GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2256, 19 September 1891, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wellington, September 16. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. ELECTORAL BILL. The Electoral Bill was recommitted for the purpose of reconsidering several clauses. Clause 8, which provides that aliens, public offenders, &c., shall not be entitled to excecise the franchise, was amended so as to disqualify the intimates of charitable institutions. The Bill was read a third time and passed. FACTORIES BILL. The report of the Conference on the Factories Bill was agreed to. SCHOOL COMMITTEES ELECTION BILL. The School Committees Election Bill was read a second time. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill. Mr Shrimski moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months, but after some discussion, he withdrew the amendment. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. IN COMMITTEE. The Public Turst Office Act Amendment Bill was slightly Committee. BILLS PASSED. The Stamp Act Ameridment Bill and Post Office Acts Amendments Bill passed through Committee without amendment, were read a third time, and passed. The Private Tramway Bill was put through its final stages. • PAYMENT OF MEMBERS BILL. The debate on the second reading of the Payment of Members Bill was resumed by Dr. Pollen, who failed to see why the members of both Houses should not receive the same amount. The motion for the second reading of the Bill was lost by 21 to 4, and Mr Miller's amendment agreed to by 16 to 10. Mr Buckley gave notice that he would next day move that the Bill be again placed on the Order Paper. SECOND READINGS. Water Supply, Small Birds Nuisance, Government Life Insurance Acts Amendment, and Light from Crown Land Restriction Bills were read a second time. The Council rose at 12.15 a.m. The Council met at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. BILLS PASSED. The Public Trust Office Bill, the Supreme Court Bill, and the Government Life Insurance Bill, were put through their final stages. The Council rose at 5.30 p.m. and resumed at 7.30. LIGHT FROM CROWN LANDS RESTRICTION BILL. The Light from Crown Lands Restriction Bill was considered in Committee. The following new clause was inserted:— " No deduction or grant of right of way over any land whatever shall be presumed or allowed to be asserted or established as against any person or body holding land in trust for any public purpose, or as against the owner of any private land by reason only of user whether such user commenced before or after the passing of this Act or any Act at any time heretofore in force." MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL. The Municipal Corporations Bill was taken in Committee. On the motion of Dr Grace a new clause, exempting charitable institutions and schools not carried on for profit, was inserted by 13 to 10. SCHOOL COMMITTEES ELECTION BILL. The School Committees Election Bill was slightly amended in Committee. WATER SUPPLY BILL. The Water Supply Bill passed through Committee with slight amendments. I RABBIT NUISANCE BILL. The Rabbit Nuisance Bill was passed. SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE BILL. The Small Birds Nuisance Bill was put through itß final stages. ' PAYMENT OF MEMBERS BILL. The Payment of Members Bill, having been reinstated on the Order Paper, Mr Buckley moved that it be now read a second time. Mr Miller proposed as an amendment that the Bill be laid aside. The amendment was carried by 18 to 5, without debate, The Ooucil rose at 10.30 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [The following is the conclusion of Tuesday's sitting.] Clause 18, creation of new Counties by petition was struck out.

On the motion of Mr Cadmari a new clause was added to the Bill, enabling County Council's contributing to " separate institutions" under the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, to appoint trustees at any time when those already , representing them shall resign. Another new clause was inserted giving county councils power to light streets, roads, bridges and other public places, and buildings by means of gas, electricity,* or kerosene. Tne bill was reported as amended and put through its final stages THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES. In answer to Mr Rolleston, the Premier said that he was not yet in a position to state who was to receive the appointment of Chairman of Committes, but he hoped to do so this week Mr Rolleston strougly objected to the course proposed to be taken by the Government on this matter The Premier said thut the Government were only asking for reasonable time to decide on an important appointment like this, and they did. not wish to exercise any undue haste in the matter COAL MINES Bill. The Coal Mines Bill was considered in Committee, Mr O'Connor being in the chair. The amendments made were merely of a verbal character ; the Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. THS IAND Bill. Mr McKenzie moved that the amendments made by ihe Legislative Council in the Land Bill be disagreed with. After considerable discussion this was agreed to, and a Committee appointed to draw up reasons. The House rose at 1 35 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. THE CHAIRMANSHIP OP COMMITTEES. The Premier moved that Mr Fish take the chair in Committee for that occasion only. Mr Rolleston said that he thought the House would recognise that the office of Chairman of Committees should not be kept in suspense, and proposed as an amendment that Mr Hamlin, who had previously, held the position, be appointed Chairman of Committees. The Premier said that Mr Rolleston had told the House that the Chairman of Committees should be a nonpolitical officer, but the gentleman whom he had just proposed had not that qualification. He should probably be able to name some gentleman for the position to morrow. After a short debate Mr Rolleston's amendment was lost by 40 to 25. 10CAL BILIS. The rest of the afternoon was taken up with Local Bills. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. and resumed at 7.30. EIECTORAI Bill. The Premier asked the House to disagree with certain amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Electoral Bill, and moved that managers be appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing. The motion was agreed to. COMMITTEE OF SUPPIY. The House went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Estimates Legislative Department —£14,939. The first vote was reduced £l. Colonial Secretary's Department—£72,696. The vote of £s7iil for the Audit Office was withdrawn, in order that the Government might bring down an increased vote on the Supplementary Estimates.