PARLIAMENTARY

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 9, 9 July 1892, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

♦ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday July 7, Replying to Mr Joyce, the Minister of Justice said as soon as he got time he would look into several reports he had received from Resident Magistrates on the subject of young children wandering in the streets at night, and he would see if he could suggest any amendments in that direction to the Police Offences Act. The Minister for Public Works resumed the debate on the resolution affirming the desirableness of putting a duty on coal imported into the Colony. Efe mentioned that last year 126,000 tons of coal were imported into New Zealand and if they had wonj|hat quantity in the Colony their collieries would have received £20,000 more than they did. The Hon Mr Rolleston said he would not be a party in any way to a select committee entertaining a question of this magnitude—a question which affected a very great policy, viz., whether the country should be dominated by protection or protective cliques, or whether they should have freetrade. Mr Duthie objected to the House considering the proposal as a retaliatory mea ure, aud remarked that if they prevented ships getting back freight they would be doing themselves very great injury. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. Mr Lawry, in moving the second reading of the Compensation to Licensed Victuallers Bill, said he had wired a copy of the Bill to all the local bodies in his eleStorate, and as he had received no reply from them he considered they were not opposed to it. Mr Meredith opposed the Bill which he considered, he said, inimical to the interest of the country. Mr Fish supported the measure, and said he thought those opposed to it should support it, seeing that it was an inducement to licensing benches to shut up houses which they might not otherwise do without such inducement. No one could deny there were too many licensed houses in the Colony, and he would shut them up without the slightest compunction if this Bill became Taw, The Premier agreed with the principle of compensation, which was admitted in. 1877, and said he did not know that anything had occurred since then to alter people's opinions on the subject. If this sort of property could be taken away with impunity all kinds of property could be confiscated. Mr Duthie said this was a large question, and must not be allowed to remain unsettled. He belonged to no particular section, but lie did say the hotels were lowered in tone, and not sufficiently re» spectacle for persons trarelhug trom one place to another. Mr McLean opposed the measure, saying he objected to the lessees and lessors having to par more than they did at present, and lie did not agree also with tbe local bodies having to pay. " After a lengthy debate, the second reading was lost on the voices. A division was taken on the amendment, when it was lost by 27 to 22. The House rose at 1.30 a.m. Fbiday, July. 8. The House met at 2.30 The Hon. Mr Ballance moved that this House desires.to express its opinion that the proposed introduction of coloured labour iuto Australia, hy the resumption of recruiting among the Islands of the Pari fie, is a rctrogadc step calculated to do a serious injury to the people of Australasia as well as to the coloured races concerned, and this House authorises Sir George Grey to represent this colony in Australia. Captain Russell thought the Housfl was being asked to carry a motion which assures Ulster of their sympathy and assistance. - ' The Minister for Public Works sup ported the motion. Sir John Hall thought they should nol condemn their fellow-colonists, but should affirm the desirability of a conference on the subject. On a division the motion was carried by 34 to 18. The Premier moved the second read* ing of the West Coast Settlements Reserves Bill which was agreed to on the voices, and the measure was referred to a Select Committee. The House adjourned at 1240 a.m.