THE HOUSE.

West Coast Times, Issue 10657, 10 December 1897, Page 4

THE HOUSE.

The House met at 2,30.

Ministers, in reply to questions, stated that it was expected that the Public Works Statement would be brought down on Tuesday ; that the legislation for which there was "no time this session would be necessary before women official visitors could he appointed ; that therehas been correspondence between the British Resident at Raratonga and the Government of New Zealand but as the Chief Justice had been sent to investi the trouble which had arisen respecting the holding of office ia the parliament by an American, it was not considered ad visable to lay the correspondence on the txble till the Chief Justice repoi ted, whei» His Excellency would be asked to permit the correspondence to be placed before Parliament if such a course were considered advisable. It was pointed out that as Raratonga possessed self-govern-ment, neither the Parliament nor the Government of New Zealand could interfere in any dispute.

It was also stated that if mining companies confined their business solely to mining they would not have to pay additional taxation as proposed uuder the Land and Income Assessment Bill ; that a comprehensive measure dealing with compensation for stock condemned by stook inspectors would be introduced early next session ; that if time permitted a Bill dealing with the establishment of the beet sugar industry would be brought down this session ; that proposals respecting mail services would be> discussed on Monday.

Mr Lang moved the adjournment of the House and several matters dealt with iv questions were discussed. The motion was negatived.

Mr Hall-Jones moved the second reading of the Fisheries Encouragement Act Amendment Bill, which, he explained, traa to continue, for another three years, the bonus on exported fish— Agreed to on the voices.

}lr Seddon moved the second reading of the Consolidated Stock Act Amendment Bill. He explained that its object Was to provide that no sinking fund under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886, shall be set free by the conversion of any loan under the Act.

Mr Allen contended that the effect of the Bill would be the creation of a New Zealand debt.

Mr Montgomery advised the Premier to pay out of the surplus the amount of local bodies loans sinking funds, against which debentures have been issued.

Messrs Fraser, Pirani, and Richardson spoke to the same effect.

Mr Seddon denied that the Bill was meant to create a new debt and contended tfiat the statement made respecting th>i issue of debentures against accretions of local bodies loans sinking funds applied to similar transactions by a previous administration. The motion was agreed to on the voices.

The House resumed at 7.30.

The Consolidated Stock Act Amendment Bill was committed and passed unaltered, and with thp addition of a new clause moved by Mr Montgomery to provide against the issue of debentures against the sinking fund of Government loans to local bodies.

The Fisheries Encouragement Act Amendment Bill was committed and passed without amendment.

Mr Hall-Jones moved a new clause providing for subsidies to deep sea trawlers.

After a lengthy discussion Sir R. Stout suggested that the matter should be postponed till next session in order that full enquiries should be made into the matter. Mr Seddon agreed to this. The second reading of the Bill was agreed to and the clause withdrawn.

On the third reading of the Bill Mr Ward read a letter he had sent to Capt. Russell to the effect that he was not interested directly or indirectly in the vote on the estimates for deep sea trawling and pointed out deep sea trawling would injuriously affect a large number of fishermen in his electorate.

Capt. Russell said he accepted Mr Ward's explanation. The Bill passed its final stages. The Consolidated Stock Act Amendment Bill passed its final stages.

Members of the House of Representatives Disqualification Bill passed its second reading after a short discussion.

Mr Seddon moved the second reading oi the Victoria College Bill which provides for the establishment and endowment of a Uniyerejty College in Wellington.

After the Hon Mr M'Ken/.ib, Sir R. Stout, Messrs Montgomery, Buchanan, Meredith jand Mills had spoken, the motion was agreed to and the Bill committed.

The Bill was uuder consideration in -Qemmittee when the telegraph office