GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3154, 10 September 1892, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THURSDAY. The Council met at. half-im.-t t.vo p.m. The Local Hill-'Committee recommended that the OUgo llarb mr CoarJ Jvi;po»'ering Bill be not allowed to proceed. The Workmen's Lien Bill was committed. The committee altered tiie title to make it. i'i ad "Contractors and Workmen s Lien Bill.''

A now clause instead of clause 4 was agreed to, providing that an owner of land, although not an employer of labour, shall be lialilup to the extent jf the contract he may have signed for. Am-ndmeuts recoiiimende'l by tho Libour Bdls Committee were adopted, and the third reading of the measure was made an order for next day. Tho Ohiuemuri County Validation Bill passed tho final stages. The Council rose at twenty minutes past four.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SCENE IN TIIE HOUSE. AN ALL-NIGHT SITTING. THURSDAY. The House met at half-past two. The Land Bill was further considered in Committee. Clause 150: Lease in perpetuity, lands. Mr Hutchison (Waitotara) moved that the yearly rental shall be live per cent, of the cash price «f land instead of four. Lost on the voices. Clause 152 : No person to hold more than one lease. Mr Hutchison (Waitotara) moved an addition to the clause to tho effect that any lessee in perpetuity may so soon as he has completed improvements required by his leaso apply to the Commissioners for grant of freehold of land comprised in lease, and if the conditions have been complied with and the capital value of land paid lie .shall be entitled to a Grown grant forthwith. This was lost by 31 to 17. Clause llil : Governor may set apart blocks of rural land for special settlement. Mr Buchanan moved an amendment "That the amount of land set apart as special settlements in any one year should not exceed 100,000 acres instead of 250,000 ' lC Lost by 35 to 13. Mr Hutchison (Waitotara) moved to add to the clause the words, " But shall not in any one financial year exceed the area set apart for selection." Lost by 31 to 23. Clause 103 : Blocks of rural laud (5000 acres) may be set apart for occupation on the co-operation system. On the motion of Sir John Hall, a proviso was inserted that a report should bj presented to the House of all transactions entered into under the clause within ten days after the opening ot Parliament. Mr Rul Iks ton moved further, a proviso that no agreement should be made tinder the clause without the consent of Parliament.

Lust by 2") to 1">. Clause 107 : Village Settlements, Mr Houston moved that the size of village homestead allotments should not exceed 100 acres instead of 50. Agreed to. Clause 172 : No person shall bs lessee of more than cine rim. Mr Richardson moved that this clause he struck out, but the motion was lost by 20 to 7 iiml the clause added to the Bill. Clause l',)L : No person or company to hold more than one run provoked soma discussion. After the telegraph office closed this mominsr, the clause providing for one-man-one-run was under consideration for several hours. Mr Richardsou moved an amendment providing that no person or company should hold under this part of the Act any pastoral land larger in extent than is limited by Clause 185, viz., a carrying capacity of 20,000 sheep or 4000 cattle, instead of 5000 acres as coutaired in the Bill. At 5.45 the Houss divided on the ameudmant, which was lost by 2lj to 8. Eventually the Government consented to make tlio amendment providing that instead of limiting the area of runs to nOOO acres, it should be limited to an area capable of carrying up to f>ooo sheep. This was eventually carried by 25 to 8, and the clause as amended was added to the Bill. Mr Kolleston then moved to report progress, but Mr Seddon refused to agree to this until further progress had been made with the measure. A long discussion ensued on the motion and at 8 a.m. an adjournment was taken till 0.30.

On the House resuming at !).30 a.m., Mr Roliestoii re-counted the story of the night. It was their duty to endeavour to prevent wrong and mischievous legislation, and for this they were threatened with a trial of physical endurance. Mr Seddon s-iid he had no course open to him but that which he had adopted. The Bill had been dismissed for two d lys on the second reading anil fully considered by the Waste Lands Committee, and now had been four days before the Committee of the House. Sir George Grey had plainly stated that he would use all the forces of the House to prevent it becoming law. Mr Seddon then went on to refer to the whole question. When referring to one of his statements, Mr Fergus was understood to turn to Mr Harkness and ejaculate, " Hear how he lies." Mr Seddon appealed to the chair. Mr Rees said had the words been intended to be over-heard he would have insisted on an apology. Mr Seddon retorted with heat that if ar.y member had used such words to him outside he would take such steps as would prevent him ever using them again. Sir George Grey immediately moved " That the Minister's words be taken down," which, after some discussion, was carried, progress reported, and the words were read to the Speaker, who called upon the Minister for an explanation. Mr Seddon said he hai nothinc. to say by way of explanation or apology. Mr Fergus, within the hearing of the chairman and himself, had in reference to his statement used the word-*, " Hear how he lies. He had then asked protection from the ehair, and used the words taken down. They meant that there were two means open to him by which he could take such steps as would prevent any member using such words again. The courses open to him were to take proceedings for conduct calculated to provoke a breach of peace, or to report the member to the Speaker. The member for Newton had not heard the words, or lie would not have taken the course he did. Air Seddon then left the Chamber. Mr Fergus denied having used the words attributed to him toward the Minister for Mines. There was such a thing as private conversation in the Hotise, and if people listened to that,they might hear things that would be unpleasant. He said nothing offensive to the Minister for Mines, and if he had done so he would be sorry for it. The Hon. W. Reeves moved that the explanation given by the Minister for Mines be accepted a fully satisfactory. He (Mr Reeves) distinctly heard Mr Fergus use the words " How he lies." They were used in a loud tone and though not addressed to thn Minister, undoubtedly referred to him and were meant to be heard by him. Mr Fisher said he was bound to support the motion of the Minister for labour in the interest of good order and Decorum. Mr Rolleston agreed but suggested that it would be a bad precedent to take n.tice of words used in conversation. j Sir John Hall said the Minister's words were objectionable, but they were used under great provocation he thought that resolultion should be altered so as not to imply any approval of the words but to accept the explanation. Under the circumstances the Minister for Labour said he could not accept that suggestion. Mr G. Hutchison moved as Amendment, that the last three words "as fully satis-

factory " be omitted and motion be simply " That explanation given by Minister for Mines be accepted." The Amendment was rejected by 34 to 20, and the Hon. Mr Reeves motion was carried by 35 to 22. The Hon. Mr Seddon wasthen readmitted to the Chamber. On the Speaker informing him of the resolution come to, Mr Seddon said that it reflected credit upon the Parliament of the colony as politicians and as men. He was very careful of his honour and careful to speak the truth. As Leader of the 1 louse it was necessary to learn command, and to command oneself under great provocation, and he commanded hunself and used great forbearance. They would now return to c-immittee and they would take up the Land Bill where they left it. Mr Fergus then explained that lie had used the expression to a friend which he had not intended to be overhead, ilo had now to apologise in the fullest manner to

inL'.s luid been hurt, and to »■ xpi-i'K-t his surriw tint Mich lisi'l been iill'uVfid to OSCapi! Liin. Cliiu.se I' 2 the 13ill whs pas-ed, and at 12 I p.m. the I L mi-," jdltill .5.30 p.m. The rtismiMvl at 7.30 p.tti. In mi the Ijiii'i 1011, clause 123, penalty on nccupiei'. air-an <f i"nt, win alt-lvd So US t I Ollf-M-C-: II || : f V f"l' non-pivment of lxnt within (hit 1 y '1 <ys instead of fi ut rt c<'n.

in clause -77, licn-a'- f"i' II ivi'.'H!-rs it was ilucided Hint licenses lie «a//:ltud fur eleven yean inst"ad "f thii'". Clause 2H'i: N.it.iv.-, lands "" acquisition liny In; d-'clared Cr iwn I:ni'I ~. On tin; motion of Capt. mi R it wa« decided not to hrin« in Uii- clau-e should it. effect Land 111 the X'-rth I-laid lrinlc Railway line. (Left sitting midnight.)