PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2286, 30 July 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

fPBBSB ASSOCIATION TBLBGRAM.J LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Ebidat, July 29. The Council mot at 2 30 p.m. In reply to the Hon. Captain Fraser, The Hon. F. Whitakbb. said that Government would appoint medical superintendents for Dunedin and SeacliS Asylums as soon as suitable arrangements can be made. The Medical Practitioners Society Bill (Dr. Grace) was read a first time. The Inspection of Machinery Bill was read a third time, and the Fort Chalmers Cemetery Bill a second time. The other business was postponed, and the Council rose at 3 40 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Fbidat, Jtrir 29. The House met at 2 30 p.m. BBPOBT. The goldfields committee brought up their report on the petition of W. J. Flynn and fifty-nine others, praying for the removal of Mr Warden Robinson from Mount Ida. The report states that the petition itself does not allege any failure of justice under the administration of Mr Warden Robinson. The action of the warden in the case of Woodward and Rathie's application being supported by Mr Haggitt, the law adviser to the Land Board, it is evidence also that when tho grant to these minors was finally made the objection previously raised had been withdrawn ; that its charges are rather of personal bias in favor of classes than persons, which is said to. exist owing to the warden's long residence in the district and his personal investment; that ouch charges are not supported by evidence of any kind. Your committee recognise that much may be said in favor of a periodical removal of wardens, but aro not aware that any arrangements exist in goldfields at the present time to enable this to be done. No general desire seems prevalent at the present time for the removal of Mr Robinson, and the committee hove had before it petitions to the Minister of Justice, expressing confidence in that officer's administration, and signed by over 600 miners and others. Your oommittee take this opportunity of adding to their report the following suggestions in regard to petiti ins addressed to the Houses of Assembly against judicial officers : that no petition alleging charges of maladministration against Magistrates should be received by the House for consideration, unless such charges have first been represented to the Minister of Justice, and been refused consideration, or have been dealt with by him unsatisfactorily; and that all petitions to be in order should distinctly allege that the reports they contain have been so referred to the Minister, and refused consideration, or unsatisfactorily dealt with. Your committee add this recommendation, believing that members of the House are made uae of in many cases by dissatisfied practitioners and disappointed suitors to cast undeserved aspersions under cover of petitions presented to the House, upon judicial officers.

Mr De Lautour said the petition on which, the report proceeded had been forwarded to him, and he had felt bound to present it to the House. Although he believed its assertions were incorrect, and he had no sympathy with it, still the petitioners had a perfect right to approach the House and have their grievances ventilated. It was in pursuance of that feeling that he felt called on to present it, with the view of having the report acted on. He moved—" That it be remitted for consideration to the Standing Orders Oommittee."

Sir W. Fox said that the right to petition the Grown was undoubted, but the right to petition Parliament had grown ont of a praotioe to which mention might very fairly be directed. In fact he doubted whether there existed suoh a right. The Hon. W. RoiiBSTON said that the constitutional point could not be considered at present. He agreed in the motion for remitting the report to the Standing Orders Committee. That course would serve the purpose in view, and have the effect of discouraging frivolous complaints against judicial officers. He believed that 'no more efficient officer than Mr Robinson was in the public service.

Mr Speight agreed in the opinion that the light to petition Parliament had been greatly abused. He knew of a case in whioh a disappointed auitor had exhibited a petition outaide the door of the court to have the magistrate removed, and had got the signatures of all disappointed litigants. He hoped the House would proteot officers from gratuitous insults of this kind. The motion for remitting the report to the Standing Orders Committee was then put and carried. QUESTIONS. Beplying to Mr Andrews, The Hon. W. Bollebton said that he was in accord with the hon. member as to the desirability of the Press being communicated with, so that its reporters might hare an _ opportunity of being present at the inquiries into the death of patients in lunatic asylums, and steps would be taken accordingly. Replying to Mr Bain, The Hon. J. Haii said that the money fines imposed on employes in the locomotive department of the Middle Island railways, was credited to the Railway Servants Benefit Fund account. Beplying to Mr Seddon, The Hon. J. Hall said the amendment of the divorce laws promised last session was before the Judicature Commission, _ with a view of providing the necessary machinery for giving effect to such amendment. Replying to Mr Stevens, The Hon. T. DiOK said that restrictions in the use of firearms were enacted by the Publio Works Act, and when the Consolidation Bill was under consideration facilities would be given for the hon. member introducing a olause prohibiting the indiscriminate use of such arms by boys. Beplying to Mr Andrews, The Hon. W. Bolleston said that provisions existed in the Public Domain Board Act for an annual audit being made of such Board's funds. That of Christohuroh was established under a special Act, and _ that very neoesaary provision had been omitted. Steps would, however, be taken for supplying the omission in the general measure now under consideration. Beplying to Mr Finn, The Hon. J. Hall said that if thought necessary, when the Counties scheme was under consideration provision oould be made to oompel Councils and Boad Boards to comply with section 13 of the Publio Works Act, a I provision which at present was being neglected.

Replying to Mr Seddon, The Hon. W. Rollbston said that Governmont had under consideration a recommendation to cause a trustworthy Chinese interpreter to be appointed for Waimea and Stafford Courts.

Replying to Mr Turnbull, The Hon. T. Diok said that he had received the information sought for in the case of Hobbs and Batohelor, the Magistrate pointing out in that information that if defendants considered themselves aggrieved, th6y had power to appeal, but they did not ohoose to avail themselves of that power. Replying to Mr Barron, The Hon. J. Hall said that the Redistribution of Seats Bill was ready, and would be introduced without del_»y. When before the House ample opportunity would be given for its consideration, until which time Government did not consider it requisite to afford opportunity to enable the House to indicate its opinions as to whether it was desirable to increase the present number of representatives. Replying to Mr Taiaroa, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that the Hon. Captain Buillie was in receipt of £IOO per annum forage allowance. Replying to Mr Andrews, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that Government did not intend to bring down a Bill this session to amend the Domains Act, to make Domain Boards elective. MISCELLANEOUS. The following Bills were read a second time :—Crown Suitß, Diseased Cattle, Publio Reserves, Employment of Females, and others. The Banks and Bankers Act, 1880, Amendment, and the Borough of Hamilton Boundaries Bill, were passed through oommittee. The Gaming and Lotteries Bill was partly considered in committee. The House adjourned at 5 30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7-30. NEW BILL. The Hororata Water Rt.ce Bill, reported from the Private Bills committee, waß introduced by Mr Wbiqht and read a first time.

GAMING AND LOTTBBIBS BILE. The Gaming and Lotteries Bill was further considered in committee Clause 8. The uso of the totalisator. Mr Shbphabd objected to this instrument being legalised, and moved that the proviso in the olause, " except the same be used in conformity," &e., bo struck out. On the question that the clause stand as printed the Houoe divided—Ayes, 30; Noes, 27. The clause was passed as printed. Clause 9. Chinese fan tan. Mr Geobgb invited the Hon. T. Dick, who was in chargo of the Bill, to explain what fan tan was. Mr Bowbn thought that this should certainly be done. Ho questioned whether fan tan was much more than a game at 100. Mr Spbioht hoped that the Hon. T. Dick would not oorrupt their morals by doing anything of the kind. Mr Bbvcb suggested that fan tan was Chinese for chess. Mr Reeves thought it might be as innocent as kisß in the ring. He suggested that if the Hon. T. Dick did not know what it was he should postpone the clause till ho learned the game. The Hon. T. Dick admitted he knew nothing about tho nature of the game. They must have seen that Chinese had been brought up in various parts of the colony charged with playing this gome, and it had been declared illegal by the Bench. The Bill had come down from the Council, and no doubt the members of that body knew all about it. Dr. Walus said that fan tan wsb a game where a lot of Chinese stood round a table on which a lot of counters were thrown down. Then one Chinaman swept all the oounters up except one, and it depended on which oorner of the table that the counter was nearest who won. Mr Bowbh said that this was an attempt to pursue the Chinese further thai the European. The latter was only prohibited from gaming in public places, while the former oould, under the Act, be pursued into bis own house. He considered that unfair. Mr Shbbhan said that while they were legislating in this direction he might tell them that something like thirty new hats changed hands amongst members of that House over the late division. He thought that they might do worse than direct a little legislation in tho direction of that class of gambling. Mr Beeves moved that the clause be struck out. Mr Hibst hoped that it would not be struck out, stating that in the district he came from a Chinese gaming house had become a perfect nuisance, besides demoralising the rising generation. Mr Lbtestam said it might be a highly intellectual game for all they knew, and he thought until they had more i' formation it woßld, be unfair to oome to any adverse conclusion on the subject. Mr Babbon ooncurred in the opinion that gambling was corrupting a great many Europeans. After further discussion, Mr Macandbbw suggested that the matter should be left to the local government bodies. Mr Babbon moved that the words "stcheok pool " be inserted. Agreed to on the voices. On tho question that the clause as amended be passed, the House divided—Ayes, 39 ; noes, 14. Olause 12—Penalty Mr Babbon proposed that the penalty of £IOO bo struck out, 60 as to leave the justices no option but to commit offenders to gaol. The question was put that the words £IOO stand part of the question, The House divided—Ayes, 28 5 noes, 24. Clause 13 Mr Andbews proposed that the penalty be imprisonment without the option of a fine. The House divided on the question that the clause remain bb printed. Ayes, 30; noes, 13. Clause 15—Exhibiting placards or advertising betting houses. Mr Stevens argued that it would not be fair to expose the proprietor or publisher of a newspaper to the penalties of this clause, simply because he might through inadvertence publish an advertisement of the prohibited class. Mv Da L&TTTor/B thought that it was the person who caused the advertisement to be inserted, and not the nerspaper proprietor, who was aimed at, and he suggested an alteration bearing out that impression. The Hon. T. Dice said that the penalty even in its application to the newspapers was nothing uncommon. They were liable for advertisements of a libellous character. Still he would not oppose the amendment. The clause was passed. Clause 18 Penalty for establishing a lottery. Mr Jones moved that " works o£ art or literature" be added—Carried. Mr Beeves moved the addition of the words "or minerals, specimens " —Carried. Mr Sbdbon moved the addition of the words "mechanical models " —Carried.

The House divided on the question that the clause as amended be passed—Ayes, 26; noes, 10. Clauses 19 to 23 were passed as printed, and the House rote at 1 a.m.