HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 7515, 10 September 1891, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Per United Press Assooiation.) WbliLikotok, September 9. The House met at 2 30 GOVHENHENT BOTINEBB.

Iq answer to a question from Mr Bolleston, as to what business the Government proposed to go on with this session, the Premier said it wa* intended to bring the session to a close aa soon as possible, probably at the end of the week if tha disouision of the Estimates proceeded without a waste of time. He would be able to announce tomorrow what Bills were to be proceeded with, but he must remind the House that some urgent business over which they had no control might arise. With reasonable despatch, however, the session ought to close either at the end of the week or early in 'tfie following week. He hoped to push I the Government Bankruptcy Bill through, i£ business would allow, for they wore told that it had been so carefully dealt with by the Beleot Committee that it could be put through in about three hours, and they recognised that it was a matter of great impartance to the commercial community. The ocean mail service proposals would be submitted to the House on Monday or Tuesday next. As to the Public Works Statement, he suggested that it should be discussed on the motion for going into Com. mittea of Supply. HATIVB LAHD BUI.. Mr W. Kelly presonted a report from the Special Native Committee to the effect that the Native Land Bill be postponed till next jsession, and after two houri debate the | report waß orderred to be laid on the table. TTATEB BUPPIiY BILL On the motion of the Hon. Mr HoKenzie, the Water Supply Bill, to consolidate the laws relating to the powers of County Councils as to the construction of water works, and also to slightly amend them, was read a second time. STAMP ACTS AMBNDMBNT BIIL. The Premier moved the second reading of the above BUI, which, he explained, imposed duty in the «ame way as a receipt on all passenger steamer tickets of the value of £2 and upwards, and proposed to impose a totalisator tax of 1 J per cent, on all maohines at rtict) meetings. He intended the Bill to take effect from the beginning of October next. The motion wis agreed on the voioes. The House rose at 5.30. Tho House resumed at 7.30. PBOPBBTY 'TAX. Tho property Tax Bill, imposing a Property Tax of Id in the pound for the year ending 3Xst March next, was wad a second lime. LASDSOE BBTTLEHENT DILI. The Hon. Mr MoKenzie moved the second reading of the Land for Settlement Bill, to authorise tne acquisition of privato property for settlement purposes when recommended by a Board of Land Purchase Commissioners, to be appointed for the purpose, consisting of the Surveyor-General, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Property Tax Commissioner, and District Land Registrar of tho district where tho land to be acquired is situated. He argued that thero was a real necessity for the resumption of land in the Canterbury and Hawke's Bay districts. It was contended that the Bill would open the way to jobbery, but the fact of the particulars of all transitions for the compulsoiy taking of land having to appear in the Gazette and then be sanctioned by Parliament should eff ectf ully dispel any charge of that kind. s After a protraoted debate the motion for ' the second reading was agreed to on the voices. PBOBBH6S OF BILK. The Water Supply Bill and the Property Tax Bill were put through their final stages. COMMITTEE OF SOTELT. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr E. M. Smith moved as an amendment a resolution affirming the tieaireableness of appointing a Royal Commission to experiment in the smelting of New Zealand ores and sands. The Hon. Mr Seddon wgretted the Government could not accept the amendment but they would assist the member for New Plymouth in sending an exhibit of ironsand and iron ore to the Chicago Exhibit)tion. The amendment was lost on the voices. The House then went into Committee of Supply for the consideration of the Estimates. Education Department. — £369,776 — Agreed to without alteration. Lunacy and Charitable Department— £4, o9lB.— Agreed to. Progress was then reported, and the Houso rose at 2.5 a.m.