PARLIAMENT.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 11, 25 July 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, July 23. The Postmaster-General, replying to Mr Fisher, said it was the intention of the Government to apply for a renewal of the San Francisco mail service for three years. ■ Mr G, Hutchison moved the second reading of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill. The Government had declined, he said, to legislate m this direction, and it was considered on both sides of the House that some amendment of the law- was necessary. Mr Scobie MaoKenzie objected to the Bill as a most objectionable measure. Ou a division the second reading was negatived by 28 to 21. On the motion of the PostmasterGeneral, the debate on the second reading of the Government Railways Act, 1877, Repeal Bill, was adjourned for a fortnight. " Mr W. Hutchison moved the second reading of the Municipal Fire Insurance Bill, the object of which is to -enable boroughs to insure houses and buildings within their boundaries against fire. It „ would, he said, make every man his own insurer, and would produce a co operative system of insurance at once economical and satisfactory. The Postmaster-General said the measure was a dangerous one. . He was sorry he could not support the Bill. Mr Pish thought the Bill the most mischievous that could be devised. Mr Buckland could not, too strongly condemn the Bill, as it, would force in- . surance on everybody, and if a man's rates were not paid he would lose his right to compensation for a lire, which, was a very arbitrary kind of proceeding. The second reading was negatived on a* division by 2$ to 15. Mr Fisher moved the gecond reading of the Book Purchasers' Protection. Bill. So many people, he said,! had been victimised by book canvassers that some remedy was necessary. The Postmaster- General said the BilE - was a yery desirable one> and- he hoped it would be passed by the House, There was exceeding discontent in the Colony as to the way people had been taken in by book-canvassers, and he should give the Bill his support. The second reading was carried on the voices. Fbiday, July 24. The payment of Members Bill was introduced by a message from the Governor, and read a first time. Mr Fisher resumed the debate on the Land Bill. Mr George Hutchison moved, as aa amendment, That the proposal to createa state tenantry by granting leases from the Crown m perpetuity, without the option of purchase, is a change opposed to* the be?t interests of the colony. He said he found himself in a difficult position ia moving this amendment, as ne was on the Government side of the House, whilst he was bringing forward a resolution seriously differing from their land policy. In the interests of his constituents, how* ever, he was bound to say he considered that the land policy a retrogressive one. Sir George &rey said that if the BilL was to be passed this session it must be considerably modified to meet his views. Mr Fish characterised Sir George Grey's speech as one of the most mcon» sistent he had ever heard him make. This Day. Sir John Hall at 12.30 moved the ad- - journment of the debate, which was objected to by * The Premiejr, because, he said, there ' was a mass of important business to be got through. Mr Fish then proposed that strangers be excluded from the precincts .of thebuilding, saying that it was simply a t stonewall that was being carried on. . . A division was taken, when the motion was cai-ried by 38 to 15. After the galleries were cleared the de- '' bate was kept going. Mr Valentiuespoke till 3.45 a.m. Then followed Messrs Buchanan, Shera, Fergus, in the order named. Towards five o'clock Mr Moore moved, the debate be adjourned, which was lost ' by 15 to 28. Mr Fergus moved the adjournment of the House, but this also was negatived. At 5.30 the main question was put and ' the amendment was lost by 29 to 10. Mr Fish next moyed strangers be re-admitted which was carried- by 33 to 8. The Bill was then read a second time and referred to the Waste Land Com- ' mittee. Some discussion ensued on the motion that the House be adjourned, dunngwhich Mr Rolleston remarked it was evident from the tactics of the Govern- * ment they wanted to stifle Opposition. The Government on the other hand^ contended the Opposition were obstruct* ing business. Shortly after a number of members left the chamber and the House was counted out.