HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 2419, 30 July 1891, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2.30 p m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. OHBLSTCHUBCH ELBCTKHJ LIGHTING BILt/. The Christchurch Electric Lighting Bill was read a thud time by 26 to 15. FEDKHATION. Replying to Mr George Hutchison, Mr Reeves said the Premier intended asking the House to meet on Monday next at 7.30 p.m. for the purpose of dis : cussing the Federation question. A DKNIAL. Replying to Mr Bryce, Mr Reeves said Government were not negotiating for the sale of the New Zealand Railways. KMPLOV'KKS' lIABILITY BILL. The Employers' Liability Bill was read a thi*d time and passed. TRUCK BILL. On the motion, for the-third reaving of the Truck Bill, Mr Rolleston deprecated the discussion of those important measures at three o'clock m the evening. There wa.f no reason vhy they should "not have had more . time for discussing the Lnbcr Bills especially, as they had *o little explanation of them from the Government Benches Ilis'opinion was that the tendency of those Bills would be to promote a period of unrest and disquitt amongst the people, and to postpone a reconciliation, of the interests of labor aud capital. The Truck Bill was a clumsy attempt to effect the object m view, and it would prevent the free exercise of competition, aud would re .luce the amount of work even.to workmen themselves. As to the shop Hours Bill, he had heard it stated that its effect would be to create a strong and violent revolution amongst the working classes.... Mr Reeves denied that the Bills were the creation of a few agitators. They were introduced by the late Government last session, and received large support from the present Government party. He differed- from the prediction uttered by Mr Rolleston as to the d reful results that ,would ensue from those Bil's becoming Ltw. If the Truck Bill was likely to injure the manufacturing industry why had it not doae so m England, where a similar measure had been m force for sixty years. If any panic resulted from these Bills, it would be solely due to the action <>f certain politicians and newspapers.™ The Bill was chen real a third time and pisse.l. .SHOP HOCJHS' BILL. 0 i the motion for the third reading of (he Shop Hours Bill, Sir John Hall said it was a great mistake for the House to limit the hours of labor by legislation. Hefelt .that before long the Bill would be regarded as an intolerable'hardship by the people of the colony. Mr Scobie McKenzie di 1 not think the Bill had been brought forward m the I true; interests of the working men. Mr McKenzie (Clutha) looked upon the Bill as a step m the right direction. : Messrs Shera and Saunders also spoke. I Mr Reeves wished to tbanjk the leading members of the Opposition ;jfor the afcti ■tude they had adopted towards the labor Bills, saving thab tho criticisms of tbe,nytjo,nty of the hon.,,gontle'men of the' Opposition had been eminently fair. I Tho Bill was read a third time and passed. The Adulteration- Act Prevention Amendment Bill and Companies (Memorandum of Ass'jciiitijn) Bill passed through Committee without amendment. . The House rose at 5.30. ■ The House resumed at 7.30. AUCTIONEERS B LL. The Auctioneers Bi 1 was committed. O;i Clause B—licenseß—license and other fees to be paid to local authorities—a lengthy discussion took place, several members contending that the private residence of an auctioneer should not be considered m the matter, and others expressing the opinion that license fees should be paid iv tlie district where' the auctioneer resided. The clause was eventually added to the Bill on the voices. To Clause 10—licensed auctioneers may appoint substitutes m case of illness or intended absence—several members took strong exception, saying that it was likely to be abused m many cases, but all "eßtirfe-fco-effeet-altefa-tioiT was 'unsucces'^" (uj an .1 the clause was retained as printed. Clause 12 - auctioneer not to sell after appointing substitute—was altered so as to provide that a licensed auctioneer should not be entitled to sell until ten days after his substitute v»as appointed. Clause 15—night auctions prohibited, e \cept cattle sales. On the motion of Mr Mills (Port Chalmers) it was decided that auctioneers should be allowed to sell landed property only up to six o'clock m the evening instead of ssven as proposed. Sir John Hall moved a proviso to the clause to the? effect that sales of land, wool, tallow, and books be allowed at night. The clau.st. was agreed to and added to the Bill. Clause 10 — accojnt sales to hi rendered within one month—was altered, so as-to provide that account sales must bo rendered by the auctioneer, mid paid over within fourteen days after receiving a demand from the vendor of the property. The remaining clauses passed with slight alteration. A new clause was inserted to tho effect that no person holding a pawnbroker's license shall hold an auctioneer's license, The Bill was reported as amended. '' THfRD READINGS. The House went into Committee on the Partnerships Bill, which passed through without amendment, and was reported, read a third time, and passed. The Repeals Bill was considered m Conumttee. No alteration being made, • the Bill was read a p\nv& time and passed. Tho House rase at Jl p.m. ;'