GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 528, 5 August 1881, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

On Tuesday tho Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m., and immediately went into committee on the Licensing Bill. The Hon F. Wliitaker gave notice to strike out all the clauses concerning clubs and to insert a series of new clauses far more favorable to clubs than those in the Bill as it came from the Lower House. Several minor amendments were made, and there was an animated debate on clause 12. providing for an elective Licensing Eench. The Hon H. Miller moved its rejection, but tho elective principle was carried by 19 to 9.—The following is the division list:—

For tho elective principle—Hons Acland, Brett, P. Buckley, Chamberlain, Dignan, Fnser, Grace, Henderson, Holmes, G. Johnson, Martin, Menzies, Peacock, Pharazyn, Scotland, Waterhouse, Whitaker, Williamson and Wilson. For the nominative system —Hons Hart, Lahmann, Miller, Nurse, Peter, Pollen, Reynolds, Richmond and Wood. The Council sat till 10, when it had reached clause 134 of the Licensing Bill. Numerous unimportant amendments were made, and several clauses postponed. In the House of Representatives, Replying to Mr Swanson, The Hon J. Hall said that Government deemed the law as it existed between landlord and tenant unsatisfactory, and that if time permitted steps would be taken this session to remedy the evil.

The lion J. Hall moved for leave to introduce a Bill to re adjust the representation of the people.

Mr Barron moved, as an addition— " That it be a recommendation to the Government in framing the Bill that the present number of representatives should not be exceeded." He disclaimed all intention of raising any party question, stating that he moved "tho amendment in accordance with a general feeling prevailing throughout the House.

The Hon J. Hall said that the unusual circumstances under which the amendment was proposed, as also it unusual character, compelled him to suggest that it should not be passed. ' It would hardly be doing justice to the amendment itself. It was one requiring debate and consideration, and that could be best given on the second reading of the Bill. Mr Brown spoke in favor of the amendment being , passed. Ho also agreed in the inconvenience of discussing the point at present. He thought that groat injustice would arise from having too few "representatives. Mr Levcfitam concurred in the inexpediency of the question being discussed at present. Mr Macandrew denied that the intention was to influence the Government by a district caucus. He thought this an eligible opportunity for discussing the point, and it need not be a protracted debate. He was in favor of the number of the representatives being reduced. Mr Shephard, without committinghimstlf in any way, denied that an increase in number of representatives would necessarily delay the despatch of business. Mr Moss contended that Iho present was the most opportune time for settling the pom:. It they waited until the Bill had been brought down and the motion for the second reading brought on, a motion of this kind would be accepted as a vote of want of confidence. A position of that kind would be embarrasing to be placed in. Mr Andrew said that thin persistent opposition was a mere subterfuge to prevent the Bill coming forward at all. He would oppose the amendment, so as to get the Bill I'efore them as soon as possible. Sir G. Grey suggested, if the Government would accept it, that the debate should be adjourned. Th« amendment had taken many of them by surprise. He moved a motion to that effect. Ihe Hon. J. Hall opposed the adjournment, reiterating that the present was not the proper time to discuss the point. That had beon shown by the whole tone of the debate. Mr De Lautour did not think that the Government would allow any alteration to bo made if once the Bill was brought down. This was the only opportunity they would have of guiding the Government in framing this Bill. Mr Montgomery was opposed to an increase of the number of members, but he objected to the amendment boing forced at this time. Mr Sheehnn thought that eighty-eight members were sufficient for the work ; still he was not prepared to reduce the number as had been proposed. Government was to blame for this discussion, because they had exhibited a plan of the proposed readjustment of districts to certain members. The motion for adjournment was put and negatived on the voices. Mr Speight thought that if the Government would give an assuranco that they would divest the discussion of all party considerations then they would have no difficulty in making a good workable Bill tlint would pass without much difficulty. He wns afraid that no proposal would be looked upon as satisfactory unless it relegated to the representatives of local bodies the opportunity of having a say in the fixing of electoral boundaries. He also spoke in favour of the proposal for restricting the number propo cd. The question was put that the amendment stand part of the motion. Ayes, 22 ; noes, 40.

The Bill was introduced and read a first time.

The House went into committee to consider the estimates. Class s—Postal and telegraph, £227,G50. The lion W. Johnson said that by the amalgamation 'of these two services they had _ been enabled to dispense with the services of thirty-ono officers, saving in salaries alone £5931, and in other respects tlio savings had been equally great. In all, they had been enabled to bring down a sum this year less by £33,700 compared with those of the previous year. This saving had been effected without the least imparing the efficiency of the service. Mr Sheehan, Mr Turnbull, and Sir G. Grey complained that as the estimates had only beon in the hands of members for a couple of hours, they should not be gone on with until time had been allowed for their perusal. The form of having the whole class as one vote was also objectionable. Mr Mclcan said that no mature consideration was needed for this particular class. Mr liichardson also agreed that no discussion could possibly be provoked osi this In reply to a question put by Mr Montgomery,

The Hon W. Johnson said that the 10 per cent reduction had been practically abandoned, but reductions had been otherwise made in accordance with tho circumstances of each case. The salaries had been fixed at what was fair, and would bo paid as printed, Mr Ballance said that it was not fair to expect them to deal with these salaries in this offhand way. Time ought to be altowed them to consider the point.

Mr Macandrew concurred in that opinion, and suggested that progress be reported. Messrs J. B. Fisher, Reeves, and Stewart supported the postponement.

The Hon J. Hnll said it was a mistake to say that the Government attempted to force on the estimates. He contended that tli3 proper time to have objected was when they moved that the House go in committee of supply. No objection having been made, Government concluded that the committee was ready to go on with the estimates. If desired, Government would not object to the postponement. Mr Sheehan said that if the Government would agree to a sub-division of the various departments of the class co as to enable them to discuss the various items, he could promise them that the Opposition would be prepared to back them up in the reductions they proposed. The question for reporting progress was put and carried. The Gaming and Lotteries Bill was further considered in Committee. Mr J. B. Fisher moved that progress bo reported, giving it as his opinion that tho Bill was not required, that it was not seriously meant to pass it, and that if passed it would be a most unjustifiable interference with private life. The Hon T. Dick stated emphatically thot the Bill was urgently demanded by the country, and that it was seriously meant to be passed. He opposed the motion to report progross. The motion was negatived on the voices. When clause 29 had boen reached, Mr Beeves moved that progress be reported. Mr J. B. Fisher supported the motion, stating that the policy of the Government appeared to be to make every person they possibly could criminals. The Bill was quite unnecessary, and, with the exception of Otago, there was no demond for it. The House divided—Ayes, 10 ; noes, 37. The Hon. T. Dick moved the addition of two new sections, the one prohibiting any one from " using, exhibiting, or keeping any book, etc.," for the purpose of recording a wager, or from soliciting or inviting any person to make a wager; and the other referring to advertisements or other notices as to any matter declared illegal by the Act. Mr McLean objected to these clauses, and remarked that he fully expected the next Bill they would introduce would bo one to compel persons to go to Church and attend Sunday Schools. Mr Moss said that if they insisted upon tliis extreme class of legislation, they would simply bring the whole law on this subject into contempt, and tho last state of the case would be worse than the first. Messrs Sutton, Bonar, Gisborne, and others, declared that, the new clause was going too far. It would make it illegal to bet a pair of gloves or a shilling at whist. It; it passed they would oppose the Bill. The Hon T.-Dick expressed his willingness to withdraw the new clauses. Mr Jones strongly objected to tho withdrawal. The first new clause whs carried by 21 to 14. Tho Hon T. Dick than withdrew the second one. A new clause, that the Bill should come into operation on November Ist, 1881, was carried. Tho Schedule was passed, and the Bill reported as amended. The Ilou-o adjourned at 1 a.m. Tho Council on Wednesday afternoon considered tho refnaining clauses of the Licensing Bill. At 5 p.m. the Bill was finished except the postponed clauses and the new Club clauses, which were postponed till next day, and the Council rose. In the House of Representatives, Sir W. Fox presented a petition against the Law Practitioner's Bill. The Premier gave notice of a motion to ask the House to sit on Monday evenings for the rest of tho session. A number of questions of no general importance were answered by Ministers, and in reply to Sir G. Grey. Tho Hon Major Atkinson said that the 10 per cent reduction was made for July in accordance with a resolution of the House. If the estimates as framed were passed by the House, then that amount would be refunded from the 30th June.

Mr Macandrevv moved for and obtained his Committee for considering the establishing of a direct steam service between New Zealand and the Mother Country.

Dr Wallis moved that the timo had come when members of the Legislative Council should bo elected by the people of the Colony. The motion was supported by Sir Geo. Grey and Colonel Trimble, and opposed by the Premier.

On the Ilo.ise resuming, the Timaru Harbor Endowment Bill was considered in Committee, when an endowment of 50,000 acres was agreed to, and the Bill was reported and ordered to be considered on Wednesday. Mr West on moved the second reading of the Offences against the Persons Act, Amendment Bill, which after a long debate was negatived on a division by 23 to 19. The House rose at 1.25.