GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume IX, Issue 770, 3 October 1900, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. YESTERDAY. Tub Council met at 2.30 p.m. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence for the rcmaiuder of the session was granted to the Hon. W. Kelly, on account of ill health. VICTORIA COLLEGE SITE. Leave was granted tn the Hon. R, Reeves to introduce the Victoria Colleje October 1897 Amendment Bill, which was read a first time. committee's recommendations. The recommendation of the Public Petitions Committee that legislation to suppress gambling was evidently necessary on account of the petitions presented was agreed to. The Public Petition Committee's report recommending to the consideration of the Government the petition of 620 teachers for uniformity of salary throughout the colony was agreed to. readings. The Land and Income Assessment Bill was read a fir at time. The Indictable Offences 3"mmary Jurisdiction Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. government railways bill. The Government Railways Bill was further considered in Committee. A proviso was added to Clause 11 that while regulations for the checking of luggage are in force no liability will be incurred by the Government in respect of luggage that has not been duly checked. Clause 8 relating to protective works was amended by adding a proviso that all claims for compensation for such works shall, unless by agreement, be determined in accordance with the Public Works Act. The powers of a Minister to make regulations were modified by amendment of clause 11. Permits for heavy traffic crossing roads and bridges on and over any railway line will be given free of charge. No security for damage likely to be done to such roads or bridge will be required, and heavy traffic may cross a bridge over a railway if there is no level crossing within one mile. The Bill was reported with amendments. slaughtering and inspection bill. The Slaughtering Inspection Bill was further considered in Committee, and was eventually reported with amendments. The Council rose at 9.15 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. YESTERDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. federation. Mr Laurenson gave notice to ask the Premier if ho would set up a Committee to enquire into the question of tionPEACE DECLARATION. Mr Stevens gave notice to ask what steps the Government intend to take to celebrate the conclusion of war in South Africa, seeing that there would be no formal declaration of peace. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was- granted to Messrs Massey and J. Allen for the remainder of the session. MAORI LANDS BILL. The Maori Lands Administration Bdl was read a first time. ISLAM) FEDERATION The Premier presented' a petition from the inhabitants of Fiji praying for federation with this colony. duke of York's visit. A communication was read from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor, acknowledging the receipt of the invitation to the Duke and Duchess of York to visit New Zealand, and stating that Her Majesty was pleaded at the invitation and the loyal spirit that prompted the invitation. Mr Seddon further said that he had cabled for information as to the probable date of the visit, and had received a reply stating that it. was impossible at that time to have the date. From information he had received the Federal election would take place at the end of March or the beginning of April, and that Parliament would be opened about the beginning of May. Mr Seddon also reporled that he had cabled asking that a Member of the House and Government should accompany the Duke and Duchess ; but the reply was that it would be impossible at the present time. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. ThAretnier said hu disagreed with the amen™i!iilß in the Imprisonment for Debt limitation Bill, made by the Legislative Council, and moved that the Premier and Messrs Jacksou Palmer and Houston be appointed to draw up reasons for the disagreement. This was carried. INDICTABLE OFFENCES BILL. The amendment made in the Indictable Offences Summary Jurisdiction Bill, by the Council, were on the motion of Mr McGowan, agreed ro. The principal

uniuipdmt'iit was where accused pleaded Uiiilty in an offence he could be remanded for seiUHK'e to a Judge of the Supreme Court, without the trouble and expense of a trial before the Court. N /.. CONSOLS ACT. The N.Z. Consols i\ut Amendment Bill was read * second time. It provides for increasing the amount receivable by the Colonial Treasurer by way of deposit, by two hundred and lifty thousand pounds. MIDLAND LAND SETTLEMENT ML!,. Tlie second leading of the Midland Authorised Area Land Settlement Bill, which provides for dealing with lauds released bj the fettlemeut of the Midland Railway question, Mr Millar said ho would in Committee oppose the clause proposing to alienate these lands under the present pystem of 099 years. Mr Stevens slid to induce confidence they must give fixity of tenure, and uuIkss that were done the .*ix million acres dealt with in the Bill would not be utilised to the best interests of the colony. Mr Luirenson sa.d he would rather see the freehold tenure of land reverted to than see the area comprised in the Bill thrown upen under the 999 years' system without revaluation at fixed and reasonable terms. Mr Meredith heped there would in dealing with these lands be no reversal of the policy of the Hon. John MoKenzie. The nature of the country should be taken into consideration. He did not thtuk there was more than one per cent agricultural land in the area nor more than five per cent first class pastoral country, the balance being three and fourth class, much of which would not carry a grasshopper to the acre. Mr Mills said the Bill was one of the most important dealt with this session, and believed it would result in the rapid settlement of the large area of land dealt with in the Bill.

Mr Colvin congratulated the Government on the backbone they had displayed in dealing with the Midland Railway question, and the subsequent proposal to throw the laud area open to settlement.

Mr G. W. Russell was glad the question of eternal 'ease had been raised in connection with the settlement of the Midi aid area. He objected to handing over for-a period of 999 years a block of land at four per cpnt., the present value, without revaluation.

Mr Graham was also pleased at the land being thrown open. While he agreed that a very large portion was comparatively valueless, still there were other portions that were very suitable for pastoral purposes, and the Bill would prove of immense benefit to the district he represented. Mr Fowlds contended that the lease for 999 years without re-valuation was the most irregular system that mind of man could conceive, and trusted that the lands under consideration would be disposed of on other tenure. Mr Collins believed that long before the expiry of the 999 years the entire land system at present in operation would be swept away. He disapproved of that tenure without periodical revaluation. Mr R. McKeuzie was pleased that the rights of those who held occupation licenses over the lands had beeu conserved, and hoped that liberal votes would be made for education and other purposes. Air Ell contended that the freehold of nene of the land should be disposed of either in Midland or any other part of the colony. He advocated that leaseholders should contain a provision for wvalation. Mr Guinness protested against the question of tenure being raised in connection with the Bill, and hoped that the conditions as to the disposal of the land would be the same as those obtaining in other parts of the colony. Mr Seddon, in replyiug, said there had been a great deal of unnecessary discussion on the Bill in connection with which the whole system of land tenure and ordinary land laws of the colony would be applied. The Bill was introduced merely to deal equitably with those who held occupation licenses over portions ol the land. He objected to the West Coast being made a district upon which the settlement policy should be experi mented upon. The Bill was read a second time on the yoices. BILLS PASSED. The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment, Local Bodies Loan Act Amendment, Rotorua Town Council, Maori Councils, Fisheries Encouragement Act Amendment, Manual and Technical Instruction, and West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bills were read a second time, passed through Committee, read a third time and passed.