Legislative Council.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4761, 29 September 1893, Page 1

Legislative Council.

Thursday, 5-ept. 28. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at .2.30. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were received from the House, and read a first time :•—Land Drainage.l Bill aod Westland and Nelson Coalfields* Administration Act Amendment Bill. The second readings were fixed for next day. CRIMINAL CODE. <3»n the motion of the. Attorney-Genoral the amendments made by the House in the Criminal Code Bill were agreed tt. In the short discussion which took place. Sir P. Buckley was warmly congratulated upon the fact that his efforts and those of the late Sir Frederick Whitaker in introducing the Bill into Parliament year after. year had at length been crowned by success. GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS. The Colonial Secretary moved the third reading of the. Government Railways Act Amendment Bill, whic'a was agreed to without debate. LAND ACT AMENDMENT. The Land Act Amendment Bill was considered in Committee. Clause 2, "amendment! of the Act of 1892," was slightly amended, on the motion of the Hon E. C. J. Stevens, the effect being to extend proceedings to be taken under the Bill from one to two year 3 instead of three years, as originally provided in the measure. The Bill as amended was reported and passed ita final stages. alcoholic liquors. The Governor's amendments in the Alcoholic Liquors Bill were agreed to without discussion. CHEVIOT ESTATE. The Hon W. Montgomery moved the second reading of the Cheviot Eatate ; Payment Bill, which originated in the | House. 1 The Hon E. C. J. Stevens complained that there was no provision made in ; the Bill as to what limit the debentures would be floated at. He believed that ; the matter was simply an accidental on_.iß.ion on the part of the Government. 1 Mr Montgomery' intimated his in- ; tention of drawing the att_ntio_i of the : Treasurer to the remarks of Mr Stevenß, , and the .eeond reading was agreed to. CONCILIATION BILL. ] The Industrial Conciliation and Arbicra- < tion Bill wa3 furthered considered in Com- , mittee, and a number of amendments ( consequential on the Committee's rejection j of the compulsory arbitration clauses were , agreed to. The Bill was reported, with , leave to ait again presently. < CONSPIRACY BILL. The Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill j wa. farther considered in Committee. 1 Clause 3, "Repeal"'was agreed to. I On the Colonial Secretary moving tbat the Bill be reported with amendments, ] The Hon W.D. Stewart asked Sir P. ; Buckley not to press the third reading, as . he had several amendments yet to propose. He moved as an amendment that progress , be reported, with leave fo Bit again. Amendment agreed to by 16 to 14. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills passed their second readings :— Mahinapua Creek and Lake Ee3erve Bill, Westland Churchee, Schools , and Hospital Vesting Act Amendment , Bill, Wanganui Eiver Trußt Act Amendment Bill, Sb Albans Public Library Transfer Bill, and Auckland Domain Vest- , ing Bill. ELECTORAL LAW. The Colonial Secsbtary moved the second reading of the Electoral Law Amendment Bill, and explained the measure, which had for its object the correction of errors in th_ Electoral Bill passed this session. The Hon 0. C. Bowen intimated that in Committee he should move in the direction of enabling women to vote by electoral rights. The Hon T. Kelly instanced the case of a woman at New Plymouth, whose enrolment wa3 objected to by the Eegistraron the ground that she had been ab.ent from her home for three weeks on account of illhealth. The Hon "W. C. Walker objected to class distinctions in the matter of voting. He failed to see why sheareis should not have the same facilities for recording their votes as women. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. The Hon S. E. Shrimski gave notice to move an amendment in Committee as follows :—« Thab no woman shall be allowed to record her vote for candidates for the House of Representatives until after Jan. 1. 1894." INFANT LIFE PROTECTION. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Infant Life Protection Bill, which emanated from the House, its object being to minimise the evils of baby farming. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. The Council adjourned for dinner. EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7.30. BILLS FORWARDED. The Halswell Eiver Drainage Bill was committed, and a number of amendments as to boundaries were agreed to, and the Bill was reported. The Mahinapua Creek and Lake Reaervo Bill, Westland Churches S.hools and Hospital Vesting Act Amendment Bill, and Cheviot Estate Payment Bill were passed through Committee and their final stages. conciliation bill. The Industrial Conciliation Bill was further considered in Committee. On Mr Stewart's motion, a series of new clauses were inserted, the effect being to give Boardß of Conciliation power to summon a witness, who mußt produce books and papers for inspeotion, under a penalty not exceeding £20; but such information is not to be made public; witnesses to be allowed compensation for attendance; the proceedings of Boards may be cohdncted in open Court; all awards to be made within one month after the Board shall have begun sitting. The Bill as amended was reported, read a third time and passed. The Council rose at nine o'clock.