HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1551, 6 May 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thctbsday, May 5. The House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS, Replying to question*, it was stated fiat Government did not intend dealing with the question of salary and allowances to be paid to futore Governors ; that no douM arringreonentß could be "made whereby forms of claim for enrolment of eleotora shall be obtainable at all post* offices m tha oolouy ; that the question of reduction of the honorarium of members wcu'd be dealt with m the Financial Statament; BILLS* Several Bills were introduced. RE PRESENTATION. The Premier eaid he desired to make a statement with reference to the Representation Bill. After the amendments oatried m the Bill last evening, the Go. varnment did not see their way to pro* deed any furthar with the Bill, m Its present shapo. At the same time ha recogniß&d, and the House also understood, that the Bill was nut a party raeasaro, and ad he was anxious to have Borne Bill dealing with Representation passed this session, he would be glad ff those members who desired to see an amended Bill paßßod would meet him so .that Borne compromise might be effected which would be satisfactory to all parties. Mr Ormond asked m what position the Bill now stood. The Speaker said that the Premier could nr.vs for the withdrawal of tha Bill if he desired to do so. Major Atkinson asked whether the Premier would give an opportunity next day for doaling with the ttepresantation Bill. The Premier cald that he coald not then reply to that question. Mf'j >r Atklnßon asked the Premlar who ho desirad to consult on the matter. The Pramler mid the majority who had voted on the Bill. Major Atkinson asked whether the Premier wished him to arrange for suoh a meet'ng* The Premier said ho had no objaotion to that; He was anxious that some Bill might be pawed, dealing with this important question. He spoke at tome length on it. The Speaker said the proper oourse to 'pursue now would bo to suspend further debase till the Bill again came m for discussion. The Bill could not be diionsaed now, THE HALL CASE. Mr W. F. Buokland resumed the debate on the return of the costs of the proseon* tlon of Thuma* H»ll moved by Mr Turnbull He reoiprocated the remarks made by Mr Turnbull while speaking of the action of the Judges, The motion for the return was agreed to. OWHAOKO CASE. . The Premier moved that the papers rt Owhaoko aud Kaimanawa Native Lands (Sir W. BcHer's statement) be printed. He said he would not go into the question now beyond regretting that the House had not adopted his suggestion last year to telegraph to Dr Buller for his explanation ot matters. At any rate the oorres.pondenoe had borne out the opinion that h's (the Premier'r) memorandum of last year was justified. After Bomo disoussion the motion wai agreed to. LAW PUACIITIOHERB. Sir Gfeorgo Grey moved the seoond reading of the Law Practitioners Bill, and stld he had In the previous sessions explained the Bill m every detail. Mr Lance moved that the Bill be read that day 6 months. Mr Turnbull hoped the Bill would be read a sooond tim 9, as ho saw neither any harm nor any advantage to be gained by it, Mr Taylor said great complaints existed thorough the colony of the monopoly enjoyed by the legal profession, and the enormous costs they oharged their ollents. Ho hoped the Bill would pass. The debate was Intairupted by the 6 30 adjournment. At 730 p.m., Sir George Grey eontinuod hia argument m support of the Bill. Mr Lanoe's amendment was lost by 30 to 29. Mr Samuel a aid that Sir George Grey had not heaitatod to attribute mean and biso tnotivea to those who had opposed his Bill, but ho repudiated suoh aster* tiona a3 far a3 ha waß conoerned. He then proceeded to traverse Sir George's arguments m detail, remarking that the mover ohonld not have to complain again of his bill not being debated. Mr Monk said tbia was the first time he had heard a lawyer say so muoh for so little. Mr Lovestam criticised Mr Samuel's defenco of the lawyers, and asked him what he was afraid of m the Bill. Mr Ivess Bald that Sir George Grey deserved Ihe thanks of the House for tha pertinacious way m whloh year after year he has brought this measure for* ward. He supported toe Bill. Mr Fisher defended Sir George Grey from Mr Samuel's attaoks. The seond reading was oarrled by 20 to 20.

FBIENDLY SOCIETIES. On the motion of Mr D. Stewart, the Friendly Sootetiei Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. LIMITATION OF VOTES. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Limitation of Votes Bill, providing for electors voting m only one electorate. The motion was agreed to. CONTAGIOUS DISEASE ACT. Sir George Grey moved the second reiding of the Contagious Diseases Repeal Bill. Although no donbt brought forward with the best motivea, he held that the Act should apply to both sexes. The Premier thought it unwise at present to repeal the Act. Major Atkinson believed the operation of tbe Act was nothing bat bad, aa it felled entirely m the object it had m view, namely, m stamping out disease. They should pass the second reading and the Premier should take that as a direction to prepare a measure applying to both sexea. Mr Hobbs thought that the Act should apply equally to both aexee. Mr Montgomery considered that there was great danger m repaaling the Act before another was put on the statute; book. Dr Newman said medical men were aware that the disease aimed at was prevalent and serious m this country. Mr Joyce opposed the Bill: Mr Peaoook supported it because the experlenoe of other countries showed that the Aot had not been successful. Mr Fitsherbert and Mr Fisher combated Dr Newmans statement aa to the prevalence of disease. Mr Fulton strongly supported the repeal of the Aot, which he oalled an Infernal measure. Mr O'Oallagham said that experience m Ohrlatchurch showed that the Act had almost completely stamped out the diseasa there. It ought to be compulsory m all the large oitieß. He moved that the Bill be read that day six months . Mr Holmes asked what harm the Act hud done. He boie testimony to the good it had effected, and to the evil re* iults of its suspension m places m the colony where it had beon m force. The speaker said that if he had known the debate would have assume .i the proportions it had, he would have probably ordered strangers to withdraw, bat he understood that it would hava been speedily settled. CM renaming after the ■upper adjournment he would, if the sense of the House was favorable, so direct. On resuming the House adjourned again for balf-an-hour, to enable a meeting to be held regarding the Representation Bill. A division was then taken, on Mr O'Oallaghan's amendment, wh'ch was carried by 62 to 11, and the Bill was thrown nut. LAND FOE SETTLEMENT. The Land for Settlement Bill was introduced by Sir G. Grey and raad a first time. The House rose at 11 45 p.m. It. is understood that no decision was come to at the meeting regarding the Representation Bill, but the meeting was m favor of adherelng to the advantage gained.