PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1266, 18 June 1886, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HaiLEGISLATIVL COUNCIL. Thursday, June 17. The Council met at 2.30 p m. PETITION. Mr Mecziea presented a petition from Presbyterians in favor of reading the Bible In schools. THE ROYAL .IDKXLEE. Major Baillie presented a report of the Joint Committee relating to congratulating the Queen on the annivereaiy of her accession to the throne. The motion was agreed to.

HILLS. Several Bills were advanced a stage and the Council adjourned. HOUSE OER EPR h, Sills' T ATI VES .

Thursday" Juno 17. The House mot at 2 30 p.m. THE ROY'AL .lURILEE. Mr Macandrew brought up the report of the Joint Committee of both Houses embodying an address to Her Majesty on the occasion of the Queen’s Jubilee. He said he had been asked to move the adoption of tho report without the usual notice, and he thought, under the exceptional of the case, It would be decorous of tho House to adopt it. He hoped that everyone there would strive to' cherish this sentiment of loyalty, and send it dowc to their children and children’s children. Sir R. Stout seconded the adoption of • the report. Mr Macandrew thm m ved that the substance ot tho address to cab ed homo. The address, he said, was to be in book form.

Sir G. Grey said this was an extrsordinaty occasion, and suggested that the address should be signed by every member of both Houses. Mr Macandrew said that was certainty intended. li was then decided that the address should be cabled home to her Majesty.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7- 30 p. m. HILLS

Several Bills were advanced a stage. THE BREACH OF PRIVILEGE CASE Sir R. Stout aakid Mr Seddon to withdraw his motion with reference to the breach c£ privilege. Ho said he did not consider the apology published by the “Press” was any apology at all, but he did not think the House should taka any further steps in the matter. Ho believed it would be taken up in another place, and steps taken to obtain tho name of the writer of the paragiaph. Tho motion was then withdrawn. LICENSING COMMITTEES Mr Steward moved the second reading of the Licening Committees Election Bill He said one of the many princip'es of the Bill was that elections shoo’d be thrown open to all adults of both sexes who had resided in the district for six months. The other was that electlonr should be triennial instead of annual. He thought that extending the franchise in his Bill to women wai a beneficent proposal, and would work exceedingly well. He thought it was a reasonable proposition, which should meet with the approval of .the House. As to tho other provision, he thought on the score of economy alone it should be adopted. He was creditably Informed that tho licensing elections at present cost from £7OOO to £IO,OOO a year, and his proposal would diminish the numbers of elections, and so decrease their cost. This was a step in the direction of economy which he thought, would commend the Bill to the favorable attention of the House. Mr Fergus moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr Hobbs strongly approved of the proposal for triennial elections, and also for extending ths franchise to women. Sit P. Stout thoroughly agreed with that part of the Bill giving the franchise to women, and he hoped the time would come when that power would be given. He said Mr Steward deserved every ciedit for bringing the Bill forward, bat I he thought that under the present circumstances he would do well to withdraw it. . Mr Fulton approved of the principle of the franchise being given to women. He they should pass the second reading of the Bill, so as to Etficm the principle and then let tho Government deal with it. Major Atkinson agreed with the Premier as the insdvisibility of attempt ng to pass the Bill through the House at present He would, however, vote for the second reading )f the mover was prepared to withdraw it afterwards If not, ho should vote for tho amendment. He thoroughly approved of the proposal for extending the franchise to women. Mr Steward said he would be content with the second reading, so ai to affirm the principle, on the understanding that the Government next sessaoa would bring In a BUI on the question. Mr Seddon said he for one was not going to hand over the franchise to women. He held that the good and sensible women did not want that power. The motion for the second reading was lost by 39 to 25 THE LAND ACT. Mr Pyke moved tho second reading of 1 the Land Act Remcdie’s BilL The motion was lost by -15 to I<V employment of females bill. On the motion for the committal of the Employment of Females and Others Act Amendment Bill, Mr Levestam moved—“ That the Bill be committed that day six months.” The motion for committal of the Bill was carried by 42 to 14. SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE.

On the motion for committal of the Small Birds Nuisance Act Amendment Bill, Mr Guinness moved—“ That the Bill be committed that day six months.” He protested against this proposal to scatter poison on the road* of the colony. Mr Rolleston hoped the Bill would be committed, as it was a very important question, which was required to be dealt with. Messrs Walker and Cowan also opposed the amendment, and hoped the Bill would pass. After further discussion the motion for committal was carried by 48 to 15. IN COMMITTEE.

Tiie House went into Committee on Bills, and rose at 1.16 a.u.