PARLIAMENT.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 20, 15 August 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Fbh>!y, August 14. The Libel Bill was read a third time and passed. :• Tb.9 Imprest )Supply Bill for J6250,000 passed through f all its stages. The Factory Bill was read for the first time. I HOUSE OF Thubsday, August 13. An Imprest Supply Bill for £250,000- ' , was passed through all its stages. The Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers' Band Claims Committeepresented their reports, recommending • inter alia:— l.) That a Boyal Commission be set up 'to report upon all claims, which, so far^ have' been- rejected, and which may yet be sent in. 2. That mem- ' bers of the oldJWellington Defence Force should be honorably and equitably, dealt £ with. 3. That the, widows and children - ' of old soldiersf whether in the Imperial or Colonial Forces, should be entitled to claim. | The Marriage Act Amendment Bill, to allow afficers'of the. Salvation Army and ministers of minor denominations to perform the marriage ceremony,. was read a second time. £ . '- " The seconds reading of the Customs Excise Duties Bill was moved by the Hon Mr Ballance, who explained that the duty on tobacco was to be reduced to Is 6d per pound on the Ist January next. This was to continue for two years, after which the duty would be 2s on the pound — Agreed to. ? . l : " The House went into Committee on the Factonesjßill. _*"" "" * Clause 2 was amended to provide that the Act shallfcome into operation on the - lstJanuary,|lß92. The Bill was reported as amended, read a" third I time and passed, and the House rose at 1.35. Friday, August 14. Replying to Sir G. Grey, the Hon Mr Ballance said that the Goyernment intended to proceed with the Payment of Members Bill next week. *> Sir John Hall presented a petitiqn in fayour of the franchise being extended to- . women.- The petition, which was seventy yards long; [contained the signatures of 9685 persons.