GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Temuka Leader, Issue 2883, 19 October 1895, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. NAVAL TKAIMNG. 9n the motion of Mr Jeunings, a resolution was carried asking the Government to ascertain whether means could not be effected of givuig boys an opportunity ot training for the aea. LANB AND INCOME ASSESSMENT BILL. The Laud and income Assessment Act Amendment Bill passed its final stagfas. THE LIQUOK BILL. The Alcoholic Liquors Bill was further considered in Committee Mr Macgregor moved that inspectors other than the police officers bo appointed by the Government for the purpose of preventing and detecting violations of tho Act, aud the sale of adulterated liquors. — Agreed to. Other amendments proposed by Mr Macgregor, limitiug bars to one and facilitating the means of securing convictions against those found on premises at any time when they were supposed to be closed, were lost. The Bill wa3 reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS DILI. In Committee on the Laud for Settlements Act Amendment Bill, Mr Stevens moved that the District Land Registrar be struck off the Purchase Board. The motion was agreed to. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S BILL. In Committee on the Shippping and Seamen's Act Amendment Bill, on the motion of the Minister, it was provided that any ship going to sea from any port in the colony must have her compasses adjusted. STOCK ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Stock Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee without material amendments. At 5 p.m. the Council adjourned till 7.30 p.m. The Couneil resumed at 7.30 p.m. BILLS PAsSED. The following Bills were read a third time and passed :—The Stock Act Amendment Bill, the Water Supply Act Amendment Biil, the Land for Settlements Act Amendment Bill, and the Shipping aud Seamen's Act Amendment Bill. SECOND READINGS. The Rating Act Amendment Bill was road a second time. IN COMMITTEE, In Committee on the Public School Teachers' Incorporation and Court of Appeal Bill, Mr McGregor proposed an addition providing that the termination of an engagement without reasonable cause should be an additional reason for sending an appeal to the court constituted by the Bill. After a considerable debate the amendment was lost on the voices. Mr McGregor proposed that " forced resignation " should be added, which was also lost, and the clause agreed to. Progress was reported at clause 25. The Council rose at 9 25 p m. The Council mot at 2.30 p.m on Thursday. THE COUNCIL BUILIUNG. Plans were laid on the table for alterations and additions to the Legislative Couucil buildings, at a cost of £IBOO. LAND AND INCOME TAX BILL. The Land Tax and Income Tax Bill was put through all its stages. FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES BILL. The Foreign insurance Companies Deposits Bill was read a third time and passed. RATING BILL. The debate on the second reading of the Hating on Unimproved Value Bill was continued, aud was not finished at the 5 p.m. adjournment. The Council adjourned till next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. THE CHEMIS CASE. Mr C. H. Mills gave notice to introduce the Crimiual Code Act Amendment Act, 1895, as the outcome of the failure of the recent appeal iu the Cheuris case. NATIVE LAND BILL. The House went into Committee on r,he Native Laud Laws Amendment Bill. The discussion on various amendments lasted all the afternoon and occupied a great part of the evening sitting, but ultimately the Bill was put through all its «'.;\ges. WORKS AND RAILWAYS. The Public Works and Government Railway Act Amendment Bill, which the Premier explained was merely of a technical aud departmental character, was read a secouu time. The House rose at 2 a.m. The House met at 2 30 p.m. on Thursday. THE LIQUOR BILL. ('hn Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill was received from the Legislative Council with amendments. The Premier said that no one regretted more than he did tho great difference of opinion tint existed between the two oranches of the Legislature on the Bill Zoning that tho Bill had been unanimously passed by this Home, he thought t at the only course wej..h lie coti'd pursue was to ask the House to refuse to ;igree with any ■>f iho ame.idme'its made by the Council He then f re moved to that effect, and thar the Premier, Mr WcNab, Mr Meredith, and Mr Mitche'son be appointed a Com mittee to draw up reasons for disagreeing ile thought that this was a fair selection Mr G. Hutchison said that if these gentlemen wore to meet tho Council as representing the Hoii.su, the Premit-r was taking the bust step to prev lit a compromise being effected this session. Mr W. Hutchison moved as an amendment " That no further action be taken this session." Mr J, Smith socoiidc 1 tho amnndmont. Ho did not thi k a conference ought to be held, and the Houo would be best o .u lilting Us digni y by re using to have anything W d" wl,h la^! i} ll tms session. Mr iYJUJ.-dui said that there was no one g.,ii..r into the £MU "gai" this session. Mr 'tfarnshaw said that the amendments had been carried iu tk'(<ouncil by such large majorities s-R *-o ensure that no compromise could be arrived at. Tho l'ro<nior deprDcated the infiiiinui'itory and abusive speeches that hid !.e«n undo that afternoon. Such utterances would do no good, and would only nvak-'U ill'' po'-ii'.ion of tie lloii-oin t'.o matter. !!»"' d•: -mud his ;-<;!i'C'ion of the (h'.nunluee, ■mdr.-iiii t.:i.i v.-'m:.. 'ln* rimcunc f'-r a Liu ll ' r, y-" v '"' l uit ' i, '" ; ' ■h. Mil,,•:• on tn- qu ■.-'' '-» )h ' '■>'" ,,i ' P' r f .nvard his a f.v os *-o nn.un.M the p x-iioii or :1..: .'Jon.-i-. It Void I sh.,\v a nign •■£ weakness to adopt the (, .ii so ' i'i tho am 'inline t. Sir h'.dn-rr, Stout sp <«<■ in favor of the iiiiuvidnn'tit. I In- H 'ii •;' siiool : takot u bold .- -p n..w of •'!• clmiT,' to a;)p lint a I'u.vnr in-", and : \\. nil tedo iho question at' -"i .. : ... ly i x a.- si -n. Mr lleeics t o>i.:lir t'i it nothing would bog-lined by i.-j it iting tho oilier < !hamber ami tro .tier them wit.li di-coiirtes ,', aud it was not in tho interests of tho Bill to roftiau to appoint a Conference

The Hon. Mr McKenzie said that the Government had no objection to putting Sir Robert Stout on the Committee. After further lengthy discussion, Mr W. Hutchison's amendment was lost by 46 to 12, and it was decided to dis <gree with all the ameiidments. The Hon. Mr McKeuzie moved tho names of the Committee to draw up reasons, including tho name of Sir Robert Stout in tho nupiber. Sir Robert Strom declined to act. Mr McKenzie moved that the Premier Mr Mitchelsou, Mr McNab, and Mr Meredith be appointed a Committee. The motion was agreed to on the voices. THE STOCK BILL. The amendment made by the Legislative Council in the Stock Act Amendment Bill were agreed to. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT BILL. It was decided, on the motion of the Minister of Lands to disagree with the amendment made by the Legislative Council in Clause 3 of the Laud for Settlements Act. The Council by this amendment had struck the District Land Registrar off the Lands Purchase Board. —A Committee was appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. MINING BILL. The Mining Bill was considered in committee. The Bill was reported with amendments and put through its final stages. THE PUBLIC WOKKS STATEMENT. The Premier announced that owing to the proposed reductions in the Public Works Estimate being ofsuch a drastic nature the figures would not be ready by to-morrow night, and he would not, therefore, be able to bring down the Public Works Statement before Monday evening. SHOPS AND SHOP ASSISTANTS. In moving the committal of the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill, Mr Reeves explained that the measure would enable those places which had selected Saturday for the half-holiday to change the day if they so desired within one month of the passing of the Act. The Bill also abolished the whole of the exemptions put into last year's Act by the Legislative Couucil, and he might add that the whole of the trouble caused by the administration of the Act was due to the alterations made by the Upper House. The Bill also removed the anomaly iu regard to compulsory closing when another holiday occurred in the same week, and allowed shops in the country districts to keep open during harvest time for the sale of harvesting machinery. A provision was inserted providing that cases under the Act could not be heard by Justices of the Peace, and must go before Stipendiary Magistrates. After a short debate the committal of the Bill was agreed to. Clause 3—Local authority may substitute another closing day passed unaltered.

After considerable discussiou on clause 4, containing the amendments of the principal Act, Sir li. Stout moved an amendment to place hotel bars ou the same footing as shops under the Act. No discussion took place on the amendment, which was carried by 30 to 27. The following is the division list : —Ayes (30) : Alien, Bell, Buddo, Buick, Carnell, Earnshaw, Flatmau, Green, Hall Jones, Joyce, J. W. Kelly, Lang, T. Mackenzie, Maslin, Massey, McNab, Meredith, Miller, Mitchelson, Montgomery, Morrison, Newman, O'Regau, Piraui, G. W. Kussell, G. J. Smith, Tanner, R. Thompson, and Wilson. Noes (27) : Buchanan, Cadman, Carncross, Caruell, Collins, Crowther, Duncan, Graham, Hall, Harris, Hogg, W. Kelly, Lawry, McGowau, J. McKenz'e, R. McKenzie, McLachlan, Mills, Parata, Piukerton, Reeves, W. R. Russelll, Seddon, E. M. Smith, Stevens, T. Thompson, Willis. Pairs—Ayes : Heke, McGuire. Noes : Larnach, Ward. A few other amendments were made iu tho clause. Sir R. Stout strongly objected to claiiio 15, which was struck out by 32 to 21. Mr Hall-Jones moved a new clause to allow offices to close ou any other day tlnn Saturday. The clause was agreed to on the Yoices. The Bill was reported with amendments, which were agreed to, and put through its final stages. The House rose at 1.25 a.m.