GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2886, 26 October 1895, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. last Wednesday. LEAVE OK ABSENCE. Leave of absence for the remaicler of the session was granted to Mr Shrimaki, on acc nut of ill-health. SHOPS AND SHOP ASSISTANTS BILL. The Shops and Shop- Assistants Bill was read a thir.x time. MIMNO BILL The Mining Act Amendment Bill was considered in committee.—The Hauraki mining district was excepted from extended prospecting licenses. Progress was reported on the Bill. NATIVE LAND LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. The Native Laud Laws Amendment Bill was considered in committee, and a uum bes of amendments which were suggested by the Native Affairs Committee, were agreed to. BATING BILL. When the Rating Act Amendment Bill was in committee, Mr Taiaroa moved that it should not apply to any established Maori pa with its cultivation and houses, except such cultivation and houses as may be leased by them to Europeans. —The motion was negatived by 14 to 11.—The Bill was read a third time and passed. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS BILL. Consideration of the Government Advances to Settlers Act Amendment Bill was continued in committee. Mr Montgomery accepted the amendment which had been moved by Mr Stewart respecting advances on suburban laud, that the land shall only be valued on the basis of land being used for farming, dairying, or market-gardening purposes only. A division was taken on the clause as a whole, and it was retained by 14 to 12. Progress was reported. The Council adjourned at 5 o’clock till next day. The Council mot at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. SIR PATRICK BUCKLEY. Mr Montgomery expldned that Sir Patrick Buckley was too ill to be present, but he trusted that his absence would be merely temporary. THE LIQUOR BILL. . Mr Ormond brought up the report of the second Conference on the Liquor Bill, which was to the effect that a compromise had been arrived at. He moved the adoption of the report. The motion was agreed to on the voices. SECOND REA' INGS. The Public Re ervos Vesting and Sales Amendment Bill, the Land Act Amendment Bill, the Reserves Disposal and Exchange Bill, and the Public Works and Government Railways Bill were read a second time. MIXING BILL. In committee on the Mining Act Amendment Bill, a new clause was added, to validate all miners’ rights under all circumstances. ADVANCKS TO SETTLERS BILL. The Government Advances to Settlers Act Amendment Bill passed its final stages. UNCLAIMED MONEYS BILL. The Unclaimed Moneys Bill was thrown out on the motion for its second reading, by 14 to 11. At 5 p.m. the Council adjourned till next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On Wednesday the House resumed at 2,30 p.m., in Committee on the Land Act Amendment Bill. Clause 7, relating to gravel and limestone was farther discussed at great length.' On the motion of the Hon. Mr McKenzie a proviso was added to clause 11 providing that until possession of the land is reserved as hereafter to be provided, the owner or occupier of the laud shall have the right to use or dispose of things so reserved. New clauses were also added, on the motion of the Hon. Mr McKenzie, providing that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the said Act of 1875 lauds on deferred payment license may be mortgaged under the Government Advances to Settlers Act, 1894 ; also, that for t! o purpose of encouraging the establishment of industrial, rescue, and reformatory homes on the application of any society of persons desirous of establishing any such homes, the minister may, on being satisfied of their ability and intention to do so, grant them the exclusive right to select or lease an area not exceeding 100 acres of Crown lauds, whether under the Land for Settlements Act or otherwise, the lease to be for 21 years with perpetual right of renewal for a like term, at an animal rental of 5 per cant of the capital value of the land. Mr Collins strongly opposed the clause, which was carried by 3(5 to 4.. The Bill was ordered to be reported with amendments. BASTORAL TENANTS RELIEK BILL, The Pastoral Tenants Relief Bill was fiommit-ed. — Mr Maslin moved to extend the time in which application should bo made till February. The Hon. Mr McKenzie opposed the motj.m, but after some debate he agreed to extend the time (ill the 21st November instead of the 14th November. The House rose at 5 30 p.m. and resumed at 7,30 p.m. BILLS PASSED. The Reserves Disposal and Exchange Bill was slightly amended in committee and pat through its final stages. The Agricultural and Pastoral ftatistica Bill, the Public Reserves Vesting and Sale Amendment Bill, the Land Ret Amend ment Hill, and Pastoral tenants bill, were road a third time and passed THE SHOPS AND SH 'P ASSISTANTS BILL. The Shops and Shop-Assistants Act Amendment Bill was received from the Logi lative Council. The Council having again struck out all reference to smaller sbiopkeeuers, Mr Reeves, CJaptain Bussell, and Mr J. W. Kelly were appointed managers i,o draw up reasons for disagreeing. SECOND IiKADiKGn. On the moti >u of the Premier the Native Reserves Act Amendment Bill and Horowhenua Block Bill wore road a second time proforma and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. i T,,r. BITING BILL. Amendmonis made by the Legislative Council in the lUtjng' Afft A momß/iont Bill wore agreed to, "■ HE LIQUOR BILL V r McNab In’.night up the report of the Conference on the Aleoh die Liquors Bill which was to the effect. i hat a c<miTjroiuiso h d been arrived at Between tile two House*. He moved that the report be adopted. The Premier asked that the various amendments should ho taken ,-.i inh.m. Some of the amendments ho did not agree with. Mr McNab said that a compromise had been arrived at, and const."] mmtly the managers of the House had i-i give 0 an-cea-iona where v.lu-y wero reluctant to do so. He, therefore, preferred that the report as a whole should be put. He proceeded to explain the terms of the com-

promise, and remarked that on one or two points it was absolutely impossible to come to an agreement. On the question of national prohibition it was found utterly impossible to come to any arrangement, and the House Managers had to resign it. In regard to the one-half moiety it was arranged that it should be required to make a poll valid only in the event of an uncontested election. The Council had agreed to allow two issues to vote on out of throe. With respuct to Bellamy’s it was |agreed that that institution should be treated altogether apart from the local option poll. The Council Managers stood firm on the club question, so far as a local option poll was concerned, and the House Managers had to concede the point generally as to clubs. The House Managers secured that no more new bottle licenses were to bo granted, and conceded to the Council the New Zealand wine licenses. The clause relating to the removal of licenses was retained in its entirety, except that a proviso was added that it should not take effect till Ist May, 1896. Regarding tied houses, the clause was practically retained as it passed the House. He thought that on the whole the House might be fairly well satisfied with the result of the Conference. The Premier said that he was placed in a difficult position over the Bill, and moved as an ameuduent that a message be sent to the Legislative Council informing them that the House agrees with the report of the Conference excepting in regard to the excision of the clausa providing for national option, and the amendments making it necessary for half those on the roll to vote before a poll was valid where there was no electoral contest, and the excision of the clauses of the Bill providing that clubs should be subject to the popular will both in respect to number of licenses and local prohibition. He said that there was a good deal of force in Mr McNab’s suggestion that national prohibition should be brought in in a separate Bill, but he thought that he was entitled to a rest on this question, and hoped that he would not have to bring in such a measure next session. Clubs would also have to be dealt with in a separate Bill. Ho was strongly of opinion that clubs should be brought nude/ local option. The Managers of the House in giving way to the Council in the way they had done were no doubt influenced by the feeling that the strife on the temperance question should be ended. After a brief discussion the Premier’s amendment was rejected on the voices, and the motion for the adoption of the report of the Conference was carried by 53 to 4. BILLS PASSED. The Public Revenue Act Amendment Bill, the Lunatics Act Amendment Bill and the Manual and Technical Elementary Instruction Bill (which was amended to provide that the amount to be expended in any one year should be limited to £2000), passed through its final stages. BEETROOT SUGAR BILL. In Committee on the Beetroot Sugar Bill, Captain Russell moved that progress be reported, which was carried by 20 to 16. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN’S BILL. On the motion of Mr Reeves the Shipping and Seamen’s Act Amendment Bill was read a second time proforma , and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. At 12.30 the House adjourned. The House met at 11.30 a.m. on Thursday: BANK AGREEMENT. Mr Dutbie asked the Premier whether the shareholders of the Colonial Bank are secure in receiving the proposed payment of £133,906, or whether under any contingency in liquidation of either the “B ” or “ O ” lists, or of both, or under any other circumstances, any claim could arise for refund as against the shareholders of the selling bank. The Premier replied —“No, sir; no claim can arise.'’ in reply to Mr Bell the Premier said that he would take the debate on the bank agreement on Friday afternoon. MOTION TO DISCHARGE BILLS. The Premier moved that the following Bills be discharged from the Order Paper ; —The Beet Root Sugar Bill, the Post Office Bill, the Fair Rent Bill, the Lauds Drainage Bill, the Phylloxera Bill, the Representative Local Government Bill, the Noxious Weeds Bill, the Public Reserves Bill, the Divorce Bill, the Truck Act Amendment Bill, the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors Bill, the Medical Practitioners Bill, the Registration of Shipping Bill, the Steam and Marino Engineers Bill, and the Literary Copyright- Bill. Objection being taken to the striking off of tho Divorce Bill, the Premier withdrew the whole motion. UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS BILL. The Asiatic and Other immigration Restriction Bill, was committed. Several amendments were proposed and lost, and the debate thereon lasted until the luncheon adjournment. Shortly after restj uj.iig at 2.30., Mr Buchanan moved that the chairman leave the chair, and this was carried by 22 to 15. The follow ing is the division list; \yes, 22.—Allen, Buchanan, Bnick, Carncrosa, Crowther, Flatman, Fraser, Graham, Green, Houston, \V. Kelly, Lang, Lamach, T. McKenzie, Maaliu, Massey, McNab, Meredith, O’Regan, W. K. Russell, Saunders, !l. Thompson, Noes, 15.—8e11, Buddo, Earnshaw, W Flute ism, Harris, J. W. Kelly, Millar, Mills, Morrison, Reeves, beddon, J. G. Smith, Tanner, T. Thompson, Willis. Pairs—r Ayes Wilson, Duthie, McGowan, Mitehepun, Mackintosh, Duncan, Noes - Carroll, Stevens, J McKenzie, Newman, Colli is, Hall-Jones. native ukhbkvki bill. The Westland and NeLun Native Reserves Act Ammdmeut Bill passed through Committee wi bout material amendment, PUBLIC SECURITIES BILL. The Pub ic Securities Bill was com rnitted. ClausoS—Mode in which such seenri ties m y bo transmitted or inscribed, etc. Mr Montgomery moved an amendment to provide that those securities shall only bo used for the departments with which they are connected. Mr Ward opposed the amendment, which if carried would prevent tljeip using tir-ir own securities in times of grave emergency. Th 1 Premier raid that if members were going in oppose the Bill in this way hu should nii)’-.' to report progress, and allow the l.iw vvi > h regard P; tjjc e securities to remain as it was. Alter a short discussion Mr Ward t>ald that he wa« willing, if Mr Montgomery withdrew hit amendment, to alter the clause to the effect that ihu securities for each office shall bo kept solely for teat office. Mr Montgomery’s amendment was carried by 26 to 2t, and ou the motion of Mr Ward progress was reported. Tho House rose at 6 30 p.m, and resumed at 7.30. NATIVE LAND CLAIMS. The Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill pa-sol through Committee without amendment.

SHIPPING AND seamen’s BILL. In Committee on the Shipping and Seamen’s Act Amendment Bill, Clause 7 was amended to provide that any vessel in the coaGjQil or intercolonial trade, carrying at least five able-bodied seamen, may substitirttl two boys for one ordinary seaman. BILLS PASSED. All the Bills which had passed through Committee during the day were reported, road a third time, and passed. REINSTATEMENT. Mr Reeves gave notice to move for the reinstatement of the Asiatics and Other Immigration Restriction Bill, and that it be made an Order of the Day for Friday. THE BANK AGREEMENT. Sir R. Stout asked the Premier if he had taken the advice of the Law Officers as to whether further legislation would be necessary as regards the bank agreement. The Premier replied that he had. As to the first point raised, as to the bad and doubtful accounts, the Law Officers’ opinion was that the law had been carried out, and that the agreement in that respect was legal. As to the laying on the table of the House the lists mentioned in the agreement, it was held that the agreement on that ground was ultra vires. Through an oversight they bad passed an Act making it necessary that the bank books and lists should bo laid ou the table, and they must pass a law to alter that. It was absolutely impossible to place the books and lists upon the table, and the law, therefore, was defective. Then there is no provision as regards mortgages and promissory notes payable to the Colonial Bank being made payable to the purchasing bank. Upon these two points it was necessary that an amending Bill should be introduced. He proposed to take the debate on the confirmation of* the agreement first and then go on with the Bill. It would only require a couple of clauses. Shortly afterwards the Premier gave notice of a Bill to amend the Bank of New Zealand and Banking Act, 1895. Sir Robert Stout gave notice that he would move an additional clause to this Bill providing for compensation to the officers of the Colonial Bank. THE CENSUS BILL. Mr Reeves moved the second reading of the Census Act Amendment Bill to provide for taking the census in the year 1901. The Bill would save to the colony £20,000, which could bo bettor spent on roads and bridges. Dr Newman moved an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six mouths. A long debate followed. Ultimately Dr Newman’s amendment to the second reading of the Bill was lost by 35 to 25, and the second reading was carried by 33 to 27. The House rose at 12.20 a.m. The House met at 11 a.m. on Friday. BANK AGREEMENT. Mr Duthie gave notice to move for a return showing the transactions in Colonial Bank shares since March 15th last. Mr Bell moved a motion traversing the bank agreement. He said tho proposed coalition between the two banks would lead to a monopoly, which he thought was undesirable in the interests of the colony. The Colonial Bank had always offered facilities to small traders which a large bank would not find it worth while to offer. Business men regarded with a very great deal of alarm this tendency to monopoly in the banking business, and the Legislature seemed to have more regard for the Bank of New Zealand than for tho welfare of tho colonists. The amalgamation was also likely to add to the ranks of the unemployed by depriving a large number of deserving men of employment. He contended that tho House had not sufficient information to enable them to form a proper judgment as to the value of the agreement. If his motion had no other effect than to produce Mr Watson’s letter, which was laid on the table lust night, it had done some good. The House had a rierht to some information as to the goodwill of the Colonial Bank, and it had a right to know what steps had been taken to determine the value of tho assets, and how far the statements of the selling bank had been accepted. Referring to the present position of the Colonial Bank, ho said that if that institution had not been purchased by the Bank of New Zealand, the only alternative would have been that the Colonial Bank would have called up further capital and continued in business, but that would have 1 reduced the value of its shares to far less than stated in the agreement. He regarded the guarantee of the Colonial Bank as of very little value, and an analysis of the whole of the circumstances seemed to him to make the Bank of New Zealand merely its liquidator. Mr Robert Thompson seconded the motion. He contended that the House had a right to know more about the value of the assests and liabilities of the Colonial Bank. He regarded tho agreement as a deliberate evasion of the Banking Act of last session, and the House should refuse to agree to it. They were now dealing with money of tho taxpayers, and they had no right to trifle with funds belonging to the Bank of New Zealand, which was closely connected with the colony.

THE BANK AGREEMENT.

Wellington, Oct. 24. The following report by Mr W. Watson, president of the Bank of the Bank of New Zealand was laid on tho table of tho House by the Premier “Sir, — As required I have now the honor to report ay under ou the agreement between the Colonial • Bank and tho Bank of New Zealand for the purchase by the latter of too Colonial Bank’s assets—(l) Tho amount of assets referred to in the A list, and to betaken over is £920.197 ; in the B list £604,(575; in the C list £93,382, (2) The total amount of assets to bo purchased as good by tho Bank of Now Zealand is £2,643,190, and tho total amount of liabilities to bo taken over is £2,509,284 ; the difference between these amounts £133,906 is to be paid in cash to tho Colonial Bank. (3) Aa stated in the agreement the Bank of New Zealand is to hojd the sum of £327,305 (being part of the assoi-o pbown in the bo ks of the Colonial Bank) pending the taking over, realisation, or adjust ment of certain accounts set fortn in the Band C li-ts. (-1) Tho assets men ioned in thu lid L) »mount t" £U»2,274 r they are not to bo purchased by the Bank of New Zeaiand, but are eliminated in accordance with the Ac. (5) d'iiu Colonial B "k direct ors and -staff afforded f .ciiity to Cm pu:chasing bank for a thorough investigation oi tu dr business; the oxaioina’ioii by the dire torn and officials of the Bank i f New Zealand w oof a most search it g and exhau-u ;\a. character, and 1 may hero state tha tvdir ctors of the Colonial 15a; anticip.i < ♦.hat in a Idition to the £13.>.90(5 ag-cc- '■> u>- paid in rash, they will receive mi’ the £327,305 a turther sum for dL-nmi tion amongst thn shareholders. (fij lam of opinion that tho Bank of Now Zealand will rocoivo sound valuo in tho assets

aggregating £2,643,190 it has undertaken to purchase, and that with prudent management on the part of the purchasing bank, the increased earning power from this source as stated in the report of the Banking Committee, should be fully realised ; also that the purchase on the basis of the agreement will be beneficial to the interests of the colony and to the shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand.