PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 3270, 13 August 1873, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[BY OU.ll SPECIAL KKPORTKR.)

Wellington, August 6

There is going to he po dearth of legislation this session, I have not all the Bills yet circulated, but I have a small pile of fifty now before me that have either been, or will have to be dealt with. The ‘>ew Zealand Statute Book will, at no remote period, require a considerable amount of study and consideration. I suppose it is the inevitable result of crude and hasty law-making.

In the evening sitting, the hon. the member for Eangitikei brought forward the Permissive Bill, under the title of the “ Licensed Act Amendment Bill ” for a second reading. After presenting several petitions on the subject, he remarked that last year 17,000 people—four times a greater number than ever petitioned the House on any subject before. Placing the subject in a statistical point of view, he Remarked that spo people die every year in New Zealand from the abuse of alcoholic liquors : that the cost of the annqal jmportatiau to supply this wastp of life-as they had to be replaced—cost the country LIO.QOO per annum for passagermoney, and at the rate men were estir mated at in the British army—at LIQO per head—the annual loss to the country amounted to L 50.000. The hon, member spoke for nearly an hour and a-half to a thin but attentive House—quoted authorities in support of the position he sought to established—appealed to expediency, rectitude, the good feeling of the members, manifesting a thorough belief in the efficiency of the mode in which he sought to grapple with the crime of intemperance. The country well kuows the honorable gentleman is thoroughly in earnest on the subject, his speech betokening his enthusiasm; and he was warmly greeted on resuming his seat. The debate was continued for some time, until half-past ten, when, after the Premier had stated his intention of supporting the Hill, it was read a second time. There are three items connected with the debate that may interest Otago readers. The member for the Glasha, \yho has a hankering after “ victualling,” and considered on another occasion a publican’s a highly respectable avocation, approved the Bill. Mr Cuthbortson, from Invercargill, who speaks clearly and well, having a knowledge of thp wretched South land hotel accommodation in up-coun-try ilistripts, gave it his support, on the clianco of its modification in Committee, and two Maori members also determined on giving the BjU their warm advocacy,

The Maori people speak at a disadvantage. They utter a few sentences, and then (he Native interpreter translates what they say; thus there can be no excitement, effect, or continuity in their speaking. The member for Waitaki divided the House on the second reading of the Deceased Wife’s Sister’s Bill, at eleven o’clock, obtaining a majority of 10 in a House of 40 inr mber.-i, A ugust 7. When the ,Justices of the Peace Disqualification Bill came forward for committal this evening, the member for Port Chalmers obtained the reading of the petition from the licensed lictuallers of Otago, which he had presented to the House in the morning. The member for the Avon said, when he had heard in that House, that “the business of a publican was to defraud, delude, and hoodwink the police,” that he felt a slur was cast on a body of men that pursued a difficult calling generally in a praiseworthy maimer, and he would move the Bill be read that day six months. It met that fate. The House has buried two of the three Bills the member far Waitaki has brought in ; and when the Dead Woman’s Sister Successor’s Bill was in danger of non-committal —as the Premier proposed that a clause should be inserted to the effect that it should only become law in New Zealand when it became in force in Great Britain—its committal was postponed for a week. When a Bill to enable quack lawyers to practiseintbe Colony, dignified by the name of the l:aw Practitioners Act Amendment Act, came on for second reading, Mr Vogel said he believed every man in the country bad a Bill to bring into suit his own particular case or purposes, and would therefore propose it be read that day six months. This bringing in of Bills by every man who happens to have a seat in the House seems intolerable ; we shall have Bills brought in, if this practice continues, by the man who believes in cheap drinks, to enforce all publicans, supplying him with free liquor ; those who have illusive views of their own importance, would have a Bill brought in to enforce homage from their superiors ; lawyers would bring in a Bill to enable them to make their own charges at the* present and ensure their all becoming judges in the future ; the merchant would bring in a Bill to ensure his becoming a Mayor in his native town and be recommended for a title to her Majesty ; the Minister for Justice would bring in a Bill to cause him to be considered the only legal reformer in the Colony ; while the Speaker would bring in a Hill to ensure his retaining Ids Speakership for his lifetime. It was put off for six months. The sooner the Ministry set up their backs strongly against tins empirical legislation the better. Connected witTh t-bis anVrJect may also loe considered the motion of the member for the Buffer this day discussed :—“ That, to secure an effectual representation of the people, alterations should be made in the distribution of the representatives in this House to constituencies, previous to the next general election.” This opening-up of such a broad subject every other year is vexatious and absurd. It is only three years since the electoral boundaries were duly defined, and now they are sought to be again altered. His motion was defeated by 46 to 13. He told the House a dissolution was imminent. The Premier wanted to know how ii<? had arrived at this knowledge, and that he would perhaps inform the House when it would take place. Then Mr Mervyn brought in his little Bill to alter “the boundaries of the Dustan electoral district alleging for such- introduction of his grievance that when he contested the Dunstan district last general election, i he electors on one side of the river voted on Lheir property qualification, and on the other on their miners’ rights. He was not particular about the matter at all, would put it off for another session if necessary, acd would let inquiries be made about the matter if any doubt existed. Mr M ‘Glashan told hon, members that no grievance existed in the district, or it would have been brought before the Provincial Council of Otago. The member for the Dunstan said it was very kind for Mount Ida to take such an interest in his district; but he considered it a piece >f impertinence on the part of Mount Ida to interfere. So Mr Mervyn got on his legs again, and told the House that the member for Dunstan had never shewn his face in the district since his election; and further, that lie expected from the bland and smiling face of the member for the Dunstan that he never expected to fill or again contest a seat in the Colony. So the Biff was put to the House, and cast out like an unclean thing. Those Otago free fights are eminently refreshing and agreeable —they enliven the hard work and the business of the country. If all our Otago men were like some of our goldfield members, we certainly should want additional representation, and we had better have it, as the “ Buffer Lion ” wishes, on a numerical basis.

A ugust 7.