HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 6066, 27 September 1894, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The following oonoludes the report of Tuesday* sitting : — The amendment, which was opposed by Mr Ward, was lost by 34 to 18, and the olaute passed unaltered. Clauses up to number 38 passed without amendment, and Mr G J Smith then moved to report progress. Sevoral members supported the motion, urging that the House bad done a good night'o work, and the next part of the Bill contained matter of a very debatable cbarocter. The Ministers opposed the motion, paying there was a majority m favour of the Bill and the House should go on with it now, otherwite the Bill would occupy gome days yet. After further dieoussion a division on Mr Smith's motion resulted m a tie— ayes 27, noes 27. The chairman gave his casting vote against the motion, which waa therefore lost* Sir B Stout suggested that a new Standing Order be framed to prevent members sleeping m the Housri If this were done there would be earlier adjournments. Captain Kusiell entered a very strong protest against these late sittings. Matters ia this reap:ot were becoming absolutely unbearable. The Premier suggested that the debatable olauees be postponed, and that the House should dijposo of the others, which would not take many minutes. He denied that he was forcing business, and asked members to be reasonable. , After further discussion clause 89— Tne Colonial Treasurer may raise sums by land bonds— was passed. A motion of Mr Earnshaw to report pro* gress wbb lost by 32 to 21. Clause 40 was postponed, The Premier then moved to report progress, stating that he found it impossible to make further progress with the Bill at this sitting. This was agreed to, and the House roie at 3 a.m. The House met at 2 80 p.m. FIBBT HEADINGS. The Workmen's Wages Amendment Bill and Hospitals and Charitable Aid Amend* mont Bill were read a first time, Mr John MoJ£en«io stating that they were of an urgent nature. APYANCB3 iq SETTLERS BJLIJ. The Government Advanoea to Settlers Bill was further considered m Committee. Clause 39— That tbe Colonial Treasurer may raise sums by land bondi, wan disoussed at great length. Several members condomned the land bonds, and asserted that (he Treasurer could not obtain money under the Bill at 3} per cent. Mr Ward said that the best answer to that was that if he oould not obtain money at If} per cent the Aot would remain a dead letter, Mr G W Eussell said that he looked upon land bonds es merely a duplication of debentures, and he moved an amendment to the clause to provide that land bonds should be riped out of tha Bill altogether, and that the Treasurer should have power to issue debentures m New Zealand as well as m London, to any person m any sums. Mr Ward could not accept this amendment. He strongly supported tbe land bonds system, and said that they would be more largely available than an itsue of debentures or in* loribed stock. After a ditouision lasting tbe whole afternoon Mr Bu9sell's amendment was lost by 34 to 25. Tho House adjourned at 5,30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Clause 39 passed without further debate. Olsuio 4i— how adyanoei are to be madat Mr G J Smith moved an amendment 'in the olauso providing that the limit to be borrowed by the Bill should be £1000 instead of £5000. The Bill wts meant to assist small settlers Bad it would fail altogether m this objeot if people were allowed to borrow up to £5000. Mr Ward pointed out thai the average of loapi lent by tbe Government Insuranoe Department was £700 ; whjlet the maximum was £5000. The Publio Trust Office also accepted a similar maximum. If this amend* ment was oarried it would mean that this department would carry on a weak class of business. He would not object to an amendment to the effect that applications for loans up to £500 should receive preference over applications for larger sums. It was not tbe desire of the Government to lend large auras of money under this Bill. He found that there were nql twenty Joa^s ia th# colony up to £5000 m the Government Insurance Department. That Department was limited to a certain plae» of loan?, and they were asking for a ohange m that system whioh the Government proposed to deal with this session by legislation. He hoped the £5000 limit would be agreed to. Mr Thompson thought that th» Bill was brought, in to assist tbe loan companies, and not t? assist small settlers m any way. Mr Earnshaw said that the Government did not wish to pass the Bill at all, and they were sincerely anxious that tho Upper House should throw it out. Tho PremifttSopposed the amendment. All ciass^'.stWuJ'a participate m the benefits of thoßilj. The House should not forget that the Colonial' Treasury wopjd bp pn the board, and he would be responsible to the House and the Liberal p«ty for any loans advanced under the Bill. It trust be admitted {>hat larger sums would be a better guarantee agojnej; joss fop the sohewa. ' Mr T McEenaie Bald that this Bill would be a regular "C°olgirdte " for flojne of the loon companies of tho ooloay. MrG-W Eugiell said that the necessity for the Bill arose from tbe fact of so many small settlers paying a heavy rate of interest. Qi>> R Stout thought that the proposed limit of £1000 iMs too high, and he should have preferred £750. tyt B.enye§ denied that the Bill was class leglslatioi" '*'* After a very long discussion Mr Smith's amendment was lost by 36 to 28. Mr Ward proposed a new sub-seotion that not more than £5000 should be advanced to any one borrower. Agreed to. Mr G W Butsell moved en amendment that applications for loans not exceeding £500 shall have priority over applications for larger ounu, Agreed to. Mr lhompson moved a proviso to the clauao to tbe effect tbst not more than £2500 be lent m any one electorate until all appli-

} cations made for the other electorates be t, considered by the board. d Loit by 42 to 15. f Mr G J Smith moved another proviso. • That all moneys advanced under this Act » shall be distributed amongst the various v provincial districts m proportion to popula- • tion, s Tbe clause as amended was added to the i Bill. i Clause 48— Conditions subject to which f advanoes will be made. Mr Thomson moved that advances should • be made up to half the value of tbe security inßtead ot two'thirds. Mr Ward regretted that he could not b accept the amendment. , Captain Bussell pointed out that if they t went to the margin of two thirds of the • value there would be greati liability to loss. 1 Tbe amendment was lost by 32 to 19. fc Mr Montgomery moved an amendment L providing th&t advances cm town or suburban i lands should be only to the value of one-half. 1 [ Carried by 44 to 8 Mr Montgomery moved an amendment ) that the holder of a least m perpetuity ■ should be able to obtain an advance before completing his improvements- ' Lost on the voices. The olauteß up to No 60 passed without material amendment. 2 he Bill was still under consideration when the telegraph office dosed at 2 a m.