#
in
f
tive Council in a matter of this kind would the Governor's any way strengthen
The object of the proclamation is hands. to prevent Chinese coming into this colony from an infected port. Before any proclamation of the kind is issued the Governor would as- eertain all the facts. I do not see how the Go- vernor's hauds would be strengthened by calling a meeting of the unofficial members, who have a vary large knowledge of matters connected with is colony, but of such matters as diseases they ve absolutely none.
Hon. Ho KAI-I am in favour of the amend- ment, because I think it is as easy for the Government to summon a meeting of the Legislative Council as to summon a meeting of the Executive Council. There is no doubt that the public, or a certain number of them, would have more confidence if the Government would summon thom or their representatives, together with the Executive Conneil, before such a pro- clamation is issued, and for this reason I should bare supposed that the Government would not oppose the amendment of the unofficial members, There is no reason why the wishes of the un- official members should not be complied with; at least I can see none and we have heard of none. The Legislative Council can be summoned and assembled at an hour's notice, quite as easily the Executive Council, aud whether hands are your Excellency's
strengthened not by summoning the Legislative Conncil instead of the Executive Connoil is a matter of opinion, hat I am quite sure the public would regard it as in some measure the proper course to be taken. In that way we could see that the Government took proper care, and that there was necessity for the proclamation before issuing it. I hope that the Government will, in this instance, see that the wishes of the na official members are complied with.
AS
or
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-May I make a suggestion? Instead of calling this, as it evidently would be called, a meeting of the Legislative Council formed in this Chamber, would it meet the wishes of the unofficial mem- bars if they were called in consultation with the Governor in Executive Council? It is not usual for a proclamation to be issued by the Legislative Council, at least I can think of no instance where a proclamation has been issued by the Governor is Legislative Council Without proper reasor for it I am doubtful if it would be a proper course to allow or to give power to the Governor in Legis- lative Council to issue a proclamation.
HB. C. P. CHATER-I think that would suit us admirably, and wis going to suggest it, bat I thought it was not possible. Our great object was that your Excelleney should have the opi- nions of the unofficial members before issing the proclamation.
His EXCELLENCY-lt will always give me a good deal of pleasure to allow one or two mom- bers of the Legislativa Conncil to assist me be- fore issing a proclamation of this nature.
The clause was then passed after a slight alteration had been made.
The Bill was passed through committee, read a third time, and passed.
THE ARMS BILL.
The Council then went into Committee on the Arms Bill.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the hon, member opposite (Hon. C. P. Chater) had kindly given notice that certain parsons exempted from serving as jurors would, as the Bill was framed, come under its provisions instead of being exempted as previously, le had thereforé introduced alterations to exempt anch persons as are exempted by law from serving on the jury on account of their avocation or profession."
Hon. C. P. CHATEE seconded and the alteration was agreed to.
The HARBOUR MASTER pointed out that Volunteers were not mentioned in the Bill. Were Volunteers considered in military service when they were not actually at drill or called out? They had arms in their possession.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I do not know whether ander the Army Aot they.d: come within the Act. I believe they do in "England, but. I do not know whether they do here.
Clause 5, on which the question arose, was ag- cordingly amended by the addition of the words "naval, or military, or volunteer, orfcivil service.
Bon. A. McCONACHIE proposed that the words “in course of transhipment be added, thne rendering it unnecessary for shipowners to take out a linence for arms which were being transhipped. It would be a great inconvenience aad delay to shippers and merchants if they had to take out a licence every time they transhipped cargo. He thought the words proposed could Fory well be inserted.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL Baid he had only one objection to the words being
added and that was that arms must be under the cognisance of the police, who, if licences were not taken ont, would not know where the arms ware, The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I think it is most important that the police should know when arms are arriving in this colony. These arms can be landed and kept, bat it is for an indefinite period. 1 think it is very importaut that the police should know where the arms ara. Hon. A. MoCCONACHIE-If business is to be trammelled with so many conditions it will be impossible to carry on business in the colony at
all
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I do not quite understand about trammelling sommores. There is no desire to trammel commerce. The object of the Bill is to protect the interest and the good order of this colony. You cannot say it is traramelling commerce to let the poline kuow I understand that where the arins are situated.
my hon. friend opposite would have no objec- tion whatever to have an arrangement whereby "Trammelling the police should be informed. Commerce is a somewhat exaggerated term
Hon. J. J. KESWICK quite recognised the im- portance of the police knowing where the arms were traushipped; the authorities should be aware of the fact, Hear hear). Be quite saw, on the other hand, that if arms arrived here and were landed at the wharves on the other side and re- mained two or three days or two or three weeks that it would cause a great deal of unnecessary tronble to take out a licence.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY did not sag- gest that it was absolutely necessary to get a licence, but there should be come elanse inserted so that the police should be notified whers the
arms were.
Hon. A: MCCONACHIE replied that he should be quite willing that merchants should be re- quired to notify the police, but not that they should be pat to the necessity of taking out a licence.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Government will accept that arrangement.
The clanse thereupon stood over.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said there were other objections to the Bill, as the retai Chinese dealers thought it was very hard for them in many instances if they had to take out a licence. Many of their purchasers were out of the colony, and it was therefore proposed that if the pur. chaser was not a resident, an export permit be obtained from the Captain Superintendent of Police in order that the polics might know whether the arms were going from the colony. Several gentlemen, who were introduced by Hoo. J. J. Keswick, interviewed him yesterday, and objected to this proposal, as it would cause great; trouble and inconvenience to have to go to the police, and they suggested that they should substitute for the police the Superintendent of Imports and Exports-the Harbour Master. They also suggested that the Harbour Master should send a duplicats of the permit to the police. An amendment was then drawn in there. termos They did not ask to be exempted in the case of any small arms sold for a sam under $5. Of course this would throw extra work upon the Harbour Master.
Hoa. R. M. ROMBEY said he did not mind that. But he thought the police should be ac quainted at ones when arms arrived, as if be granted a permit and then seat a duplicate to the police, no one would know where the arms were by the time the police got the duplicate, as the man would have gone away.
It was thereupon decided to let the clausə stand over. Clause 15 also stood over, as part of it was affected by clause 6.
Council resumed.
THE WATER ORDINANCE.
The Aquino ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Water Ordinance, and explained one or two alanses.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-I have the honour t second the second reading of the Bill. The main object in making these addi- tional laws is to enable those premises whisk exosed the prescribed dom «stic limit, and which were liable under the old Ordiuance to have have the supply their supply out off, to
It has continued with a meter attached. been necessary during the past two years to disconnect a very large number of houses. and every one will agree that the cutting off entirely of water on premises is not to be ad- At the same time vocated on sanitary grounds. every precaution has been taken before cutting off that supply to supply the street by bydrants. Thus obstacles ware not put in the way of sani- tary maintenanc, which we all are anxious to meet, especially in the Chinese quarter. The Act also provides for meters for houses outside the city of Victoria, and houses at Kowloon, and in the outlying districts, where
so ory
+
i
165
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.