PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 681, 6 July 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

♦ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, July 5. BILLS. The Hon. Mr Whitaker gave notice to bring in Bills to Amend the Mining Companies Act, 1877 ; and the Railways Authorisations Act, 1881. He also gave notice to bring in a Bill to Amend and Consolidate the Law Relating to Legal Practitioners —A Bill on this subject was received from the Judicature Commission and read a first time.—The Companies Bill was read a third time and passed.— The Fisheries BUI was re-committed, on the motion of the Hon. Mr Nurse, with a view to making an amendment providing that a single license to fish should run through the colony, instead of a license being required for each district. After some debate the question was deferred. The Council rose at 3.45 p.m.

HOUSE QF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, J uly 5. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ANOTHER PLEASURE TRIP. Mr George gave notice to ask if the Government would place the Hinemoa at the disposal of members from the Soothe Island, so as to enable them to visit Auckland, and become better acquainted with' that part of the colony. - THE SINKING FUND. The Hon. Major Atkinson asked leave r to lay on the table a return showing, how the sinking fund was invested. He did this owing to some doubts having, been expressed as to the reality of the fund. . ■ ASHBURTON COUNCIL EMPOWERING BILL. V' The report of the Committee on the Ashburton Council Further Empowering Bill was read, finding the preamble proved, and recommending the Bill to by - passed, with certain amendments. BILLS CONSENTED TO. A message was received from the Administrator of the Government, giving hii assent to the Corrupt Practices Preveh-, tion Act Amendment Bill, Auckland, Harbor Board Further Empowering BiU, Lands Bill, and the two Imprest Supply . Bills.

KAITANGATA FUND. Mr Rutherford presented a petition,., prayirg for an inquiry into the administration of the Kaitangata relief fund, and expressed the belief that it would ha found to have been unfairly administered. THE GRAND JOEY SYSTEM. Mr Hutchison gave notice that he would move that it is expedient to abolish the Grand Jury system. CORONERS ACT. The second reading of the Coroners Act Amendment Bill was' put and carried. DOG REGISTRATION ACT. The House went into Committee on the Dogs Registration Act, iB6O, Amendment Bill, which was reported without amendments, and read the third time and ' passed. THE VAGRANT ACT. On the question for going into committee on the Vagrant Act Amendment Bill, the House divided. : Ayes, 47 ; noes, 24. In Committee, Mr Hursthouae moved -1 —“ That the power of inflicting whippings be not, as proposed by the Bill, entrusted to two J. P.’s. ” He argued that it would ; be unsafe to instruct such a fearful punish- i ment to to the hands of J.P.'s.

Mr Foldwick moved that the punishment bo provided for on a second conviction. The Hon. Mr Dick proposed that it be restricted to male persons. As the Act stood it applied equally to females. Mr Turnbull moved that progress be reported. He argued that the Bill was totally uncalled for. As the law stood, twelve months’ imprisonment was provided foijand that was enou-b. It would be as well to mutilate offenders of this kind at once. It was a most reprehensible measure altogether. The motion for reporting progress was withdrawn. Mr Moss moved that the chairman leave the chair, expressing his abhorrence of tho Bill. The Vagrant Act, as it stood, was a blot upon the Statute Book. Mr Fish said the punishment of the lash was the most frightful that could be inflicted, and they ought to pause i before allowing such a piovision to pass into law.

Mr Micandrew thought something was required to put down the evil aimed at, still, he did not approve of the Bill as it stood.

Mr Joyce supported the motion for leaving the chair, contending that the law as it stood was sufficient to meet the requirements of the case. Mr Tawhai desired to know if the Bill was to be applied to the Native race. Mr O’Oailaghan, who was in charge of the Bill, stated that it was intended to apply to both sections of the colonists.

Mr Sheehan said that the well-known Maori haka would be considered an exposure under the Act. The Bill was in conflict with the Act it proposed to amend.

Mr Morris said that the exposure must be wilful and malicious ; such being the case no magistrate would convict for a Maori haka. Mr Watt said that if the natives were not exempted from the operation of the Pill he would vote against it. Some other members having expressed their opinion on the Bill, Mr Montgomery said he would regret to see the power entrusted to a magistrate. He suggested that the magistrate should be allowed to administer the Act as it originally stood, but in the event of the lash being required then bethought the case should go to a jury. Mr Bracken denounced the Bill as calculated to bring about the moat serious consequences upon comparatively innocent persons. Mr Hutchison was disappointed with the tone of the debate throughout. It was the punishment to which he objected, no matter by whom it might be inflicted. Sir G. Grey also intimated that it was character of the punishment to which he objected, no matter by what tribunal it might be inflicted. The motion for leaving the chair was put and the committee divided. Ayes, 22 ; Noes, 53. The motion for the insertion of the word “ male” persona was put and carried on the voices.

After considerable further discussion, Mr O’Callaghan accepted the amendmsnt by Mr Sheehan, providing that if the Resident Magistrate or Justices were

of opinion that the present legal punish-

ment was insufficient to meet any case,

they might commit the offender for trial, and the Judge of the Supreme Court should have power to add flogging to the other punishment. The Bill was reported as amended. THE EIGHT HOURS BILL. This Bill was reported, aireed to, read the third time, and passed.

LIBEL BILL. ■ "The Hon. Mr Dick resumed the debate on the second reading of the Libel Bill. No. 8, clause 7, was out of place, and ought not to be in the Bill. Referring to clause 4, he said it appeared to omit printers, and he saw no reason why they Should n'-'t have the protection provided for the others. The motion for the second reading was carried. TARANAKI IRON SAND. Mr Fish moved the second reading of the Taranaki Iron Smelting Work Land Act, 1874, Amendment Bill. Carried. IN COMMITTEE. The Employment of Female Act Amendment Bill, School Committee Election Bill, and Small Birds Nuisance Bill were committed. After the School Committeea Bill had been discussed, Mr Steward moved that progress be reported. The committee divided Ayes, 26 ;

Noes, 20. The Sma 1 ! Birds Nuisance Bill was discussed at some length. - Captain McKenzie moved that progress bo reported.—Negatived on thevoices. —Referring to the election of School Committees, Mr Hursthouse moved the excision of clausa 4, which, after seme discussion, was carried by 22 to 21. —Mr Steward after expressing regret at the decision come to, moved that progress be repoited. —Mr J. Buchanan and Mr Bracken pointed out that to abolish cumulative voting would be an injustice to the Catholics and Jews.—After some further discussion, the motion to report progress was carried by 26 to 29. The Employment of Females Bill Was reported with amendments. The Small Birds Nuisance Bill was opposed in committee by Captain M'Kenzie, so far as the rating power was concerned. Several motions to repoit progress were iuade and lost, and the word “ resident ” in danse 5 was struck out. Several members held this rendered the Bill quite inappropriate. Ultimately it was reported aa amended, and the House rose at 2.45.