PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 125, 13 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(per press association). ! s

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Monday, July 12. The House met at 2.30.

Mr. Dick presented a petition, from Otago, praying that the bottle licenses be not retained.

Mr. McDonald gave notice that :he would move—“ That a. duty of one shil* ling per bushel be imposed - on maiee -imported into this colony.” . . Mr. Jones gave notice that he would ask —“ If Government had any objection to call for tenders in the colony for the supply of telegraphic forms for a period of five years.” • Mr. Hall moved—“ That the Sessional Order requiring the House to rise at; 12.30 be rescinded. ” < He said if not rescinded the session would’be prolonged far beyond its ordinary duration or else important measures would have to be abandoned. Government desired to bring the session to a close as soon as possible, consistent with the dispatch of- important : measures bn hand. The 12.30 restriction had had a fair trial and had not proved a success,

Mr. Macandrew said that the Order had been worked successfully. At all events, it had not been abused. It was to the interests of the country that they should not carry on the business, as had been done last session, to all hours of the morning. It was ascertained that their late hours had exercised prejudicial efiects on the health of members. Besides, the business was done in a loose manner. Mr. Montgomery would rather give up one of the private member days for Government business than see the motion carried. Sir George Grey opposed the motion, and moved as an amendment the addition of the words, “it is undesirable that any public money should be voted any sitting day after 12.30.” Major Atkinson said the arrangement was an extraordinary one, and meant that while they were not fit to deal with money matters after 12.30 they were still competent to undertake all the more important branches of Legislation. Sir George Grey’s amendment was put —Ayes, 29; Noes, 35.Mr. Reader Wood moved as a further amendment that Wednesday, at present devoted to private members’ business, be in future devoted to Government business. This was lost on a division by 26 to 28. The original motion was then put and carried. Several members expressed an opinion that the Civil Service Commissioners’ report could not be considered as certain papers had not been distributed amongst members. Mr. Bunny complained that the evidence had been abstracted from the table, and members thereby prevented from perusing it. Mr. Saunders said the evidence had not been taken out of the building ; but it was . found that the evidence of one witness, named White, whose case had been before the House had been abstracted, and could not be traced. The Speaker said the evidence was in custody of the Clerk of Parliament, and was open for inspection of members, but he had ascertained that White’s evidence had disappeared before the evidence as a whole got into custody of the clerk. It was then agreed that consideration of the report should proceed at the evening sitting. The House rose at 5.20 p.m.