PARLIAMENTARY.

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 130, 2 June 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

I FEB UNITED PBEBB ASSOCIATIOH. i Wellington, May 31. In the Legislative Council. Mr Olhver gave notice to move next Tuesday, " That in the opinion of this Council, in the present financial state of the colony, it is desirable that to effect economy in the Education Department, and that therefore the school age should be raised to six years ; and that the Education Boar. ■ should be abolished." Mr Hart gave notice to move on the following day, "That, in the present depressed condition of the finances, it is, in the opinion of this Council, advisable, that a tax should be imposed upon all totalisators used on racecourses. In House of Representatives. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :— Mr R. rhbrapson, the Whangarei Volunteer DriUshed Bill; The Premier, a Bill to repeal the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act ; Mr McGregor, the Gorse and Sweetbriar Eradication Bill. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Contagious Diseases Act Repeal Bill. Dr Hodgkinson supported the Bill, and expressed regret at the levity with which the subject was- treated by members, who had laughed while he was speaking. He was, he gar 1 , ashamed to be a member of the House* looking at the way in which such a serious subject was approached. Mr Taylor wished to have the galleries cleared, but could not get a seconder; Mr Levestam opposed the BUI, and combated Dr Hodgkinson's arguments, Mr Pyke opposed the Bill, and pointed out that the. Act had been declared to be a boon to Auckland. The opposition to the Act, he said, was prompted by a number of women who thought they could keep their busbands virtuous if it was repealed. He submitted that if was not the poorer classes who patronised abandoned women. Messrs Fulton, Buxton, Hobbs, and Goldie supported the Bill. Mr Jones and Mr Taylor opposed theßiU.- rr Dr Fitchett, speaking against the BiU, vigorously denounced the sentimentalism which prompted the supporters of the Bill, and suggested that the gentlemen who protested so loudly against the Act, as well as against the totalisator, knew very little of what they talked about. He ridiculed the idea that legislation could not restrict vice without encouraging it. Mr Moss supported the Bill ' After further discussion the motion for second reading was lost, on division by 37 to 20. Mr Scobie Mackenzie explained that he had voted with the ayes because he had paired with Sir Btarry Atkinson,, but had forgotten to leave the Chamber. Mr Barron wished to move that the debate be not reported in Hansard;^ Dr Hodgkinson objecting, notice had to be given of the motion. The House rose at 1.5. a.m. June 1. Mr Ormond gave notice to move, This House is' of opinion (Ist) that the school age be fixed at six years, so that the savings named by the Colonial Treasurer £25,000 may be thereby secured ; (2) that the payment of subsides to local bodies be abandoned, in order that a saving of the duty proposed to be raised on tea may be secured ; (3) that in tne present circumstances of the colony the raising of additional revenue to the extent ,»f £58,000 for two years, by the imposition of a primage duty, is inexpedient and that the deficit for last year should be added to the funded debt. He concluded by asking when it would be convenient for the Premier to take the discussion. Sir Harry Atkinson said that he should be glad, if the House desired it, to take the discussion at 7.30 that night. A lengthy discussion took place. Messrs Seddon, Downie Stewart, and Ballance contended, that the motion of the member for Napier was one of no confidence.