GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2095, 6 September 1890, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATOR COUNCIL. On Wednesday, EMPLOYEES LIABILITY BILL. Mr Stevens moved the second reading of the Employers Liability BillDr and Mr MqLean opposed the Bill. Mr McLean said that the bill was unnecessary. The sailers and firemen of the Union Compady had been well treated, and the majority went out on strike against their own inclination. H© predicted before yery lo,ng the strikers would coerce their leaders when too late, wb,en they foqnd thgt they knew their wives and children war© suffering, The second reading was lost by 14 to 9. The council rose at 4,cK) p.wOn Thursday, THEEATS AND MOLESTATICKS DILLA Bill to amend the criminal law relating to violence, threats, and molestations was read a first time, and the second reading was set down for this day fortnight. A DENIAL. Mr McLean took occasion to deny that in his speech yesterday he had said that the firemen were a bad lot, as stated in the New Zealand Times. He had never let any expression fall from him that would lead to irritation. During the whole of the crisis he had not lost his temper, and he had no quarrel with anybody, and he declined to be drawn into any quarrel through the miereports of bis statements.

HOU3E OF REPRESENTATIVES, On Wednesday, Mr Rhodes brought up the report of the Free Conference of both Houses on the Coroners’ Inquests Bill, Th* l principal alteration made in the bill was that relating to the payment of coroners’juries. The conference had altered the bill so as to provide for those jurors being paid ss_ per day instead of 7s 6d as passed by-the* House, and that 3a should be paid for half a day. The report was adopted. INTEECEPTIN& SUPPLY. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Verrall moved an amendment affirming the desirableness ef establishing a State bank. ! i After some discussion Mr Yerralls amendment was lost by 85 to 21, and the House went into Committee of Supply. On Thursday, IHE OCEAN MAIL SERVICES. Replying to Mr Ward, Mp Mitchelson said that he hoped to be able to state the Government’s proposals relating to the ocean mail services either on Saturday or Monday next. He might say that negotiations had been proceeding between the Government and the Imperial Government by which it was hoped that the San Francisco service and the direct steam service would be continued:, without any loss to the colony, except that involved in the reduction of the postage rate to 2|d. ESTIMATES. A large number of items passed unaltered. The only item rejected was £6OOO for extending the railway from the Thorndon to the Te Aro end of Wellington. Defence Department —£750. Mr Goldie moved a reduction of £SO.

Captain Bussell said that the question of defence was a difficult oite, and he regretted to say that at the present moment they had practically no defence at all. It was possible to put the colony in a good state of defence for a limited sum of money. For £86,400 he would be able to provide for a partially paid volunteer force in the four cities ; also a torpedo force and a number of rifle clubs. He should propose to have power to call out a certain number of the first class militia. One of the conditions of service in the four centres would be that the men should be enrolled for, say, three years. 3 hey would be compelled to go into camp for ' seven days a year, for which they would receive 7s a day, and in addition to that thev would have 15 half days’ drill at 2s 6d per day. They would, therefore, be able to earn over £6 per annum, which would more than compensate them for loss of lime. The number of men required in each of the four cities would be 766, and country corps would be allowed to practically remain as they were at present. In Victoria the amount spent on defence was £210,180; in New South Wales, £175,760; whilst in New Zealand it would only amount to £86,400. He wished to impress on the committee that they must maintain their batteries in proper order or else dismantle them, and he believed it was now in the power of the colony to have a thoroughly trained and equipped force for a moderate outlay. Mr Ballance said that if the ports were not properly equipped now it was net the lata Government who should receive the blame, but the Government of which Captain Bussell was a member. Owing to their extensive railway service they would be able to concentrate volunteers from all ports of the colony in 24 hours. He denied that money would be saved by Captain Bussell's system, and he thought that not less than £IOO,OOO would be required for the initiation of a standing army such as that proposed Mr Goldie’s mgtion was lost by 81 to 14-

Permanent Militia—£29,76B. The Minister agreed to a reduction of £7OOO. The remainder of the items in the Department were passed as printed. Government Insurance Department Head office, £10,784. The salary of the Assistant Commissioner, £IOOO, was reduced by £3OO.