PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 42, 18 August 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

« Legislative Council, (pi'b pbkss association.) Wellington, August 17. The Council met at 2 30. Sir P. Buckley, in moving the second reading of the Junes Act Amendment Bill, explained its object was to enable the judge in criminal cases, when there was no rlinnco of the jury agreeing, to discharge them after being locked up for sir hours. The second reading was agreed to on tho yoices. The second reading of the Electoral Bill was adjourned till to-morrow. Dr Polleu moved the second reading of the Deceased Husband Brothers Marriage Bill, winch had passed through the Lower House. He believed the Bill, if pissed, would afford great relief to many persons. They had the Mosiac Liw for their guidance, for under that dispensation a man was compelled to espouse the widow of his late brother, and provide for ncphew3 and neices under penalties for non- compliance. Sir G. Whit more would go still further and would support a Bill making all marriages of affinity legal. Mr \V. D. Stewart warmly opposed the Bill, as lie viewed with alarm all attempts to alter existing marriage laws. He moved the Bill be read a second time that day six months. The amendment was agreed to by 20 to 18, the Bill being thus thrown out. The Council then adjourned. House of Representatives. The House met at 2.30. The William Robinson Estate Trusts Bill was put through its final stages. Replying to Mr Guinness whether the Government wolud authorise the child* ren educated at private schools to compete for all scholarships which children educated at Stnte schools are entitled to compete for, Mr Reeves said the Government did not intend to bring in any amendment of the Education Act this session in the direction asked for. Mr Guiuness moved the adjournment of the House, and contended that every encouragement should be given to children atteuding private schools He felt sure more would be heard of this matter before next session. Messrs Fish and W. Hutchison took a siinil.ir view. Sir Robert Stout said there was another side of the question. If they were to make scholarships free to all it would confer enormous advantages on the rich man's children to the disadvantage of those of the poor man. Sir John Hall thought it was a great hardship that children attending the Church of England and Roman Catholic schools should be excluded from the scholarships because their parents did not send them to the public schools. After further discussion Mr Reeves thought the blame should not rest upon .Ministers because the administration of the Act was left to Education Boards of the colony. Mr Shera moved the second reading of the Restraint of Monopolies Bill to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies. He said tho Bill contained no new principle, and it had been for many years law in England, and was only repealed during the reigu of tho present Queen. He was bound to say the Bill had been condemned by the press, but although the press was very enlightened it did not understand the nature of the Bill. He quoted several extracts to prove that if the Bill was passed into law it would not interfere with ordinary trade and commerce. Mr Reeves protested against the Bill, and said its effect would be to confine every member of a Trades Union in gaol and render every member of a Prohibitionist Society liable to a fine of £500 or imprisonment for one year. Mr Buckley was strongly opposed to the Bill, and considered it one of a most extraordinary character. Mr Fish condemned the Bill and felt sure Mr Shera had no idea of its effect. Ho spoke at some length in opposition to the Bill and moved that it be read that day six months. Sir Robert Stout protested against the waste of time indulged in by Mr Fish merely because his (Sir Robert Stout's) Bill was down for committal that night. As the Government Bill had been circulated, however, he should not proceed with his Licensing Bill till the Government measure had been considered. Mr McKenzie ridiculed the Bill, and said if it past it would paralyse the trade of the Colony. He could not congratulate the Auckland people on sending to the House a member whose abilities suggested nothing better than a bill of this kind and if the people of Auckland bad any wisdom they would not send Mr Shera back to the House. Mr Fish's amendment was carried by di to 17 and the Bill lost. Captain Russell resumed the debate on the Gum and Gumfields Bill. He strongly opposed the Bill on the ground that it would prevent a man from digging gum till he had been twelve months in the colony and imposed a license fee of one shilling on a British subject and £5 on foreigner*. As the Government may have to bring in a Bill as the outcome of the Gumfield Commission enquiry, the Minister of Labour moved that Mr Jackson-Palmer's Gum and Gumfields Bill be further adjourned for a week. Carried by 41 to 14. The House rose at 10.10 p.m.