LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5697, 16 October 1896, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Thursday, Oct. 15. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Legislative Council met at 2,30 p.m. BILLS. A number of Bills were received from the Xower House and read a first time. Committees were appointed to confer ■with.the Lower House on. the amendmeii bs made in the "Wages Protection, Mining Act Amendment and Canterbury College Bills. Certain amendments "vfere made in the Inspection of Machinery and Public Bevenues Acts Amendment Bills. OBCHAED AOT> GARDEN TESTS. In committee upon the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill, in the clause which deals with the compulsory dressing of fruit trees, American blight was struck out by 10 to 8 from the list of diseases which owners of 1 orchards are compelled to keep in check. A proviso was added to the effect thr.t inspectors under the Bill might, to suit the climate; vary the season during which the owner of an orchard must dress his trees. In the clause. protecting inspectors from liability for damage occasioned in carryin * out the provisions of the Bill, damage wj 3 specified as having to be unavoidably occasioned, else the inspectors would ba liable. . The penalty for offending against the provisions of the Bill was reduced from .£SO to £10. In the clause 1 limiting actions against inspectors, a proviso that notice in writing of the intention to commence such actions should be given two months before to the IJhjrDepartment, was altered by reducing the period to seven days. The Bill was then reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. VALUATION OF LAND. In committee on the Government Valuation of Land Bill, the clause dealing with the appointment of officers Tinder the Bill was amended to provide that the Valuer-; General to be appointed should be the' Commissioner of Taxes for the time being.; The Bill was then reported as amended* read a third time and passed. BANKING. • In moving the second reading of the Bank of New Zealand and Banking Act Amendment Bill, the Minister op Education said that the Bill was the outcome of the reports of committees of both Chambers. As to the compensation proposed to be paid to the president, he intended to move a slight amendment which would render that clause more satisfactory. . The clause dealing with the liquidation of tho assets of the ' Colonial Bank, had been struck out in the Lower House, ; and this was a matter as to which both committees had felt strongly that" action should be taken. He regretted the loss of that clause, and would be glad if < some 1 clause could be inserted in the Bill which ■would relieve the shareholders •of the, Colonial Bank from the unfortunate position in which they now stood in reference to this liquidation. The Hon C. C. Bowen said that these 'Banking Committees were altogether a mistake. If there had been any wrongdoing it should have been left; ' to the Supreme Court. This Bill was the outcome of a futile and delusive inquiry, and was calculated to injure thecolony and every one concerned. The cry. for inquiry rose entirely in regard to the question of the personal position of the Government in reference to the bank. The whole business of 'the country had been interrupted for three years, ever since the colony had been connected with the bank. The bank would be always with us. He criticised the Bill at some length, and said that they should <endeavour to get rid of the bank and get the shareholders to take charge of it If they left the bank for a few years, ' there was a possibility of this encumbrance being got rid of. The very men who had brought on the trouble were now persistently injuring the bank by interfering: with' it. Why not leave things alone, and not act like little children who, having planted a tree, dig it up every day to see how.it was growing. He moved that the Bill should be read that day three months. The Hon T. Kellt ttook a directly opposite view of the bankifroin that taken by the previous speaker. Dealing with the BflL he objected to the Disqualification Act being applied to the directors of the bank. In the end this; bank would be to all intents and purposes :a State bank. • This he thought a good thing. He thought the removal of Mr "Watson verjr unfair, but, on the whole, however, the Bill- met with his approval. The Hon Dr Gbace asked whether - anyone would be inclined to trust affairs of magnitude to an officer tinder threat of dismissal six months hence. There were a number of matters still pending between the Colonial Bank and Bank of New Zealand in which the president of the latter bank had to' deal with during his unexpired term. He held that there could not advantageously be a scattered directorate in this colony. Their interest in the bank was to recover their money. They had . advanced their capital, and by the Bill they made it practically impossible for the bank to pay. ISow that they had acquired the business of the Colonial Bank they prohibited their own bank from making the best of its bargain. If they 'passed the Bill they would rue the day. The Hon J. Rigg said that the directorate to be set up would be composed of representatives of different parts of the colony sitting at Wellington. The reason of Mr Watson's dismissal was that the 1 office of president had been abolished. At 5 p.m. the Council adjourned till 7.30 p.m.