PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 651, 1 June 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV3 Wednesday, May 31. The House met at-3rSO p.m. - _ NOTICES. Mr Seddon gave notice that he wo ask if the Government intended.; ini ducing the penny postal system. Mr Hamlin gave notice that he would if, considering that the elections of Fra lin North and Wakanui were rendered operative by the derelictions of officer the Government, the Government wo bs prepared to defray the election Cc expenses of the unseated candidates. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions it was stated I until the Financial Statement, was ma the intentions of the Government at

the abolition of the duty <>n colonial bi would not be disclosed. —The fencing unfenced railway lines was a largo qu (ion, involving a sum of not lessitl L 200,000. The was under consideration of Government, and wl the Public Works Statement \ brought down it would be eSa what Government proposed idoirig. The Government would make propos to the House for the resumption of noi natedimmigration.—The Government E> no reason for increasing the rate of waj paid <o railway ballast men.—The endo inent of hospitals and charitable insti tions with waste lauds, similar to tho.p posals introduced into the House in Ju 1880, by Mr Stevens, was a subject whi would be dealt with in the Finano Statement.—The 10 per cent, reduoti would be refunded to employees oh ;; t Government steamers. —It would be i judicious to state the intentions of tl Government as to the granting of a fn pardon to Te Kooti and Parukutu,. np residing in Waikato territory, as it had n yet been proved in a Court of law ,th; they were criminals. —The public debt ) the colony was L 27,680,000, whicl divided amongst the population of th colony, including Maoris, represented LB per head. Both races contributed ti wards the payment, but as the Maori wa taxed lighter than the European, the foi mer paid the least.—There was an equi number of police in Christchurch in pro portion to other parts of the colony What was wanted was more efficien means for the detection of crime and that would be attended to.— Spirits in one or two gallons, boftle b jar, to be bonded, afforded greate facilities foe smuggling than when con tainod in cases of twelve bottles. Tha was che experience of othercountries, an< the principle had been adopted in thi colony. Accordingly, under these oircum stances, Government did not consider any alteration of the practice to be necessary.

FJf,3L' KSADiXGS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time : —To amend the Dog Regis!ration Act, 1880 (Mr Steward); to amend the Resident Magistrates Act, 1867 ; to amend the Debtor and Creditors Act, 1867 (Mr Holmes); to amend iho Lotteries and Gaming Act, 1881 (Mr Sieward); the Westland Educational District Subdivision (Mr Seddon); Hokitika High School (Mr Fitzgerald); to amend the Contractors Debts Act, 1871 ; to provide fur the Protection of Telegrams from beyond the colony of New Zealand (Mr Feldwick); to amend the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act 1881; Alienation of Life Assurance Policies (Bon. Major Atkinson); Licensing Act Amendment (Bon. Mr Dick).

me xrahi boots’ system.

Mr Green moved the second reading of the Eight Hours Bill, and in doing so referred to the urgent necessity for such a measure, instancing the case of the .N.Z. Railway engine drivers. He knew, of his own knowledge, these men were sometimes required to work twenty hours and by that means their energies were bound to be exhausted. In that condition serious accidents were likely to arise. It might be that the next day the driver was relieved from the extra labor, * but still the fact remained that for -the I time being the property of the State and 7 the lives of the public were placed /in s! imminent danger. The ease of the post* i men on the arrival of the English mail was next referred to. These men had to woifc 1 . extra hours, aggravated by the fact that.

they received no extra pay. Merchant and bank clerks were next referred to as Instances of the abuses the Rill was intended to reform. Mr Bracken seconded the motion, whi h was also supported by Mr Barron and Mr Holmes, and condemned by Col. Trimble, Mr. Fergus, and Mr Shepherd. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. On resuming, Mr Levestam supported the Bill, believing, however, that in committee it could be amended. Messrs Fish, Bathgate, and the Hon. Mr Johnston, all spoke in favor of the Bill. The motion was carried on the voices. WEST COAST PEACE PRESERVATION’ BILL. The adjourned debate on this measure Was resumed, when Mr Holmes moved, as an amendment — u That the second reading be adjourned until Te Whiti had an opportunity for being heard at the bar of the House,” or if that amendment was not acceptable, then he would move the postponement of the Bill until Bills had

been brought down fitting the reserves and withdrawing the proclamation. Mr Steward would prefer seeing the Bill reduced so as to make it read, “ Power shall he given to prevent Te Whiti leaving the Middle Island until this Parliament shall meet again.” That, he thought, would be sufficient, but the responsibility was not his, but the Government’s.

ADJOURNMENT. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Tawhai. The House rose at 12.