General Assembly.

Western Star, Issue 977, 29 August 1885, Page 3

General Assembly.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Wednesday, 26th August.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Bathgate moved for a return of the commission, &c, charged by the Bank of New Zealand.—Agreed to. The evidence taken before the Government Printing Committee was ordered to be printed. The Justices of the Peace Bill, Bankruptcy Bill, and Government Officers Guarantee Bill were read a first time.

Sir F. Whitaker moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill. He reviewed the evidence taken by the Select Committee of the Council on the subject of the reform of the Council, and explained the scope of his bill at some length. He thought his proposals were very moderate, simple, and reasonable. "Air Bathgate spoke warmly against the measure as an improper interference with the prerogative of the Crown. He would pause before he surrendered any of the existing safeguards against hasty legislation.—Dr Grace supported the second reading.—Mr Shrimski moved the adjournment of the debate, which was carried. The Employment jof Females Bill was passed. On the question that the Presbyterian Church Property Bill be'read a third time, Mr Shrimski moved that it be read in three months. —A division then took place on the question that the bill be »ow read a third time.—The voting was equal, and the Speaker gave his casting vote with the noes.—The question that the bill be ordered to bo read in three months was adjourned till next week. The Council adjourned at 4.50 p.m. till Friday next at 2.30 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, 25th August.

The House met at 7.30 p.m. Progress was reported on the Land Transfer Bill. The Hon. E. Richardson introduced- the Eailway Commission Bill, and in doing so made his Public Works Statement. Major Atkinson said there was one very important omission in the Statement, which was that no reference was made to the acquisition of land for Settlement along the N6rth Island line of railway. —The Hon. E. Richardson said his colleague, the Native Minister, would make a statement on this matter. The Hon. Mr Ballance said it was proposed to ask for a Tote of £70.000, which, it was hoped, would be sufficientf or the purchase of the land along the railway for the year.—Mr Ormond asked what was the position of the East and West Coast Bailway, for which it was proposed to ask for a vote of £lso,ooo.—Mr Stout said the Government had no other information than that which was already in possession of the House.—Mr Ormond asked what were the liabilities the colony was committed to in respeot to defence.—Mr Stout said his colleagues would,explain the position in the matter of defence when the vote came on for discussion.—Mr Bryce asked whether the Minister of Public works intended taking further action with regard to the second reading of the Bailway Commissioners Bill, as, by doing so, it would affirm the prinoiple of the bill.—Mr Richardson said he would take an adjournment with the bill.—Major Atkinson hoped the Government would follow the usual precedent on the delivery of the Public Works Statement, and consent to the adjournment of the House, to enable members to consider the Statement.—Mr Stout said he hoped the House would allow the Land Transfer Bill to go through committee before adjournment. ' The House then went into Committee for further consideration of the Land Transfer Bill.—A long discussion ensued on clause 191. which was strongly opposed by Messrs Garrick, Buckland, and Hislop, who urged that the. clause should be postponed for further consideration.—Mr Stout said he would give further opportunity for consideration of the clause on the third reading of the bill.—Mr W. F. Buckland moved to report progress, which was lost by 30 to 19.—Mr Stout said if the clauses were passed, he would consent to re-commit the bill for its fufther con-, aideration. The clause, as amended, was then passed.—On clause 196 being reached, that the value of land at the time of deprivation be the measure of damage, Mr Hislop moved to report progress. — Another long discussion ensued, after which Mr Stout said he had promised that the House should rise early. Ho would therefore consent to progress being reported.—The motion for reporting progress waß then carried, and the House rose at 1115 p.m. . Wednesday, 26th August ' The House met at. 2.30 p.m.

Replying to Mr Reid—lf ihe Government will, during the recess, consider the advisability of oppoinling as inspectors under "T''e Rabbit Nuisance Act, 1882," nil constables stationed in settled agricultural districts, Mr Ballance said the subject was now under conaidtratibn.

Replying to Mr Kollestsm, who asked Trlwther ths Government have obtained a report as to the working of the Contagious Diseases Act in the colony during the past year, and whether, in view of the statements made by the R.M. in Christchurc has to the evils which have ensued upon the cessation of the operation oi the Act in Christehurch, an 1 as to the spread of the duns of disease dealt with under the Act, tha Government will take steps to bring the Act into operation throughout the colony by the introduction of clauses in the Hospitals and Charitablo Aid Bill or otherwise, Mr Tole said he had received a report-tin the subject which he would lay on the table. For ihe second part of the question, the local bodies were folly empowered to carry out the provisions of the Act, and it was not a question for Parliament. Mr Stout made' a statement ns to the measures proposed to be dealt with this session. He said that at this late stage of the session tha Government did not propose to proceed with the Municipal Corporations Bill, Friendly Societies Bill, or Representation Bill. The Magistrates' Courts Bill and Criminal Cod* Bill he considered were simply consolidation measures, and he would ask the House to deal with thorn. The Government considered that they would be able to proceed with the other bills on the Order Paper this se-sion.— Major Atkinson said he desired to inform the Government that he intended proposing a series of resolutions traversing the financial proposals of the Government in the dir-clion of limiting, the expenditure on the Public "Works Fund, also traversing the subject of the East and West Coast railwaj, the new loan, and other matters. He would ask that. the Government should set aside the following evening for dealing with the resolutions, if not, he should have to content himself with jaoving them on the motion to go into Committee of Supply.—Mr Stout said he should like to sea the resolutions before givit g a definite reply. If the resolutions were in the direction stated by tliehon. member, he should a-k the House to adjourn till they_ were brought down.—Major Atkinson said he would put the resolutions on the Paper that afternoon. He had h jped that after what the Government had air. ady accepted they would be prepared to tccept the resolutions he intended proposing, which were very reasonable ones.—Mr Stout then moved the adjournment of the House.—Several mrmbers objeotidto the adjournment on the ground of the lateness of the session.—Mr Macandrew said that after the intimation of tho resolutions about to be proposed by the member for Egmont, no other course was'open to the Government but to adjourn the House.—Mr Stout congratulated the Opposition on having at length found a leader. He thought it was only reasonable to ask for an adjournment till to-morrow night. No doubt the leader of the Opposition required time to consult his supporters and to get sufficient votes for his motion. Ho would thorefore ask that the House should adjourn till'to-morrow evening at lalf-pa?t seven.— Motion agreed to. The House rose at 3.30 p.m. Thubsday, 27th August.

The House met at 7.30, and Major Atkinson moved the resolutions of which tie had gicen notice and which appear elaewncre. Tic was followed by Mv Stout and Ur Macondrew,

who spoke ngainsfc the resolutions and the latter moved an amendment " That it is inexpedient that a discussion should take place on the Estimates in the form of a resolution, and that ik is inadvisable to raise the question of a new loan till the necessity for such had been shown after the Estimates had been discussed." —The debate was continued by Messrs Montgomery, Hurst and Wakefield, and at a late hour a division was taken, when the amendment was carried by 52 to 40. —Mr Pyke proposed another amendment, That the policy of the Goverument as disclosed in the Public Works Statement, is not satisfactory to the House. This was lost by 43 to 49. Ultimately Mr Birron moved the a ijournuient of the debate till 2.30 the following day, and on a division the voting was equal —ayes 42, noes 42. The Speaker gave his casting vole in favor of the ayes.