HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 81, 2 October 1897, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, Oct 1. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced : — Fisheries Conservations Act Amendment. Divorce, Criminal Code Act Amendment, aud Bequests Limitation. LEAVE OF ABSKNCE. Leave of absence for oue week was granted to Hou. Mr Larnach. THE ADDRESS IN REPLY. The debate on the Addrt-ss iu«Reply was resumed by Mr Morrison, who, re ferring to the accusation that the pro sent Government had passed class legislation, said tbat though a labour member, he did not favor shcli lcgisla tion. As a defence of Ministerial int»r fcrence with electors, he pointed out that Mr Gladstouo, Lord Rosobery, and Mr Chamberlain went constantly about i in tho Old Couutry at election times. The banking legislation bad not befn in the interests of members of the Liberal party, but in that of the Opposition aud their friends. As to Mr Taylor's attack on the police alniiuistration. hv. said someone mn^t have been trading on Mr Taylor's credulity, as some of the charges were ridiculous.

Mr Lewis recognised that the Premier had fittingly represented the colony at the Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Hunter said the Opposition wore perfectly sincere in their congratulations to the Premier respecting his representation of the colony at Home.

The Hon Mr Thompson rose to reply to tho strictures of Mr Taylor ou the police administration, in which he briefly dealt with drunkenness, disorganisation, corruption and immorality of the police force. Mr Thompson pointed out that tbe majority of Mr Taylor's charges were made ou hearsay evidence, aud that home of them dated back to 1888, when he (Thompson) was not in chargo of the Department. Mr Taylor bad allowed his zeal to outrun his discretion, because he considered the police were cot paying mimcicnt attention to the enforcement of the licensing laws of the colony, but the police had other duties to perform than watching hotels.

Mr George Hutchison considered the I'rrmier wns responsible for the maladministration of the Police PciifirliiH-nt. nnd so long as the present Government were in office there would be mulndniinistration. He dealt at some length with the Lease in Perpetuity and the purchase of the Pomahaka Estate.