HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1714, 18 November 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday — November 17.

The House met at 2 30 p m. LOCAL INDUSTRIESMr Moss gave notice to ask whether Governmbnt would, during the recess, appoint a Royal Commission to report on the best means of protecting local industries.

QUESTIONS Keplying to questions, It was stated that (iovernment could not introduce a Public Advances on Land Bill this session ; th»t there was no intention to alter the route of the Main Nonh Trunk Railway, but no further contraots would be let until after the delivery of the Publio Works Statement; that the show of hands at nominations was useless, and a l provision would be ,made, whea dealing with electoral laws, for doing away with it ; that a Bill would be introduced to legalise certain expenditure by municipal bodies where rightly incurred, and to provide against tuture cases ; thnt there was no foundation for the statement attributed to the Bishop of Auckland that Government were prepared to make considerable concessions to fhoae asking^ for a transference of education to religious bodies ; that the Government Life Insurance Department had not refased to make further advances by way of loan on mortgage ; that if necessary further legislation would be introduced to aboliab or modify the landlord's right of distress. THE SPEAKER'S RULIKG

Sir Jutiaa Yogel Bsk d tho Premier what opportunity he wou'd ttfford him to nu^e resolutions with refereuce to the question of the Spe.ker'a ruling, which he had re' erred to last night.

The Premier said ho would be happy to consider thd m&tner, but he was not m a position to reply at present rite Ju'ius Yogel then said he should give notice to move ihe resolutions on going into C mraiuee of Supply, and if any eubapqaent arrangement were made they oould le taken ofi the Order P>per, He then gave notice of the resolutions referring to the Speaker's ruling, which he had eimmeratad pruvionaly. The points were theae: — He would aßk the opinion of the House whether the worda " want of knowledge of the world, of men and manners " were a disorderly expression ; he would blbo ask whether the House concurred m the ruling that the expression '» obvious want of knowledge of the asageß amongst petaonß who have been accuaI tomed to mix: with good eooitty " was disorderly; then he would ask the House !to allow h m to propose a resolution to the effeot that Standing Order 393 should be amended so that the Speaker should not, without the wlah of the Honae exjpreafed by vote without debate, have power to clear the galleries cf strange j 'he would alao ask the House to express an opinion that it ia irregular to allow a i resolution to be pat about wjrda uttered by an honorable member unles* these words are taken down In accordance with the provisions of the Standing Orders ; another point he Bhould raise was this, that the Spaa'-er had exceeded his power m naming him, and he would fnrtber raise the point that the Speaker had exceeded his power m ordering him out of the House.

COMPENSATION. Mr Monk . drew attention to what he considered was a gross scandal, and a reflection on the Dnblio servloe. He referred to the caae of the yonnger Lewis, who was recently a clerk m the Naive Department, bat who hid been recom mended to a warmer climate on account f 111 health. He pointed out that this officer received a retiring allowanoe after it was known be had received a better appointment, and ha thought this was an improper proceeding whioh the House should inquire into. He moved the ad journment of the House. Mr Ballanoe said the simple faota of the case were that Lewis while m the Government employ was taken dangerously ill, and it was represented that there was no ohanoe of his returning to doty. Money compensation Was granted by the AuditorGeneral, and '.here was no knowledge of Lewis having received another appoint* ro en t before he received (he conn enaction. There waa no acandal whatever m the case, aud he challenged the fullest enquiry Into it by the Public Acoounta Committee. Mr Mitoheleon said he had already explained the portion of the whole matter to the House on a previous day. He thought there was nothing at all improper m the payment of £ii made to Lewis as retiring allowanoe. Mr Richardson (Kalapoi) said that, after the explanation of the Native Minister, Mr Monk should offer an apology. Mr Monk was sorry If he had imputed any slur to the officers of the department, but he thought publio money should Dot be used ip t^ls way. There waa a strong belief abroad 'tiiae this money was obiained m an underhand $ay"." If he had done wrong m bringing the matter before the House, he had done it innocently. The matter then dropped. HARBOE BILL. On the motion for the third reading of the Wanganul Harbor Bill, Mr Brace justified the action he took In opposing (he Bill. Dr Newman opposed the third reading of the Bill, and was speaking up to the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed ab 7.30 p.m. DIVORCE EXTENSION AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Samuel moved the second reading of the Divorce Extension Amendment Bill. He spoke strongly m favor of its provisions, which enacted the following grounds for divorce; — Desertion, habitual drunkennef.?, ooupled with neglect or cruelty, conviction of or imprisonment for a crime, violent assault, adultery, and incurable Insanity. He pointed out Jhat m the present state of the law a woman could not get a divorce from her husband on the ground of adultery only, and many hardships were Buffered by persons being coupled for lift) wjth habitual criminals, lunatics, or partners who had deserted [them. Provision was also made to prevent the publication of evidence until judgment wn.a glvun If necessary. Sir Julias Yogel protested against the measure ou the ground that it further aggravate the want of uniformity m the marriage lawfl ol the Empire. Moreover it went m the direction of enabling people who were tired of the marriage tie to dissolve it <rith little trouble. There was 110 protection m it against collusion. He was not altogether disposed to gay that habitual drunkenness on 'the part of the man oaght not to be a good ground for grantteg 8 dlvorpe to the but ho

advanced rufous objeotlooi to other provisions, chit fly adverting to the danger t«3 ivooiety involved m the proposed change! . The proposal to make Insanity a retion fop divorce he characterised ai horrlblt, and offering indaoements to falsely Inoaraerate people Id asylums. He alio objected to the introduction of the prln« oipla of contempt of court into oui legislation, by giving the judges the power to Blop the publication of report! at pleaanre. He moved that it be read that day six months; Dr Newman olaimed the right of the colony to lead the way m measures of reform if English law were behind &• timei. There were many good poloti la the Bill, but he did not think habitual drunkenness should be a good ground for divorce, as it waa impossible to ny that drunkenness was incurable. Mr Taiwhanga, Mr Marohant, and the Oolonlfti Seoretary also spoke. Sir Julias Yogel'a amendment was lost* The motion for the second reading waa carried on a division by 40 to 17. EDUCATIONAL VOTE BILL,' Major Steward moved the second reading of the Educational Vote Bill, which was designed to restrict householder! to one vote for one candidate In eteotieni of sohool commit teeß. He gave instances of the abuse of the cumulative voting system, which had originally been introduced with the Idea of protecting minorities, bat had been found not to accomplish Its objeoci » Dr Fitohett, Mr Fisher, Me Walker, and Mr Smith expressed themselves la favor of the Bill. Mr Marohant opposed the BUI on tht gronnd that the cumulative vote was tot) only safeguard minorities had. The motlsn for the seoond reading wasoarried by 40 to 16. OTAGO CENTRAL BAILWAT. Mr Pyke moved the second reading o! the Otago Central Railway Extension and Construction Bill. This meaaare was similar to one brought forward by him last session, and aimed at the eonttzne* tion of the line from Taierl Lake towards Lakbs Hawea and Wanaka, on the land grant system. He reviewed tke history of the railway, and pleaded that the H^uae would now pass the Bill and enable it to be sent to the Legislative Council at once Mr Mackenzie (Mount Ida) supported] the meaaare. The motion was aggred to on the YolflltV EDUCATIONAL REBERYIB. The Educational Reserves Settlement Bill was considered In Committee. Con* alderable opposition was manifested. Major Steward, In view of the fact that Government proposed to bring m a similar Bill this session, oonsented to report progres3: BUSH FIKIK4 BILL. Mr Marohant moved the second reading of the Bush Firing Bill. He explained that it "via intended to legalise the burn* Ing of felled bush undor proper conditions, and to protect persons no doing from liability from any damage to other property. He introduced it m consequence of a recent decision of the Supreme Ooart which wag based on English law.

Mr Monk said tbnt a more comprehen* b\vb measure was wonted, and advised tha withdrawal of the Bill. Mr McGregor moved the adjournment of the debate. The Jjonwp r nsft at 12.35 » m.