LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11754, 3 October 1902, Page 7

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct ,ber 2. The Co'unoil met at 2.30. The Hon. Bowen moved Com tin? Government be requested to prepare returns to be laid before the Council at iLe beginning of nexb session, showing the am; ount transferred from the Land Assurance Fund Account to the Local Bodios' Snking Fundi Account from 31st Maroii, lt&l, to 31st March, 1902; and (2) the amount standing* to the credit of the Land AssJurance Fund on 31st March, 19DJ. 'Cue mover said that most people were vv J.;r the impression that a title under the Land Transfer Act was indefensible, but that was not soi, as the Assuarnce Fund, onij provided against errors of office or fraud. Under the circumstances, he thought tbfc charge for the Insurance Fund was too high, and in order to induce as n any people aa possible,to ccane under the Act these charges should be reduced. The debate was adjourned. The Minister of Education promised to supply information on the subject' at the evening sitting. At 3 p.m. the Council rose till 8 p.m. The Council met at 8 p.m. The Hon. W. C. Walker resumed the debate on the Hon. Bowen's motion for a return -with respect to the amount transferred from the Land Assurance Fund Account to the Local Bodies' Sinking Fund Account. He did not oppose the providing o fthe return next session, when he thought a lower rate of insurance should be charged, or the scope of insurance enlarged. The Hon. Pitt considered if the present fee did not cover an indefeasible title, a measure should be. brought in to effect that object. The Hons. Lea-Smith and Ormond expressed surprise that the insurance fee did not cover an indefeasible title, and urged the importance of a law being passed to effect that object. The motion was agreed to. The Pubic Health Act Amendment Bill was committed. The Hons. Ormond, Jones, Jenkinson, and Reeves took exception to the power given to the Health Department under the Bill, and to the practice of rushing through important measures during the last few hours at the close of the session. The Hon. Jennings said it appeared to him that every vesti,ge of liberty was being taken away from the j>eople by the Bill. The Hon. Bbwen was averse to blocking the Bill, but until the Council took a stand against introducing such important measiures at the last moment the practice would continue. - Progreag was reported1 at clause 6 £o give members until to-morrow to consider the Bill. Progress was also reported on the Municipal Corporations Bill for the same reason.

The Methodisit Ohurcli of Australasia in New Zealand Bill passed their final stages. The Minister for Education moved the second reading of the Midland Railways Petitions Settlement_Bill. The mover said the claim was a moral one, and although A , had been said that a claim not good in law should not be recognised, still it was all the more to the credit of the colony for ""making the concession. The Hon. Mr Biigg was not prepaid- to admit that either the shareholders or de-benture-holders in the company had any claim upon the colony. These people had simply invested their money for the purpose of getting interest or making a profit upon their investment. The Hon. Mr Lee-Smith contended that, the debenture-holders at any rate were entitled to consideration, which, if ignored, would prove disastrous to the colony and cast a stigma ttpui it. The shareholders, on tha other hand, were neither legally nor morally entMsed to consideration. Still, to put an end to a distracting subject, the small concession proposed to be given them ehould ba approved. The Hon. Mr Marshall supported the Bill as being in the best interests of the qolony. The Hon. -Mr Pitt thought the colony was to be congratulated! upon what had proved to be a distracting element for 20 years. It was true the company had no legal right to consideration, but he thought nevertheless that a terminationi of the trouW|a was advantageous to the colony. The Hon. Mr Bolt said the experience . gained in connection 'with this railway ehould iprova a lesson with regard to the colony having anything to do' with, private railways. The Hori. Mr Jennings had no hesitation in supporting the Bill, which was in the best interests of t*h.e colony. The Hon. Mr Jones considered that the bond-holders deserved all that was proposed • to ba given them under the Bill, although he deprecated the attitude of the bondholders in their efforts to damage the credit pf the colony in connection, with the refusal of the colony to pay greater comipensation. The Hons. Twonxey and Gourlay supported th€( BillL The motion for the second reading was carried byv.l9 to 1. The following Bills passed their final stages without amendment—'Midland Railway Petitions Settlement, Military Pensions Act Amendment, and Railways Authorisation. At 11.55 the Council adjourned till 11 f\.\a. to-morrow.