deal with strikes among workmen, and to give power to settle them by a Board of Conciliation. The object of the Bill was to settle those disputes at the least expense to both parties, and he thought it was,a measure in which every workman in the colony was interested. He did not profess to say that his Bill was perfect, but the great principle of it was the settlement of "differences by arbitration, and if he was successful in carrying it he Bhould have the satisfaction of having solved a problem which had for a long time acitated the-whole civilised world. ..•Several Liberal members ridiculed "the measure as absolutely useless, and after a lively discussion the motion was agreed to on the voices. THE COEONEES INQUESTS BILL. Mr Hislop moved the second reading of the Coroners Inquests Bill, for an : amendment of the law re ating to loroners'inquestg. The Bill provided that the dead house of the public ■ hospital in cases where there is no "Sing specially eet apart for a vSrpwitL two miles, shall be a .public morgue.

Mr Samuel expressed his intention ofjmoving in committee for the payment of coroners' juries. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. THE EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES AJSD OTHEES BILL. Mr Feldwick moved the second reading of the Employment of Females and Others Act Amendment Bill, which he explained had been entrusted to him by the late Mr Turnbull. The object of : the Bill was to enable Borough Councils to enact that a halfholiday could be kept on two different days if necessarry, viz., on Wednesdays and Saturdays, or whatever days might be suitable for the different classes of workers. The motion for the second reading was agreed to. IN COMMITTEE The House went into Committee on the Dog Registration Amendment Bill. Sir J. Hall moved in qlause 2 that farmers' dogs should also be registered j for 2s 6d each as well as the dogs of shepherds and drovers. After a lengthy discussion Major Steward moved to postpone the clause. Agreed ta by 28 to 9. Sir J. Hall then moved that in clause 3 the words "shepherd or drover " be struck out and " person " inserted: Agreed to. Mr Feldwick moved to insert after the word " person " the words " not being resident of any borough or town district." Agreed to by 19 to 17. Mr Samuel moved to report progress, Lost by 20 to 14. Clause 3 was further amended by inserting the words " sheep and cattle dogs " in it. The Bill was reported with amendments. The House rose at 12,55 a.m. On Thursday, MOTION TO PEODUCE DOCUMENTS. The Public Petitions Committee presented an interim report on the petition of Daniel Mahoney. The report embodied a resolution to the effect that, in order to enable the Committee to come to a decision on the petition, certain documents in the possession of the Mimister of Justice should be produced before the Committee. As the Minister had refused to furnish them, the Committee desired its chairman to move in the Houße for their production, and the chairman moved accordingly. The question whether or not the documents be produced was debated for over two hours, the motion for their production being eventually agreed to on the voices. LOCAL BILLS. A large number of Bills were read a second time. THE HUTCHISON ENQUIRY.^ Mr Larnach drew the attention of the House to a paragraph which appeared in the Otago Daily Times of a recent date, commenting on the slow rate at which the Hutchison Enquiry Committee was doing its business, and stating that there was a tendency to let the matter hang over till after the general election. He said that the statements were without the slightest foundation, and he protested against persons who were privileged to go about the lobbies as newßgatherers, playing Ananias in that way. No motion was moved and the matter dropped. DOGr BEGISTBATION BILL. A motion that the Dog Eegistration Act Amendment Bill report be postponed for a week was lost by 29 to 24. Major Steward moved that the amendments made in the Bill the previous evening be agreed to. Mr Fish felt that last night members had failed to recognise the importance of the amendments proposed in the measure. Mr Taylor drew the Speaker's attention to the state of the House. The House was counted out at 7.55 p.m.