PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4164, 1 July 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

[By Telegbaph.l

Wellington, July 1.

In the Legislative Council yesterday, The second reading of the Friendly Societies Bill was moved by the Hon. Dr Pollen, tvho stated that it was the object of the Government to follow English legislation on the Bubject. He referred to the communicatiops received the Friendly Societies in different parts pf the Colony, particularly Napier, clesignath:.<? the resolution passed at a meeting there as'itfjudicious. On the whole the letters expressed approval of the measure, hut those from Coromandel, and elsewhere suggested a ™lay»

Dr Pollen said, in answer to the Hon. Mr Bichmond, that the recommendations pf the Friendly Societies would receive the fullest consideration in Committee. The Bill was then read a second time and ordered to be committed on Tuesday. The Hon. Mr Wart gave notice he would move—" That on the Building Societies Bill coining on- for it 3 third reading it be re-cbm-mitted for the purpose of considering a clause prohibiting in societies hereafter to be constituted, the practice of disposing of the privilege of realising aharesby competition." The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Swanson asked if the Government intended to m?ke any amendments in the Public Health Act, and if so, when such amendments would be in hands of the members ?

Mr Bowen replied that a Bill was in preparation, but as the machinery required by the amendments depended greatly upon other Bills, he could not state definitely what time, but the matter would be expedited. The Premier intimated that on Tuesday he would, on account of the urgency in connection with the Public Works, ask for an Imprest Supply Bill for half a million. A select committee was appointed to inquire into the allegations contained in the •petition of Henare Potaje complaining of the informal election for the Eastern Maori Electoral District.

The adjourned debate on the alterations recommended in Standing Orders was resumed. A division was called for by Mr Stout on the Order that no new business should be taken after 12.30 at night, and the resolution was carried by 49 t022. A good deal of discussion ensued upon the order with regard to the exclusion of strangers. It was proposed to place the power of excluding .solely in the hands of the Speaker. Ultimately, the order was passed in the following form by 44 to 28 : That strangers may, even during a debate, be ordered to withdraw from the body of the House or galleries, on a motion without notice to that effect being put and carried, and no amendment or debate shall be allowed on the question, and in his own discretion the Speaker may at any time order strangers to withdraw. Among the Bills read for the first time were the following: - The Education Boa*d Bill (Sir J. Vogel), Registration of Electors Act, 1875, Repeal Bill (Sir J. Vogel), Debtors and Creditors Bill (Hon. Mr Bowen), Coroners Bill (Hon. Mr Bowen), Stamp Amendment Bill (Hon. Mr Bowen), Waste Lands Bill (Hon. Mr Atkinson). The Election Petitions Committees have been struck. They are composed as follows : Thames District Chairman, Mr Brandon, Messrs Whitaker, Stout, Johnstone, Curtis, Stevens, and Teschemaker. East Coast District—Chairman, Mr Moorhouse, and Messrs Johnstone, Curtis, Montgomery, and Wood.

On resuming at 7.30 p.m. there was very little business to do. An Imprest Supply Bill for L 500,000 was introduced and read a first time. The second reading was fixed for Tuesday next. The Premier explained that so large an amount being asked for so' soon was on account of the exigencies of the public service, in consequence of the heavy expenditure on public works. A long discussion was raised upon a question relating to railway management in Canterbury, the majority of members from that Province condemning it as very'bad indeed, and stating that the public sustained great loss and inconvenience in consequence. The management of the Otago Railways was spoken of in high terms. Messrs Lusk, Rees, and M'Farlane took the opportunity of telling the House that the railway management ,in Auckland was as bad as could be, and that the people would not patronise the railways. They attributed the blame more to the regulations than to the inefficiency of the railway officers. Mr Reynolds declining to sit on the Public Accounts Committee, Mr J. S. M'Farlane was put on instead. The House roee at 9.12 p.m.

ABOUT THE LOBBIED

(From our Special Correspondent.)

Wellington, June 30. Mr Stout intends to ask the Government ■what steps they purpose to take towards the erection of a Supreme*. Courthouse at Dimedin.

Among the Bills to be brought down by the Government next week is one making the Government liable for injuries sustained by persons travelling on the State railways. Mr Wason has asked for a Select Committee to inquire into the expediency of utilising brown and other .Native coal as fuel for steam purposes on the Colonial lines of railway. The Hon. Mr Scotland has written to the Government apologising for his letter to J. C. S. Grant.