LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11892, 9 October 1893, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(Feu Pr.E3,s Association.; Wellington, October 7, The Council met at 10.30. To the motion for tho second reading of the Local Authorities Bye-laws Bill, the Hon. Mr. Oliver moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that time six months. After a short debate the amendment was carried by 15 to 9, the Bill being thus killed. Division List for the Bill— lions. Stewart, Kelly, Baillie, Bolt, Rigg, Peldwick, Ackland, Montgomery, Buckley; against the Bill — Rons. L. Walker, Richardson, Bouor, Barnicoat, Swanson, Pharnzyn, Stevens, Whyte, SlcGregor, Oliver, Johnston, Grace, McLean, Hart, Mantell. On the motion for the committal of the Public Works Appropriation Bill Mr. Stewart referred to the attacks whisli had been made on the Council because they refused to pass it without alteration. Every Bill that came before it from the House of Representatives the Council had been subject to misrepresentation, abuse and virulent criticism in every possible way because it choose to exercise its own independent thought, and if this practice were continued it would be fraught with considerable danger. If this branch of the legislature was expected to swallow everything that came before it, it would abrogate its functions, and the sooner it ceased to exist under these circumstances the better. If the Council was to become a mere recording machine he should be strongly in favor of an elective chamber. The Attorney-General here remarked that the last speaker had never lost an opportunity of abusing the Government, lie said he hoped during the recess the matter of abuse of the Council by members of the House of Representatives would be considered, and probably a message might be sent to the House of Representatives of a character which might at e.ny rate teach some members of that place to abstain from abusing members of the Council. The Bill was put througli the linal stages. On the motion ior the third reading of the Appropriation Bill the Hon. Mr. Stewart said that during the next three months the Council would be vilified throughout the country by the colleagues of the Colonial Secretary. Sir P. Buckley said the lion, gentleman wasout of order in referring to his colleagues who were well able to take care of themselves. Tho Hon. Sir. Grace re'marked that it mattered to members of the Council not one jot how the Council was traduced. The Hon. Mr. McLean said threatened men lived long, and, os it appeared to please Government and their supporters to abuse the Council, why, let them go ahead. The Colonial Secretary expressed his acknowledgements to the Council for the courtesy extended to his colleagues and himselt on all occasions. With regard to the Bills rejected by the Council that session, hu desired to assure members that those measures would soon make '-heir re-appearance. The Bill was then put through its final s.tnges. At noon the Council adjourned till 5 p.m. The Council resumed at 5 p.m. The Governor's assent to the Appropriation Bill and a number of other Bills having been announced the Council rose.