HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4929, 28 August 1890, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2 30 p in. JAMES MiODONALD'S rBTITKWf. The Public Petitions Committoe™reported that tho Government should make further enquiry into the petition of Jamea _ Macdonaid, who complained of certain notion takeD by the Official Assignee at Danedin. The report was ordered to lie on tho table and be referred to the Government for consideration. - TUB BBUHNEB DISTtTTB. Replying to Mr Guinness, Mr Mitchelson said that if tho report of tho Commission on the dispute lately going on between the coal miners and the mino proprietors at Brunnorton yiBTB favourable to tho miners, the Government would introduce a Bill providing for a reduction of the royalty and milage BABBIT BUISAHOB Bill,. Mr O'Connor resutngd the debate on tho third reading of tho Babbit Nuisance Bill, and moved that the Bill bo recommitted for reconsideration of clause 10, which provides for a maximum penalty of £25 or six months' imprisonment for poisoning and removing rabbits from land without tho authority of the owner. , The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 I p.ai, adjournment.

the House resumed at 7 30 p.m. After eorae discussion the motion for tho recommittal of the Rabbit Nuisance Bill was lost by 43 to 33. Tho Bill wob read a third time and passurl. POST AND TBtEGBAPH CLASSIFICATION. Mr Uitchelson moved the second reading of the Post and Telegraph Classification Regulations Bill. It might be said that no particular class of civil servants should be singled out for classification, bub the House should recollect that considering tbe work they have to perform the officers of this department were the most poorly paid of any m tbe service. At this late period of tho session the Government found it impossible to classify the whole of tho (service, but. the Government thought that they should at any rate grade tho officers m this Depirt monfc. In reply to Mr Hichardson (Kniapoi) Mr Milohelson said that tho increases under tho Bill would bo £5000 for this year, £4000 of which was on Balaries undor £200. Tho total increase for five years under this Bill would be £15000. It appeared to him that this Bill proposod to mako a permanent appropriation, and m that case it should have been brought down by message from tho Governor. He suggested an adjournment of the debate till next day m order that he might confer with tho Treasury on tho subject. The debate was adjourned accordingly. SRC3ND HEADINGS. The Nativo Deserves Vesting Bill, and Native Schools Sito Amendment Bill were read a Becond time. THE DENTISTS* BILL. The Dentists' Aot Amendment Bill was considered m committee. BtroDg objection waß taken by Mr Marchant and other members to clause 6, which provides that any unqualified person who notified m any way that he practiced any branoh of dentistry would be liable to a penalty of £20 as imposed by the original Act. It was pointed out that this position would be very arbitrary m oouotry towns where there wore no dentists. After a long discussion progress was reported. THE TBUCK BILL. The Truck Bill was considered m committee. Clause 3 (wages to be paid m money only and not otherwise) created considerable discussion, but all efforts to expunge or alter the clause failed. Mr Monk characterised tbe clause as most tyrannical and unfair, and that it restricted the rights of men. Ho was surprised at such a provision being allowed by a House supposed to bo democratic. The Bill was still undor consideration at 2 a.m., but no alteration so far had been effected.