PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2260, 30 June 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[FEG3T THE OWJT COBBBaPOKDBST OP TEB “ PBBSB. ”j WELLINGTON, June 29. Notice has been given by Mr George that in committee on the Regulation of Election* Bill, he will move the following amendment— To strike out clause 15, which provides for proceedings hi case of the candidate’s death while the election is pending, and in the 58th clause to substitute the following words in place of those which begin the clause, “If any person being chosen a member of the House of Representatives shall accept of any office of profit from the Crown during such time as he shall continues member, bis election shall be and is hereby declared to bo void, and a new writ shall issue for a now election, as if such person so accepting was naturally dead, provided nevertheless that such person shall be capable of being again elected, as if his place had not become void as aforesaid'. Mr Barron iu committee on the same Bill will move the addition of the following new clause —“ The returning officer shall' os soon as practicable after the day of polling at any election issue to each person residing within three miles of a polling booth, and whose name is on the roll, hut who is not shown by the certified copies of the roll to have claimed a voting paper, a summons under the Justices of the Peace Act, 1866, calling upon such person to show cause why his name should' not bo struck off the roll, and the Court shall upon the heaving of the summons make such order as to costs, and as to striking such name off the electoral roll as it may seem fit; also in clause 1)6 to substitute “eight” in place of “sir” o’clock in the afternoon as the hour at which the poll shall close. Lastly, Mr Montgomery is to move the following amendments in clause 28 ; to add the following question to those which the Returning Officer is to put to voters ; “ (D) Have you already voted in any other district this day,” and to amend the wording of the clause as rendered necessary by this proposed alteration. The following is a summary of the chief provisions of the Gaming and Lotteries-Bill. It will be seen that its enactments against all kinds of gambling are of an exceedingly stringent nature. It is intituled “ A Bill for the Suppression of Gaming and Betting Houses, and for the more effectual Abolition of Lotteries.” It is introduced into the Legislative Council by the Hon. the Attorney General, and follows much the same course as the BUI of last year. The new clauses provide that the owner or keeper of a gaming table shall be liable to a fine of £IOO or six months* imprisonment; that he shall forfeit all the money found in the establishment, and that every person found in a gaming house without lawful excuse shall be liable to a £5 penalty. Gaming with coins, cards, or instruments is declared unlawful. The use of the totalisator is only to bo permitted when that instrument is sanctioned by the Colonial Secretary on the recommendation of a recognised Racing Club. Betting-houses are prohibited underpenalties ranging up to £SO, or three months’ imprisonment. The sale or disposal of goods by lottery under any guise is forbidden under a penalty of £2OO fine, or six months’ imprisonment. Persons who, when, apprehended in gaming houses, give false names or addresses, are to bo fined £SO, or imprisoned for a month. There is a second clause imposing penalties on persons keeping gaming houses, the penalty in this case being £SOO, or twelve months’ imprisonment. Obstructing a constable is punishable with £IOO fine, or six months’ imprisonment. The provisions of the Bill do not apply to genuine art unions, but sweepstakes under whatever name are declared illegal lotteries, subjecting their holders to the severe penalties above specified. Dr. Wallis is to move on Thursday that no Licensing Bill which gives the control of the liquor trade to the ratepayers will be satisfactory to this House unless provision is made in it for granting compensation to those whose licenses are causelessly refused to be renewed. Stagnation still continues in political matters, and hardly even any gossip is stirring to relievo the dull monotony. The papers laid on the table are few in number, and almost wholly devoid of interest. Only sixty-five papers, returns, <te, have yet been presented, or at the rate of but four for each silting day, while the large majority are utterly uninteresting. Native petitions of various classes still pour in, 102 having already been presented this session, but hardly any are of general interest. The result of the two divisions on Mr Hursthouso’* motion respecting rating localities to make up the deficiency in railway receipts created a good deal of surprise, it being a complete novelty for Minister* to bo defeated on a matter which they pressed to a division, on a motion moved by their own whip. It is probably the first occasion on record when a Government whip carried adverse resolutions against his Ministry. This tends further to show the utter disorganisation of parties. Still, I am convinced that were the Government in any real danger on a vital question, they could instantly whip up a largo majority. It is reported that an extraordinary scone occurred to day between Sir G. Grey and Sic G. M. O'Rorke, originating in the latter having convened, in the Speaker’s room, a meeting of Auckland members on local subjects. Sir G. Grey warmly protcs'od against dir G. M. O'Rorke's notion, and vehemently condemned his taking any part in a matter of controversy. Sir G. M. O’Rorke, I hear, retorted with equal warmth, declining to bo dictated to by Sir Q. Grey, and a violent altercation ensued, which rumor says ended in Sir G. Grey being firmly and by main force, but not roughly, turned out of Sir G. M. O’Rorke’s room, ondfgoing away in. a rage. The affair has created a good deal, of talk to-night. Of course I can only giro thoalleged facts on hearsay as related to me on apparently good authority. There will probably be no report from Sir W, Fox as to the result of his labors as West Coast Commissioner. He tells me that ho has made excellent progress with the work. Beginning almost midway on the block, and working southwards, in this way he has practically settled all the most troublesome and difficult cases of old disputed title, and the Natives not only appear satisfied with hie decision, but manifest increasing readiness to submit their claims to his arbitration. Much unfavorable comment has been excited to-day by the rude interference of the constables on duty at the House with the press representatives, who were forcibly prevented from going about the lobbies and into the Bill room us usual, the constables pleading that they were acting under orders, which at length were traced to Major Campbell, clerk of Parliament. A prompt representation was made, however, to the chairmen of both House committees, Messrs Bunny and Baillie, who instantly disclaimed all responsibility for the offensive interference, and directed its immediate and total discontinuance. The officious clerk was very severely snubbed.