GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 518, 1 July 1881, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The Legislative Council met on Tuesday, 28th ult., at 2.30 p.m. In replying to a question as to whether Government intended to compel all counties to enforce clause 6 of the Dog Act, The Hon F. Whitnker said it opened the large question of tho liability of Government to enforce all Acts, a question which Government were considering, and when they had arrived at a decision he would give a definite reply. The Medical Practitioners Association Bill was referred to a select committee, and on the second reading of the Chinese Immigrants Bill, Dr Pollen and the Hons 11. Scotland and 11. Chamberlin spoke in opposition to the measure, and the Hons Wilson, Waterhouse, Lahmann, Poacock, and Captain Fraser strongly supported it. Dr Menzies then moved the adjournment of the debate and the Council then rose. The House of Representatives met at the same time on Tuesday, when"the following notices were given :— Sir George Grey to introduce a measure to further enable affirmations to be taken in lieu of oaths. I Mr Wright to move for a committee to j enquire into the state of the New Plymouth . Harbor Board and Its relation to the public , creditor. Mr Balance to ask if it was intended to introduce any measure this session for reducing the Dog Tax. Mr Weston, the new member for Grey • Va'ley, took his seat. . I Replying to questions. The Hon J. Hall said that enquiries would be made as to the rebuilding of the Mosgiel Railway Station, so as to make it suitable for the public wants. In replying to another, the Premier stated that the Public Trustee had no funds of the late Thos. Birch (late Mayor of Dunedin) in hand to erect a monument over his grave. ; j Mr Rolleston informed Major Tβ Wheora that four medical men had now been apl pointed to wait on sick Natives in t'.ie • Waikato. He also stated that both InspecI tors Pender and Buckley had been apI pointed prior to Inspector Moore, and . therefore the latter came under the reduc- • tion policy. Mr Tole asked (1) If Government intend this session to make provisions for restoring the capitation allowance to volunteers. (2) If Government would order an encampment annually of all volunteere in each Piovincial district for instruction in combined movement, and devise other means of improving volunteer corps generally. The Hon VV. Rolleston said he understood the questions were tabled more as a suggestion than for any othfr purpose. Government would be prepared to accept them as such in framing their financial proposals. Replying to Mr Fulton, The Hon VV. Rolleston said that the propriety of securing united action amongst the Australian Colonies, in bringing to justice men who .deserted their wives and families, had been fully considered by the Austr lasian Conference, and measures on the subject had been piepared by each of these Colonies. It was found, however, that no Colonial measure could be acted on in New Z -aland ; that was the opinion of tho judges. Under the.-c circiiinstanres, the lmpt-nui Government had ln:eii asked \v p.i.ss a measure conferring the iiecessuiy powers on the Colonies. Tlie Hon Mr Dick said the claims of census enumerators were settled as rapidly as went in. The Hon W. Johnson siid, in answer to a question with reference to the sending of the names of the telegraph operators who struck to the other Australian Colonies, that it was only the names of the ringleaders which were sent, and it was of importance that any Government should be protected from such combinations, ono result of which was to endanger public safety on the rai-ways. The Minister replied to a number of other questions, mostly of local interest, and then moved the second reading of the regulation of Elections Bills, and said its leading points were that it extended the hours of pulling from 6 to 8 p.m., substituted written nominations for the hustings show of hands and provided for the representation of minorities in so far that in districts returning three members no elector could vote for more than two candidates. Dr Wallis criticised the. Bill adversely. Mr Montgomery intimated that he would move as an amendment that no person be : allowed to exercise more than one vote,.at a general election. Plural voting was not a question of the amount of property,' but ; simply an accident arising from the distribution of property throughout different districts, which conferred on any one man two or more votes. , Sir Win. Fox objected to the show of hands as against the principle of the Ballot. The representation of minorities he thought an anomaly ; majorities ought to rule. Mr Stevens was in favor of extending the hours of polling to 8 p.m. Mr Wood criticised the Bill adversely. He objected to the £10 forfeiture if a candidate did not poll a certain number of votes. The proposal to have all the polls on one day he regarded as absurd, and he desired to see a clause inserted in the bill making paid canvassers illegal. ' s ' , On ihe House resuming in the evening, ; The Premier said arrangements had been made for sending down members who i wished to visit the Dunedin Exhibition by the Hinemoa on Thursday. The debate on the second reading of tho Regulation of Elections Bill was resumed by Mr Saunders, who said that by doing away with public nominations they would be doing away with an important factor in the education of the people. When the proper time came he would move that this proposal be rejected. If unsuccessful in that, he would move that the names of proposers and seconders be published as well as the candidates. Mr Bunny spoke in favor of reducing the expense of elections, and in having public houses closed on polling da)'S. Mr Swanson thought the show of hands a fair criterion of public opinion and gave candidates a chance of seeing how thd "land lay." Mr Reeves generally supported the Bill, but objected to t!ie prohibition against canvassing. . The Hon W. Johnston having replied, ; the" motion was put and carried on the:: voices. ! Tho Licensing Bill was further, considered in Committee. . Clauso 13 —The Hon T. Dick proposed that it bo struck out; agreed to Clause 14, 15 and 16 passed.

Clause 17—Mr Dβ Lautour moved nti amendment having for its object the continuing of. existing licenses in Native -districts, and (he prevention of Licensing Comunntres granting , new licenses in these districts. The amendment was lost by 36 to 28. w Clause 19 »vaß passed. Clause 27 was amended in accordance with the previous decisions, family hotels, bottle and billiard licenses being struck out and accommodation hoiuo license inse.ied. Clause 43 passed with verbal amendment!?. Clause 62 was amended bo cs to read, "any five or more adult Natives may object to the granting or lenewal of a license." Clause—72 Packet and wholesale license —was amended so as to lead, ''Packet licenses may be granted at any time uitht out notice by the Chaiiman oi the Licens- • ing Committee; and wholesale licences may be granted at any time subject to the sevpn day's nolice." Clause 93 passed with verbal amendment. Clause 96 was sti uck ouf Mr Pia had a new clause added giving power to Licensing Committees to grant accommodation licenses on the conditions of the licensee kuep'ng in repair roads or bridges in the neighb oi liood ol: their houses and paying £20 per onnum. Mr Barron h-d a clause inceil'i making it penal to t,ell or bave in one's possession any lables for labelling boi.le"! unless the words in pla ; n leiern w..q prinfed " Bottled in New Zea'pnd. ,: T!:e clause even subjects persons bottles without thece magic wo'ds to a penalty of not less flien £20 nor more than £200. The House then adjourned. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, and the Hon F. that the Government would inquie inio the praciicabiliiy of tising the eleci. ic light'on s-eameis r.nd railway i-a'ns. The Hon W. T. iNgataia wu-ceeded in canylng a leso'niiui? io have the of Native members printed in &)no i, and the Hon F. Wli'lake* , said Government would favor the proposal. T;>e Hon Dγ Menzies ie«nmed the debate on the second reading of the Chinese EH. Tba JJi'l wus opposed by the Hon M. Holmes, Colonel B.eit, Hoos J. WJDiamBon and J. Joiirsio.i. The Hun. F. Whi.aker rep'ied. and the second reading wa.s cf.n'ed by 13 voies io 10. llie Hoa.«e of Keo'ceniaiives met-at 2..-J0 p.m. on Wedne. day. Tlie Joint CommiL ccc of bofh Houses rei'O ii(l on the petitions of several Couniy Councils—Akaioa amongst the i-i-st— for endowment* p'ae'iig ibem on the fame fooling that the question was one of public pol'cy, and that they have no report to make tSiereon. In renly io a question, The lion T. . irk snid that in considering the leport of the Tnspecior of P.isons each case would be dealt wiih on i.s own ineiliH, iiiespecave of tie lepoit in question. In pnsrt-e" , to Mr Brtllrice'sqnesi'ons i> " Tnesdi'v, the Hon J. Hall said Go-vt-iiiiiic'it \vpß of »>|>'('i<>n iiiiu cat ,, i Couiny should I c allowed to impose a dog Uix of llOt IpKS ill.1l) J«. The lion T. Dick sfa'ed that ll>e bnsi-let-H of f.fU fi'iig h'slo.lcji] : chool J i.oks Iny wi.h Pomd of Kiiiici'i'on or' inch (list i t. He Jili-o sa?d t'lal Government wee lak'iig steps to P'O\ide facilities for. J'eC vaeti"aiion, and re-vacciniuH)ii ot'.gitiuH !'('honw ; tt"d mi r< ply to D , Wolli- , . sain (hat a comiiimiicu non hnd lieen icceiv'fij fom T'io-i. -juiy. Ancl.'pnd. complain'og flint ow ; rg the influences or' the : Berk of New Z'.iland and i'le Freemasons of Auckland, jnHiice in the Sαjieme Court could not be obtained. Mr I]ui'tlho;iEe moted—'That in the op'iiion of this Horis , tlio :<z divlncis through which Cove;mnetit rai , ways have been consi.ucled, or are heuif> constancies, should bo lated to <pay <!>e d : fl'eience between t'.ie woikifig eiieiiyes. inc'uding interest on cost of con L ul- 'on n"d t!i« receipts from such ia s t\v.-i ; yV He contem'ed li: : swaspa. t of the oii&inn! BC v «eme of 1870. Mr C'orge seconded thft, mo ion. Sir Geo pc C'yy, coiiMU.e'eii the moi'on a most impor.ant one, ji'i'd moved as an amem'meoi thai the q<.'esj<>ii ho aHjnn.iied iini'l nfter .he deliver ing of tlio Treasurer's Statement. Mv Hull did not il-i'ik any .good would • be got by odjoiiinmcnt. He accepted'he mo.'on iiH iijiw Isos.i'e -o i?W Government, and ief,ei;ci that; (l?e psWpie had not , been enfo.cid in tlits ca i'jing out of the Public Woike polity. it was a quesLion siiiioi'tided by giave, if not insuperable difficulties. : ' Mi Seymoi'i , adaiiited the soundness of the principle, but thought it come a gieatdeal 100 tnie. Mr liiibcell coii)d not suppo't ihe motion as it si'ood. , : Dr Wai Us ufgr'd that it wea a fact that . ii)any pa ; s of (lie Colony lino .not only not benefited by the railway polify, b»t had actually been damaged by it' , " He •>vby ilic peo|)le ?n ihe towns should noi.be Doncciiti, Corisjcboich, We"ing.on, Auckland had , - had : the'f p.opeii'ea doubled in value. He would heie r ore oppose it. . Major Hnriia also opposed the mo:'on. Mr Samuiei's said I hat this motion could not be ca-.ied williout iiencb'ng on ihe import.\nt question of local government. He looked upon this as an argument which pointed io tlie ccn.'Uiirion ihat ihey wou'd have to reiu.n to soiiieiliing like vhe old Provincial sysiem. Tiie House divided on the qnes ion of the adjournment:—Ayes. 25 ; noes, uiJ. Mr Shephawl ilien movcii tie previous qucßiion and the Government weie bea-'en by 40 to 25. Toe original mo ion was afterwardß put prid the Government was again by 35 to 31, and the moiion wus declared cai.itd. At the evening s ; i ing, Mr Tole iniroducod the P3coml reading j)f the Surveyors Institute Bill, and explained its provisions. The lion W. Rolleston said that he recognised that a great deal of injustice might be done if this mensuie was p.isserl into law. There wus n great deal of wo k dour; which did not entail niiu'li responsibility, and piiymciit i'or which could not be enforced, as the men doiug ilio work could not join the .'issucifiiion. Tlie P.iil wus not one Unit would iccMnmund Io tlie public general!\. Mr Kelly, lion H. llichanlson ami Colonel Trimble generally opposed the'

Bili. The motion for the second muling was put and cairied. The [Jon c then wont into Committeo on iho Hnrhor Act, Amendment Act. When Mr Allwright carried a new clause, that buildings used na offices for llnrhor Boards, and the land whereon they aro erected may be liable to the local bodies foi rates. Mr Wright also movd a now clause whereby the Lyttelton IJ.-irbor Bonrd will consist of twelve members. Tlie new members are to be elected —one by the ratepayers of Lyttelton, two by the Ashbnrton,two by the Ashley Couniy Councils and one by the ratepayeis of Sydenham. An amendment by Mr Allwiight—(has the Board consist of eleven members wa lost on the voices, and the House then adjourned at 1.25 a.m.