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H.—ll

14

Classification Committee.

And in certain cases ordered to be printed.

Petitions against taxes.

Petitions from Maoris.

Heports on Maori Petitions.

Bills ordered

Members appointed to bring in Bills.

Joint Committee on Bills.

Proceedings suspended until after report.

PriTate Bills.

Grants of money.

Bills ordered to be withdrawn.

( Bills presented. C

shall be referred, without any Question being put, to the Committee of Classification, with a view to ascertain whether such Petitions are in compliance with Standing Orders, and to classify the same for distribution amongst the several Committees of the House; but if any such Petition relate to any matter or subject with respect to which the Member presenting it has given Notice of a Motion, and the said Petition has not been ordered to be printed by the Committee, such Member may, after notice given, move that such Petition be printed. t 316. Subject to the above Regulations, Petitions against any Resolution or Bill imposing a tax or duty for the current service of the year may be received. 317. Petitions from persons of the Native race may be received without regard to the foregoing forms. 318. All Reports of the Public Petitions Committee on Petitions of Aboriginal Natives shall be translated into the Maori language, and printed as soon as possible after such Reports are brought up.

XXVllL—Public Bills. 319. Every Bill (unless sent down by the Governor) is ordered to be brought in upon Motion made, and Question put, " That leave be given to bring in such Bill." 320. Every Bill (except as before) is ordered to be prepared and brought in by a Member or Members. 321. There shall be a Joint Committee appointed at the commencement of each session, consisting of five Members of the Legislative Council and five Members of the House of Representatives, to which any Bill may be referred by the Speaker of either House during its progress. The Committee shall inquire into the character of the Bill so referred, as to whether it is a Public, Local, or Private Bill, and report their opinion thereon to both Houses. 322. All proceedings in the House upon any Bill so referred shall be suspended until the Committee shall have reported thereon. 323. Private Bills shall be understood to be Bills which are promoted for the private interests of individuals or companies, or which, by their provision, directly interfere with the private property of individuals; and the Private Bills Committee should give a liberal interpretation to the Standing Orders in favour of Bills of a public nature. 324. The House will not proceed upon any Petition, Motion, or Bill for granting any money, or for releasing or compounding any sum of money owing to the Crown, except in a Committee of the whole House. 325. Every Bill not prepared pursuant to the Order of Leave, or according to the Rules and Orders of the House, will be ordered to be withdrawn. 326. A Bill is presented by the Member, or one of the Members, ordered to prepare and

I bring in the same, and such Member is desirec by Mr. Speaker to bring it up. 327. The first reading of every Bill is proposed immediately after the same has been presented. 328. When any Bill shall be presented by a Member, in pursuance of an Order of this House, or shall be sent down by the Governor, or shall be brought from the Legislative Council, the Questions, " That this Bill be now read a first time," and "That this Bill be printed/'' are to be decided without amendment or debate. Second Beading. 329. A Bill having been read a first time, is ordered to be read a second time on a future day. 330. Orders of the Day for the second reading of Bills shall not be fixed for a more distant day than a month from the date of the first reading. 331. On the Order of the Day being read for the second reading of a Bill, Motion is made, and a Question put, "That the Bill be now read a second time." 332. Amendments may be moved to such Question by leaving out " now," and, at the end of the Question, adding " three months," "six months," or any other time; or that the Bill be rejected. 333. No other Amendment may be moved to such Question unless the same be strictly relevant to the Bill. 334. A Bill having been read a second time, is ordered to be committed to a Committee of the whole House, or, in certain cases, to a Select Committee. 335. When it is intended to refer a Bill to a Select Committee the second reading may be moved fro forma, and in such case there shall be no debate other than the speech of the Mover. 336. Any Bill for consolidating or codifying the law, or any branch thereof, may be referred, after it shall have been read a second time, to a Select Committee consisting of ten Members. 337. It shall be the duty of such Com-: mittee to see that, in respect of such provi- \ sions of the Bill as purport merely to re-enact and consolidate the existing law, the true intent, meaning, and effect thereof is not in any way changed, altered, or varied; but the Committee shall have power to suggest such amendments, alterations, or additions as it shall think fit; and, on reporting the Bill to the House, shall attach a copy thereof reprinted in such manner as to show in italics or other distinguishing type every new or altered provision. 338. When the Committee shall have re-1 ported that the Bill effects no change upon J the existing law, it may be read a third time i without having been first committed to a Committee of the whole House, and when the Committee shall have reported that any part or parts of the Bill contain any alteration of or addition to the existing law, then only such part or parts shall be considered in Committee of the Whole, unless the House

a - First reading.

1 7 First reading, , and printing, without debate.

j Bill ordered to be read a second; time.

Date of second reading.

Second reading.

Amendments to Questions for second reading.

Amendments to be relevant.

Bill committed.

Second reading of Rill referred to Select Committee.

Consolidation Bills Committee.

Duties of Consolidation Committee.

Report of Consolidation Committee on Bill.