GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9123, 2 July 1891, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW Z E ALAND.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, July 1. — The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. A Select Committee was appointed to '• enquire and report on the confirmed leases on tho West Coast of the North Island, and the remedies to be devised in the circumstances. The Council went into Committee on the Legislative Council Bill. Clause 2—Limiting the minimum age of councillors to 35 years — was passed, an amendment by Col. Whitmoro, fixing the age at 45, being negatived. An amendment in clause 3 — that tenure of office be 10 years, instead of seven yeara — was agreed to by 17 to 9. A new clause providing that the Act shall not come into force until the Governor shall issue a proclamation, was passed, after discussion, and the Bill reported. .The Council rose at 4.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, July 1. — The speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. In replying to questions, it was stated that, in view of the proposed reduction in postages, the Government could not consent to allow local bodies to send their " correspondence free of postage ; that the Government did not consent to put a, sum on the Supplementary Estimates to enable New Zealand to be represented at the " Tasmanian Exhibition;thaitheGovernment did not intend to introduce an amendment to the Contagious Diseases Act this session ; that no modification had been made in the Government banking arrangements beyond a slight one in regard to bills of exchange. DEBATE ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The lion. John MoKenzie resumed the debate on tho Financial Statement. He denied that Ministers had disclosed Cabinet secrets in the case of the Flanagans, as the Cabinet meeting that decided the matter was held ten days after the statement appeared in the newspapers. With reference to the attacks that had been made upon him for dispensing with the services of the chief clerk in the Land Office at Wellington, when he had nearly six months to serve to gain his pension, he pointed out that that officer had become a bankrupt some years ago, and it was providod by the Civil Service Act that a member of the Civil Service who sought the protection of the Bankruptcy Court was not entitled to a i pension unless he was re-appointed, andjlr 1 Stevens had not been re-appointed. The ' ; Government had been accused of dismißS- . ing 82 officers and appointing 92, butjhe did not know where those figures catne 1 from. In 1890 the total number of officers . in the Service was 2380, whereaß at the present time the number was only 2317.' ; He ventured to say that when his term ( of office came to a close the officers of the Land Department won'd respect him ,as much as any previous Minister who had had charge of the Department. ■' The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. On the House resuming at 7.30 p in., the Hon John McKenzie continued his speechHe said the removals of the Commissioners of Crown Lands had barely cost £500, and not £2,000, as stated by Mr Richardson, and even if they had cost £2,000 it woiild be cheap to the" colony. In a speech ;of great length he9trongly defended his actions , since ho took office, and said all statements he had made as to stock Inspectors using their own horses and charging the Government for them, and also as to charging rent for their own offices, would be borne out by the returns which would be placed on the table. After Mr Mitchelson had Bpoken, Mr Earnshaw rose and said he strongly supported the Government policy. Mr Harkness said although he was opposed to the Government, he would vote for tho land and income tax, bat nol in the form suggested by the Premier. Mr Mills, of Wairnea, Picton, followed in support of the Government. The House rose at 1.40 a.m. |