GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3472, 29 July 1899, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. | Wellington, July 26. j The Council met at 2.30 p.ra. SECOND HEADINGS. , The second readings of the Companies j Act Amendment Hill (Mr Lee Smith) 1 and the Napier Harbour Hoard Endowment and Improvement Hill (Mr Ormond) were agreed to, after a brief discussion. The Council rose at 3.15 p.m. July 27. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. FIRST READINGS. The Assignment of Small Debts Bill and the Summary Convictions Indictable Offences Bill was read a first time. IHLLS PASSED. The third reading of the Immigration Restriction Bill was agreed to without debate, and the measure passed. NAPIER HARBOUR BOA HD BILL. The Napier Harbour Board Amendment Bill passed through Committee, being only verbally amended. WAGES PROTECTION BILL. The Wages Protection Bill was introduced by the Minister of Education, who moved the second reading. He explained that the Bill was similar to the measure brought forward last year, the principal object being to prevent employers deducting money from workers’ wages to pay insurance premiums. Mr McLean moved that the Bill should be read a second time six mouths hence. Eventually the debate was adjourned till the next afternoon. The Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington. July 26 The House met at 2.30 p.m. PETITION. Mr Massey presented a petition on behalf of Captain Tilley, of Auckland, praying that he bo retained as examiner of masters and mates. RETURNS. Mr Fisher gave notice to ask that a return be furnished showing the result of the recent Wellington bye-election. On the motion of Major Steward a return was ordered showing the date of election of each member of the House, the number of Parliaments to which he has been elected, and the number of sessions be bad been in attendance. A return to the order of Mr O’Regau was ordered to bo laid on the table showing the number of persons who bad redeemed mortgages and remortgaged under the Advances to Settlers Act, the return to show the amount of each mortgage so redeemed and the amounts advanced under the Act. A return was ordered to he printed on the motion of Mr Meredith showing the number ol{permit s to bold lotteries by religious bodies and the number of days each permit extended over ; also the number of permits to use the totalisator. CORRUPTION PREVENTION AND PURITY OF ADMINISTRATION BILL. Mr Fisher moved for leave to introduce the Corruption Prevention and Purity of Administration Bill, The mover disclaimed that the Bill had any application to the present Parliament. It was designed to relieve any Government from untruthful charges of maladministration. He had experienced some difficulty in defining what corruption really meant, but so many charges of corruption and maladministration had been made against the present Government that it was necessary to exorcise them. The object of tbo Bill was to prevent unfounded charges being made against the Government of the day, but it preserved to members the right to impeach the Government on constitutional questions. The Premier said that he did not think it necessary to put such a Bill upon the Statute Book, as it would cause a bad impression outside the colony. The title ought tobe altered, and if the Bill would prevent members bringing into the House forged documents in support of charges it would bo a good thing. In cases, also, where a member madechargea of corruption where a committee was set up to enquire into such charges, and the member did not appear to prove the same, the member in question should be fined £SO a day. Members making charges against the public service and not substantiating the same should also be punished. If the Bill prevented these abuses it would have his support. A long arid acrimonious discussion followed, after which the motion for leave to introduce the Bill was agreed to on the voices. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. DIVORCE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Joyce moved the second reading of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill. Mr Rolleston objected to the Bill without an explanation of such an important change in the marriage laws, and called for a division, the result being that the Bill was thrown out by 37 to 19. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE BILL. Major Steward moved the second reading of the Elective Executive Bill. He quoted authorities in support of the principle of the Bill. The party system, which had become effete in the old -world, had been imported into the new, where its principles were more mischievous. Ho dealt with the defects of party government. While he himself was a loyal party man, so long as hejapproved of the policy of the administration, he reserved the right to take an independent position when he did not approve of such policy. Were it not that the people had become so long accustomed to the party system they would be astonished at its inconsistencies. Twelve years ago he tabled a series of resolutions on the subject, and the Committee then rejiorted that the party system was unsuitable to New Zealand. The Bill proposed that at the first session of each Parliament an Executive should be elected by the House. For years a similar Bill had been brought before the House, and he now believed that there was such a strong opinion in its favour in the country that its passage would be hailed with satisfaction. Messrs Gilfedder, E. G. Allen, Pirani, Morrison, Fisher, Hogg, McGuire, and FJatmau spoke against the Bill, and Messrs O’Regan, Taylor, McNab, Monk, and Thomson in favor of it. Major Steward said, in reply, that if the principle was affirmed that not ono man but the House should elect the Executive, he was prepared to discuss details in Committee. On a division the motion for the second reading was lost by 30 to 16. LIBEL BILL. On the motion for the second reading of tbo Libel Bill, Mr R. McKenzie’s amendment, that it be read that day six months, was negatived by 37 to 15. The Bill was read a second time. The House rose at midnight July 27, The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE MINE STATEMENT. Mr Cadman placed on the table the Mines Statement, 1898-99. THE LANDS REPORT. Mr Hall-Joues placed the annual report of the Lands and Survey Department before the House. RETURNS. On the motion of Mr G. Hutchison returns wore ordered showing the amount drawn by each member of the Executive for travelling allowances, and the amounts charged for actual travelling expenses; also a return setting out particulars of expenditure on the Pomahaka estate; also a return relating to the Pomahaka experimental farm connected therewith. THE GOVERNMENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE BILL. The Labour Bills Committee reported recommending that the Government Accident Insurance Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. ORDER OF BUSINESS. The Premier intimated that, regarding the order of business, he had had a conference with Captain Russell, and it had

been agreed to go on with the Imprest Supply Bill on Friday afternoon; in the evening they would take the third reading of the Land for Settlements Bill; on Tuesday there would be answering of questions and ordinary business, and on Tuesday 1 e would bring down the Financial Sfcatomo. fe CHRISTCHURCH BORROWING DILL. The Christchurch City Borrowing Bill was committed. The measure has a currency of 30 years, and gives power to borrow £35,000 for carrying out certain improvements. An addition was inserted that a poll of ratepayers bo taken before a loan is authorised. The Bill was reported with amendments and the third reading set down for Thursday next. DILLS I'.VSSED. The Heathcoto Road District Sanitation Bill was committed, reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. SECOND READINGS. The Auckland College and Grammar School Bill, Church Domain Trust Indemnity Bill, Marlborough High School Bill, and Stafford Borough Empowering Bill (designed to enable the Council to raise a loan to pay off existing loans and for certain public works, viz., waterworks, drainage, street construction, etc.), were read a second time. Mr Taylor moved the second reading of the Totalisator Abolition Bill. He pointed out that last year the amount received from licenses for the use of totalisators was £13,000, which showed that £900,000 had passed through the machines. That sum did not show the total amount expended on gambling, as a largo business was done by bookmakers. Women and young people used the totalisator for betting, and it had a most demoralising effect upon the community. It had been said that the totalisator would decraaso the number of race meetings; the fact was that it had increased them, and last year the meetings amounted to 208. Mr Lawry denied that this number of race meetings took place, or that the machine had the effect of increasing tho gambling spirit. Ho pointed to the groat improvements that had been effected on racecourses by means of the revenue from the totalisator, and the encouragement it gave to tho breeding of horses. Mr Carroll asked, if the totalisator wore abolished, would it do away with the spirit of gambling? Ho thought it would not. The spirit of gambling was to a greater or less extent inherent in people, and ho considered that if tho totalisator was done away with other and more reprehensible forms of gambling would take its place. One of tho advantages of the totalisator was that it had driven bookm.akers to other colonies, at any rale to a great extent, lie admitted that tho machine had created a new otocr of gambling, but it was not so pernicious as other existing forms. Unless it could he shown that tho abolition of the totalisator would destroy gambling or that some less harmful form could bo substituted for it, the bill would be a mistake.

The character and tone of sport was being improved every day, one of the agencies in that result being the crusade against spielers and bookmakers. Messrs Duthie, Meredith, Mason, McLean, and Pirani spoke in favour of the Bill, and Messrs Ilerries,Rawlins, Wilson, and Lewis, against it. The adjournment of the debate was carried on a division by 40 to 18. The House rose at 12.25 a.m.