GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3159, 22 September 1892, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TUKSDAY. Thk Council met at half-iia-t two p.m. The import of the Statute Revision Committee mi the Electoral Bill was presented and ordered to be considered next day. Sir P. Buckley moved the second reidiiiß of the Shops and Simp Assistants Bill. The I3ill was read a second time on the vmces and referrdd to the Labour Bills Committee. Thn Council rose at four p.m. WKDXKSDAY. In the Li'Rislative Council this afternoon, the Electoral Bill win committed. After a short rtebate, Mr Stevens moved that the interpretation clause bo postponed until tho Council had decided on the machinery proposals. Sir P. Buckley said he wasßoinK to carry the Bill through a< it came to the Council, and in no i.thnr way, and he could not accept any of thfi amendments made by tho .Statutes Revision Coinniittne. Col. Whitmoi-H opposed the motion. Mr McLean objected to privileges beiiiß granted to any class, as he thought everyone should Ro to the poll. The clause was postponed by 16 to 7. Mr Oliver moved an amendment to Clause 8, with tho object of prohibiting inmates of charitable institutions from voting. The Colonial Secretary designated tho amendment as being heartless. It was almost inhuman to disqualify unfortunate people on account of poverty. Mr Pollen opposed the amendment. The franchise was so general that to exclude people on account of their poverty would be cruel. The Colonial Socretiry intnnatod he would stand or fall by the Bill as he had introduced it. The amendment was agreed ti by !•< to 8. Mr Walker moved that Old People's Homes inmates should be allowed to voto. This was negatative.d on tho voices. Mr Swanson moved that the word '" person " instead of "man" be inserted in Clause !), the effect if agreed to being that women as well as men shall be qualified to sit in the House of Representatives. The amendment was lost on the voices. In clause 13, referring to residential qualification the Statute Revision Committee's amendment t'> make it necessary for a person to reside in the district for three months, instead of one month before his name can be inserted on an electoral roll was agreed to by 14 to 9. Progress was reported on Clause 59 being reached, and the Council adjourned at 4 45 p,m. HOUSE OP EEPEESENTATIYES. TUESDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Further leave of absence for a week was granted to Mr Taylor on account of illness, and for ten days to Mr Mitchelson in consequence of illness in his family. Mr Ballance gave notice of the introduction of the Payment of Members Bill. Mr Ballance gave notice to move that the House sit on Mondays at half-past two p.m. for Government business, and that the Standing Orders be suspended, to allow fresh business to be taken after half-uast twelve a.in. Sir John Hall eaid he felt sure the House would be slsid to see the Premier in his place after his recent illness, but he thought at this stage of the session the House was entitled to be informed as t> what Bills the Government proposed to go on with this session. Mr Biillnnce thanked the member fur EUesmere for his kindly reference to himself, and said he hoped in a few days to be able to afford some definite information as to what business the Government would ask the House to go on with this session. Mr Fergus complained of the delay in bringing down the Public Works Statement.

Mr Ballance replied that the Statement was now in course of preparation, and would be brought down early next week.

The Foreign insurance and Assurance Companies Bill was introduced by message from the Governor and read a first time.

Mr Balliince moved the second reading* ol the Public Reserves Bill. He said the ob ject of the Bill was set out in the Financial Statement.

A long debate ensu3d, tho Bill being strongly opposed by .several members of the Opposition. Mr Moore moved, as an amendment, that the Bill be read that day six months.

On a division, the amendment was rerejected by 25 to Hi. In the course of his reply, the Premier denied that the measure was a boirowing one.

The second reading was carried by 25 to 17, and, on the motion of Mr B.illance, the Bill was referred to tho Public Accounts Committee for special consideration of clauses 4 and 5.

Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill. Hβ pointed out that under the Bill friendly societies, sayings banks, and all kinds of charitable institutions were exempted from tho tax, but the House would use that the amendments tnado were not such as to alter the character of the Bill passed laest session. Tho amount of concession* proposed by the Government was £15,000, and the amount expected to be realised was £350,000. With respoct to Sir George Grey's proposed amendments for exemption of improvements, he estimated that such a concession would result in a loss of from £47,000 to £50,000, and as that would mean so seriou.? a disarrangement of the finance of the Government they could not possibly accept the amendment. The Government) believed it was only prudent to be on the safe side, and they had every reason to believe that their estimation of this tax would be realised, He hoped the House would ji.ccspt the concessions ho had made in the Bill in a non-party spirit, arid with a general desire to make the Bill work as fairly as possible. Sir G. Grey strongly defended his proposal to exempt improvements, and said the Premier had a great chance with his large surplus to relieve the poorer classes in the removal of taxation from the necessaries of life. He called on the House to neglect all other considerations and to say that no taxes on improvements should deface the statute book of New Zealand. Sir Johu Hall congratulated tho Government and the House on the extent to which tho Government had seen the error of their ways in respect to the lax on debentures, a tax which could not fail t J do great injury to the colouy. As regarded the taxation of improvements, he questioned the Premier's statement that the wealthiest people were tho*e who would benefit most by the removal of the exemption, and the Treasurer could not deny that this tax operated as a great discouragement on improvements. After a lengthy discussion tho seond reading was agreed to on the voices. The House rose at ten minutes to 2 a.m. WEDNESDAY. Tha House met at 2.30 p.m. The Payment of Members Bill was introduced by the Premier. It was agreed that for the remainder of the session the House should meet on Mondays' at 2.30 p.m. for Government business only. The Friendly Society's Act Amendment Bill, the object of which is to enable Friendly Societys to be registered was read • second time. Tho Manure Adulteration Bill for the better prevention of frauds in tho sale of manures for agricultural purposes was read a second time. Hon. Mr McKenzie moved the second reading of the Selectors Lands Revaluation Continuance and Amendment Bill. He explained that under the measure agricultural lesseas or holders of perpetual lease or deferred payment license might apply for relief, and selectors might before January 1804 apply for further relief on making a deposit and paving expenses. The Bill was not of great importance to a large number of people, but was of considerable importance to a small section of the public and he hoped it would become law this session and put an end to this revaluation business. Mr Rolleston thought the Bill was too much of a political character to bo of great use and he could not help saying it was also an ugly excrescence on our Land Legislation and that it would not give the relief asked for by puttiers. Messrs Fergus and Valentine differed from their chief over the. Bill which they strongly supported. After considerable debate the second reading was agreed to on tho voices. The Land for Settlement Bill was passed through its final stages. The House, rose at 5.30 p.m. Tho House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Native Land Purchase Bill was passed through committee without material j amendment.

The Otago Srh'M.l •(' .ni., : --i iri"i, K;i» KiwerinK Bill iiti'l l!w >'•■«• /■•■■! >"■! Cm '. pany Land L'liinunU Mill w,m- c- ri-i.ii-i-.-il in committee :iii-l ip;. — 'I t ,i with Mit uiieiidinent.

The Hiphso wr-nt iiit'i u'lMiniM.lce on the Diiry Industry Hill. Clause -1 : Pi.we.rs "f <-ntry l'v iti^p<-t:tor.

MrT. McK.ii/..os,id tin. r.il! w.n'd K ivo too much pow-T a t<ii;i-t.tii-"[-t'i in-;.v t ■■!■■< ami would hamper thci fl-.ii y nidu-iry i:i-p)i>i ■ I (!HCOUriiKiili» it. 11' , n,"\ •!t. mi nt Ih ■ clausf. so in c. h r..v!<l-l.n.t in-p- C..1- cuM only enber dMiiin- ji'kl hM.'t/jii''- :ni'l ri■ ■ t cre:imories, liariis, bnilfiin?! can ag..'-, etc., ;>.s ciintainnrl in the Mil).

Hon. Mc.Koll7.le μ-nnfl ■■■it tlianh- Mill was intended to prnv.-nt, f.il-r l-r. n-lusir ...id false pricking iind tlio cl.msi' «;hiic.y-siiy for that purpose. U pnwiM- \vr: t ilii-n from the liiijpisL'i.orn t.li> iv wn-* no iii;c:.-.-ity for tho Bill at nil. Hi' w.n not forcing this Mill on the colony, but ir. w:,s Iv.vupA in iepi.nac t.) seven! ilimii.iils tliat won: iniid..'. (Luftsiuinj,' ninl-niu'lit).