PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2325, 16 September 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, September 15. The Council met at 2.30 p.m., but immediately adjourned on tho motion of the Hon. E. Whitaker till 7.30, as a tribute of respect to the memory of Mr Moorhouso. Mr Whitaker stated that though it was not usual for one chamber to adjourn upon tho death of a member of the other, yet in this case Mr Moorhouso’s character and career justified them in ignoring precedent, and giving a last mark of their esteem of a most eminent public man. [Hear, hear.] EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7 30 p.m. The Okarita Water-race Bill was read a third time. _ The Hon. E. Whitaker moved a resolution (similar to one passed in tho Lower House) with respect to tho division of tho Government insurance profits. The motion, after some discussion, was agreed to. The Native Land Division Bill was read a third time, as was also tho Fencing Bill. The Gold Duties Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Protection of Crops Bill was thrown out by 14 to 8. Amendments made by the Lower House in various Bills wore agreed to. In reply to tho Hon. H. Miller, Tho Hon. P, Whitaker said that he hoped they would bo able to finish the business practically on Saturday. Several Bills were passed through committee, and a number of Orders of the Day postponed. The Council rose at 11 o'clock, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, September 15. EVENING SIITING. The House resumed at 7.30. NOTICE OP MOTION. Sir G. Grey gave notice that he would ask if the Government would return tho amount dodno.ed from Imperial pensions in the name of receipt duties. RAILWAY TARIPF, lu reply to a question, it was stated that the Government had under consideration tho question of what relief can be provided under tho railway tariff to exporters of produce. In the ease of live stock trucks had been provided that would carry double the number of sheep, and in that way a material saving would be secured to the exporters of that deaoription of live stock. SECOND READINGS, On the motion of Mr Hutchison the Gas Consumers Liability Bill was road a second time. DIVORCE AMENDMENT BILL. The Law of Divorce Amendment Bill was considered in Committee. Mr Stewart moved as an addition that desertion for a period of seven years should constitute a ground for divorce. He argued that it was a transcript of the Scotch law, and he had been desired by a large section of tho legal profession to have this clause in- ! sorted. Mr Wakepibld, who was In charge of the Bill, refuse! to receive it. Mr Fulton spoke in favor of the amendment, dwelling at some length on tho hardship of cases that had come under his own notice, where young women immediately after marriage were deserted by their husbands. It was surely a great hardship that these women should still be supposed by law to bo united to the men who had deserted them, and did not contribute a sixpence to their maintenance.

Mr Maoandbbw hoped the amendment would be received. It had worked well in Scotland, and what worked well there would he believed suit the colony very well, Mr Gisbobnb spoke against the amendment. He pointed out that a man might be wrecked and detained on a desolate island for a period of over seven years. On being released he would under an Act of this kind bo liable to find his wife married to some other man. Ho could not agree with the previous speaker as to the applicability of tbo Scotch law to this colony. They all knew that the law of Scotland in relation to matrimony was, in many respects, very lax indeed. Mr Bowen also objected to the amendment, contending that it was a now departure, and, even although it might bo otherwise unobjectionable, the amendment ought to have been before them in time so as to have allowed them to consider the point. Mr Waksfield said he did not object to the amendment on its merits. Indeed, ho had not yet had time to give it consideration. What ho was afraid of was that if this clause were added, the whole measure would be thrown out by the other Chamber. That would be a great pity, as he knew that the Bill as it stood was anxiously looked for. The Hon. J. Ham, hoped that Mr Stewart would not press the amendment. He had not given it that consideration requisite to come to a definite conclusion on the point. It could bo brought forward in some future session, aud if it was as the mover supposed, then there would bo no difficulty in getting it adopted.

The motion for the second reading of the clause was carried on the voices. On the motion that the clause be added to tho Bill, a division took place—Ayes, 32 ; noes, 19— Clause added.

A further motion by Mr Seddon, making three convictions for drunkenness a ground for divorce was negatived on the voices. The Bill was reported with amendments, agreed to, read a third time and passed.

MISCELLANEOUS. The following Bills passed through committee were reported with amendments, read a third lime and pasted—Neglected and Criminal Children Act Amendment, Dentist Act Amendment Bill. The report of the conference on the Licensing Bill was brought up and agreed to. Mr OiIYBB moved the second reading of the Medical Practitioners Society Bill. Mr BowsK moved an amendment that it be read that day six months. The amendment was carried by 30 to 25. Mr Kelly moved that the House go into committee on the Now Plymouth High School Act Amendment Bill. Mr Collins moved as an amendment that it be committed that day six months. Mr Bbycb and Sir W. Fox condemned the Bill an an attempt at robbery of the Wanganui Education district.

Mr Kelly and Colonel Trimble defended tho Bill.

On r> division, the amendment was carried by 35 to 17, and the Bill was thrown out. On the motion of Mr Tamoana, the Maori Committee Empowering Bill was read a second time. He explained that if read ho would be content to iJlow it to stand over till next session.

Tho Native Land Act Amendment Bill was read a ocoond time on tho motion of Mr McDonald.

Mr Sbddon moved the second reading of the Counties Act Amendment Bill.

The Hon. J. Hall objected, and moved the reading that day six months. A lengthened discussion ensued, the question turning on the propriety of the chairmen of County Councils being elected by the ratepayers or remaining as at nresent, elected by the Council.

The motion for the second reading was carried.

The House then went into committee on tho Municipal Corporation Act Amendment Bill, which passed through committee. The Miners’ Fees Reduction Bill was thrown out, a motion that tho chairman leave the chair being carried by 12 to 9. In committee on Mr Gisborne’s long standing motion for an address for a subsidy of £6OOO to public libraries, on attention being called to the fact that there was no quorum present, that fact was reported to the Speaker, and the boll having again failed to bring a quorum, the House was counted out at 3 o’clock