PARLIAMENTARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3121, 29 June 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 NEW MEMBER. Mr Weston, the newly elected member for Grey Talley, was introduced by Messrs Keid and Reeves, and took his seat. PETITION. Mr Dick presented a petition from Mr Robert Stout and other members of the Dunedin Free Thought Association, praying the House to maintain the great principle of religious equality as embodied in the present Education Act. NOTICES OF 3IOTIOH". Mr Wright gave notice to move for the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the financial position of the Now Plymouth Harbor Board and its relation to the public creditor. Mr Ballance gave notice that he would ask the Government if they intended to introduce a measure to amend the Dog Registration Act in the direction of reducing the tax. Mr Reid gave notice to ask if the Q-o----vernment intend to carry out the recommendation of Captain Hume 'to appoint only retired military and naval officers as governors of gaols. QUESTION'S. Replying to questions, it was stated that the Government had no funds in hand belonging to the deceased Thomas Birch, and could not undertake to erect a monument over his grave unless there was a surplus after paying his creditors in full; Inspectors Pender and Buckley had been appointed prior to Inspector Moore, and consequently the latter fell to be reduced in rank "first under the retrenchment policy; the Government would, in framing their financial proposals, take into consideration the suggestion of restoring the capitation allowance to Volunteers and arranging for the annual encampments of Volunteers in each provincial district; the Imperial authorities had been appealed to with the view of getting provision made for united action on the part of the Australian colonies in bringing to justice men who deserted their wives and families; the names of the telegraphic operators who struck work in New Zealand had been sent to the Australian colonies with the sanction of the Minister of the day— they were only the ringleaders in the strike, and their conduct had been calculated to endanger the safety as well as to inconvenience business, inasmuch as the safety of the railway system depended upon the efficient working of the Telegraph Department; steps were being taken to rescind the proclamation of 1878 reserving land in Canterbury, so as to throw it open for settlement; the Government had not considered the propriety of establishing a school of mines at the Thames —a school of that kind had been established at Dunedin and it had not proved a success; the Government had not come to any final decision respecting the amendment of the law dealing with juvenile offenders; no correspondence had taken place with the Home authorities regarding the parcel post system—the Railway Department had the question of parcels delivery under consideration, but they had arrived at no decision on the point. REGHJLATION OF ELECTIONS BILL. Mr Johnston moved the second reading of the Regulation of Elections Bill. He said it was similar to the bills already twice before the House, and embodied amendments made by the House in those measures. Its leading principles were the extension of the hours of polling to eight p.m. ; the substitution of written Eor personal nominations; and providing for the representation of minorities, so that where three members were to be elected no elector could vote for more than two. Considerable debate ensued, but it was interrupted by the dinner adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. DUNEDIN EXHIBITION. The Premier stated that as twenty-four members had intimated a wish to visit the Dunedin Exhibition the Hinemoa would leave on Thursday. EEGULATION 01? ELECTIONS BILL. The debate was continued on the Regulation of Elections Bill, Mr Saunders objecting to the abolition of open nominations. Mr Bunny thought its abolition would decrease the cost of elections. He was in favor of a single vote. Mi* Levistem thought open nomination should be retained, even if the show of hands was abolished. He objected to the clause requiring a £10 deposit from candidates. If the principle was once admitted the amount might be raised so as to exclude all poor men. Mr Swanson supported open nominations and the show of hands. He thought a man should have a vote wherever lie had property. He believed Hare's system of representation would be a good one. Mr Reeves gave the bill a general support, and so did Mr Barron. The bill was read a second time. LICENSING- BILL. The Licensing Bill was further considered on the postponed clauses. Clause 13 was struck out, and clauses 14, 15, and 16 were passed. A very long discussion ensued on clause 17, for licenses in native districts. Mr De Lautour moved an amendment to render it penal to supply natives with liquor in native districts, but it was negatived on a division of 36 to 28. Clauses 18 to 22 were passed with T_nimportant amendments. Clause 27 was amended in accordance with previous decisions by striking out family hotel, bottle and billiard table licenses, and inserting accommodation house licenses. Clause 43 was passed. In clause 62 the word five was substituted for ten. Clause 72 was amended so that the chairman could grant a packet license at any time, or wholesale licenses after seven days notice. Clause 93 was verbally amended. Clause 96 was struck out, and Mr Pitt's accommodation house definition clause adopted. Also a new clause by Mr Barron imposing a penalty for the use of false labels by bottlers in the colony. Progress was here reported, and the House rose at 1.10.