HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3412, 3 September 1885, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Houso met ot 2.30 p.m. BEPLIKS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr W. F. Buckland if the Minister for Public Works will givo effect to the resolutions possed by delegates from the various Pastoral and Agricultural Associations, viz., to convey to and from, free of charge, on New Zealand railways all stock ond articles duly entered for exhibition at the various shows m thc colony, the Hon. Mr Richardson said the Government considered quito enough concessions were already mode m this respect. ... . , Replying to Mr Ormond if the circular issued by the Colonial Secretary on the 9th of Moy, 1885, to managers of newspapers-.re-questing them to state the scale per week at which tbey would insert Government advertisements, wos issued with tho intention of giving Government advertisements to the lowest tenderer, provided the circulation of the paper roailo it o fair advertising medium, the Hou. Mr Toie said the circular was issued with the solo object of checking accounts sent into the Department. It was by no means certain that any advantage would be gained by giving advertisements to the lowest tenderers. Replying to Sir George Grey if the Government will, during the recess, make arrangements for having printed au index of despatches which hove passed between the Government of New Zealand and the Secretary of State for the Colonies Department, from the establishment of the colony to the eloee of the year 1884, the Hon. Mr Stout said he would confer with the Speaker on the matter. He recognised the great importance of itReplying to Sir George Grey if the Government will tako into consideration tho following statement made by the Chief Judge ofthe 2,'utive Land Court : — " But this much I am satisfied of, that the Assessor shortly before the case, and during its progress did receive from a Mr Moon pecuniary accommodation, and I do not imagine that distinction between that and bribery can be worth considering, always assuming the transaction to have been done with a view of affecting thc Assessor's judgment m the interest of any of the partses," and will the Government cause an enquiry to be made into the circumstances stated by the Chief Judge, and if it should appear that an Assessor received a bribe or its equivalent, will the Government secure a rehearing of thc case, the Hon. Mr Ballance said it was the intention of the Government to hold an enquiry into the conduct of the Assessors m question. There was some difficulty, however, m the matter, as it bad been shown the award of the Assessors was a proper one, and that justice hod been done. Replying to Mr Guinness whether the Government aro aware that the inhabitants m the Greymouth district contributed a sum of £889 17s during the financial year ended 31st March, 1885, towards the Bupport of tho Greymouth Hospital, whereas m Dr Grabham's annual Teport the amount is stated as nil, the Hon. Mr Toie said ho would take steps to have the report amended. Replying to Mr Moss whether the Government will ndd to earlier Hansards now being compiled by Mr Fitzgerald o collection of reports of Commissioners ond others (such as the joint report by Chief Justice Sir W. Marlin and Judge Chapman m 18-19), which reports are now scarce and out of print, but arc likely to be of great value to any future historian of the colony, the Hon. Mr Stout said he would endeavor, during the recess, to get priuted any special reports that might be brought under his notice. RETURNS. Mr Fisher moved that there be laid before this House returns showing the result of tendering for the printing of ten million Telograph forms required by tbe Government, giving tbe names of the tenderers and the amouut of each tender. — Agreed to. BILL DISCHARGED. The Hon. Sir Julius Yogel moved that the Friendly Societies Amendment Bill (No. 2) bo discharged from the Order Paper. — Agreed to. IN COMMITTEE. The House went into Committee on the Auckland Railway Land Compensation Bill, which passed without amendment. The House went into Committee on the Counties Act Amendment Bill. A lengthy discussion ensued on clause 2, j providing that new Counties are to be created by special Act. Several members opposed the clauso, aud contended it was too late this session to proceed with the Bill. Mr Buchanan moved an amendment m the clause, that no new Counties shall be constituted except under the provisions of clause 5, of the Counties Act Amendment Act 1880. The amendment was lost on the voices. Mr Hurst moved a further amendment on the clause, to strike out " but nothing herein contained shall prevent any union of existing or future Counties." Lost on o division by 43 to 21. The clause was then carried on a division by 43 to 22, ond the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. m Committee on the Counties Act Amendment Bill. On Clause 5 being reached providing that the operation of the Act is not to be suspended m future, Mr Hurst moved that the Chairman leave the chair. After some discussion the motion was negatived on the voices, and the Clause was carried by 36 to 32. In Clause 6 providing that thc Counties of Eden, Manakau, Raglan, Marlborough, Ashley and Peninsula, shall be suspended from the operation of the Act, Mr Hurst moved that the clause be struck out, which was lost by 50 to 30. Mr Macarthur moved that tho portion of the clause be struck out which providod that a Council may petition for a revision of tho Act Amendment. — Lost on the voices. In clause 11, providing that the chairman of a County Council is to be elected by tbo County electors annually, tbe Hon. Mr Stout eaid lie hud received a largo number of letters from County Councils on this subject, and ho was bound to say they wero nearly all opposed to it. Ho wos prepared, m consequence, to eliminate this provision. Mr Dargavillo aaid if the opinion of tho ratepayers themselves wero asked they would be altogether m favor of the election of chairmen by the members. Mr Buchanan eaid ho differed altogether from this statement. Ho could speak for his own district that the electors were opposed to the proposal. Mr Donald Reid moved to striko out the words - the County electors of every County shall elect a Chairman," and tho amendment was carried by 62 to 24. Several clauses were struck out on the Hon. Mr Stout's motion, as a consequential of the amendmont. Clauses 28, 29 and 30 wero postponed after along discussion. In clause 34, providing that councillors shall be liable for moneys illegally borrowed, Colonel Trimble moved that the penalty for whicli councillors shall bo liable for this offence shall be £100 instead of £200.— Agreed to. Mr G. F. Richardson moved a further amendment m tho clauso to strike out thc words, "and oil money bo illcgolly borrowed should be a dobt duo to tho County from each member of thc Council who consented to such borrowing, and may be rccovored m any Court of competent jurisdiction." Tho amendment wos lost on a division by 33 to 28. Clause 35, regarding tho limitation of bank overdrafts, elicited a lengthy dißCiission, but was eventuolly struck out on Die voices. Soveral other clauses having been passed, tho Hon. Mr Stout moved to report progress on the Bill, which wa? agreed to. 1 Tho Houso went inlo Committeo on tho Property Amendmont Bill. Clauso 2 was postponed. Mojor Atkinson suggested thot clause 13, relating to property to bo subject to taxation should bo postponed. — Agreed to. Clouso 18, m regard to property to be exempt from taxation, and other clauses wero also postponed. Tlio remaining clauses were passed without material alteration, and progress was then reported oa tbe Bill.

BILL passed. The Auckland Railway Land Compensation j Bill was read a third time ond passed, unci ■ thc House rose at 12 50 a.m.