PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2184, 11 September 1896, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

+ . (By lelegraph.) WELLINGTON. September 10. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. NEW MEMBER Mr W-.C. Smith took the oath and his seat for the first time m the Council. CRIMINAL CODE BILL. The Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill, dealing with incest, was finally rejected, a. hostile amendment to the motion to further consider it m committee being carried IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. Au imprest Supply Bill for £229,700 passed all its stages, SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S BILL. The second reading of the Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Bill was agreed to after debate, and the Bill was referred to the Labour Bills Committee. PRIVATE BENEFIT SOCIETIES BILL. The Minister of Education moved the second reading of the Private Benefit Societies Bill. Dr Grace moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr McLean Btrongly opposed the Bill. JJe esid that the real secret of the trouble

was the existence of the Unioa Stear Ship Company's Benefit Society, abou which there had been a great deal c misrepresentation to the Governmeni A letter had been stolen from a purser' cabin, photographed, and sent to ever Friendly Society m the colony and t the Premier. Mr McLean read fror other letters to prove that the corapan; refused to allow men to join its Benefi Society if they were financial member of/jther societies. At 5 p.m., the debate was adjourned and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The House met at 2.30 p.m. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. An Imprest Supply Bill for £229,701 passed through all its stages. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was Btitec that the Government could not mak< further concessions m the charges or postal notes and post office orders ; thai the graduated land tax had not had th< effect of breaking up any large estates and the Government regretted that not withstanding recent legislation the aggregation of large estates "was still going on ; that the Government could not promise to introduce a Betterment Bill this session ; that, the Government could nol take up the Abolition of the Totalisatoi Bill as. a Government measuie at the present time ; that the Government would consider tho advisability of introducing Rocky Mountains sheep and goats from America into this colony. The adjournment of the House was moved, and tho rest of the afternoon was spent m discussing the case of J. J. Meikle,of Southland, who had petitioned the House last session for compensation for alleged wrongful imprisonment, and m whose case the Public Petitions Committee had made a favourable report, recommending the payment of certain sompensation. Mr Thompson stated that the matter tvould be considered with other reports it the end of the session, The House r05e. a 1 5.30. p.m. . , The-Hoirse resumed at 7.30 p.m. INSTITUTE. OF SURVEYORS BILL. The Hon. John McKenzie moved the second reading of the New Zealand [nstitute of Surveyors "Bill, to provide [or the formation of an Institute of Surveyors m New Zealand and for the incorporation thereof He strongly urged the necessity for this Bill m the interests of the surveyors of the colony, and noped that the House would agree to the second reading as the Bill had already passed the Council. Mr Hogg opposed the Bill as its teniency would be to establish a close corporation, of which they had already too many m the colony. Dr Newman. Mr R. Thomson, Mr Jollinß, Mr Earnshaw, Mr Mas3py, Mr illen and others supported the Bill and expressed surprise that it should meet vith any opposition. Mr Hall, Mr Willis, Mr Duncan, Mr. S. M. Smith and others spoke against ihe Bill.andsaid that it was not required jy the profession. The second reading was carried by 49 io 6. USURY PREVENTION BILL. The Premier m moving the second eading of the Usury Prevention Bill taid that he did not anticipate that it pould be passed without dissent. It nightjbe said that the State had no right ,o interfere m the fixing of any limit to he rate of interest to be charged, but m mswer to this he would point out hat the State had already interfered, t was the duty of the State to if posiible prevent those with means from -rading on the necessities of their ellows, to an unreasonable extent. No nan could m his opinion pay 10 per cent. >r 12 per cent, interest and either live or nake money, and that boing the case, vhy should the State not step m and leclare what should be a reasonable ate of interest ? The State had already nterfered, because they had become enders themselves, and nothing was of nore advantage to a colony than the owering of the rate of interest. Similar neasures had not proved a failure n the countries where they existed, lamely, m the Mauritius and m the States of America. All he wanted was o affirm the principle that a man ihould not be imposed upon by others rho neither foiled uor spun. The Bill ilso dealt with charges by pawnbrokers, phich required alteration, and to remedy his he urged an amendment of the chedule to the Bill m the manner projosed. He asserted that it was necesary to pass this Bill, and he hoped to cc it passed unanimously. MrT. Mackenzie held that they had io right to interfere with private conracts, and if they limited the rate of merest to 8 pi'.r cent, they would do more larm than good to those which the Bill was intended to benefit. He as[erted that the reason why money had >een so dear was because the Government had introduced legislation which md caused great alarm, and had been he means of vast suras being withdrawn rom dtlie colony. Other reasons were ,hat|the Government had absorbed all the noney m the Public Trust, Government insurance, and Post Office m order to :arry on the finance of the colony ; and tlso the excessive taxation put on the infortnnate freeholders of the country. Mr Willis strongly opposed the Bill md remarked that, whilst a consistent jovernment supporter, he could not lelp saying that the Premier had a veakness for introducing ridiculous 3ills. In his opinion this Bill was equally ridiculous, whether applied to noney-lenders or pawn-brokers He :oncluded by moving that the Bill be •cad a second time that day six mouths. Mr Hogg supported the Bill. Mr Bell strongly condemned it. Mr Earnshaw said that it was the duty )f the State to step m for the protection )f the workers and say that they should aot be at the mercy of usurers and land sharks. Mr Steward thought that the Bill, although well intended, was ill-con-ceived, and he felt compelled to vote for Mr Willis' amendment. Mr Buchanan and Mr Allen spoke against the Bill, Sir R. Stout also condemned the Bill, and could see no principle m it. The Premier m speaking to the amendment, said that cases came under his notice almost weekly which demanded the passing of such legislation as this. He knew that he was right m tiying to pass this Bill, and he knew the country would support him m that object. Mr Meredith approved of the Bill. Mr Crovvther said that it required considerable amendment m committee. Mr Ward \iu supporting the Bill said that the rates of interest m this colony m all branches of businpsa and all walks of life, had been so excessive that nine out of every ten people were unab'.e to bear tho heavy loads thus placed upon them. He considered that the time had arrived when something should be done to prevent the perpetuation of a system which had caused ho much harm m the past, and with this view a limit should be placed upon the amount of interest that could be recommended by law. Mr Fraser opposed the Bill, and contended that it would not prove of any benefit to the poorer classes. On a division Mr Willis' amendmeni was negatived by 30 to 12. The second reading of the Bill was agreed to. The House rose at 1.30 a.m.