Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 14 July 1894, Page 2

Parliament.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Wednesday, July 11. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m.

A little discussion re the Waitemata election arose and resulted in the Ministry being surprised at being suspected of any improper tactics. Nothing more.

The Native Land Court Bill was introduced a first time.

Sir Robert Stout moved for a committee to enquire how section 21 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, 1893, was made retroactive bub the " inevitable " majority 39 to 17 voted against the motion.

The second reading of the Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill, to enable a jury in a criminal case to return a verdict of *' not proven " in cases where it Was thought desirable was agreed to.

Dr Newman moved the second reading oi a Bill to allow women fr^p" become members of the General Assembly.

Many members spoke and on the motion being put, the division resulted in a tie, 28 members voting on either side. The announcement was received with Oheerar; s&& laughter. " - -

.'he Speaker said the women of New Z .aland had behaved so well in the exercise of the privilege conferred on them by the last Parliamen in returning that House, that he should feel it his duty, as far as his casting vote could do it, to confer upon them the higher power of taking seats in the House. He thereforegave his casting 'voterfor the second reading of the Bill." ; ~

The following is the division list : —

Ayes, 28.— Carncross, Caimell, Collins, Duncan, Fiat man, HallJones, Heke, G. Hutohiaon^ily W. Kelly, W. Kelly, Lang, McGuire, McNab, Millar, Newman, Parata^ Pere^ Pirani, : 'Rcieyes» Gk W. Russell, Seddon, E. M. Siuith, G. J. Smith, Stout, Tantier,v To Ao, Willis. ' ::■:'"-

Noes, 28. — Allen, Buohanan, Buddo, Oadman, Fraaer, Graham, Green, Guinness, Harris, Hogg, Houston, W. Hutchison, . -KHklackenzie, Maslih, Massey-, .McGowan, J. McKenzie, R. McKenzie, Mills, Mitchelson, Montgomery, O'Regan, Pinker ton, Captain Russell^, launders, Stevens, Steward, Thompson. Paibs— Ayes : Joyce, Morrison. Noes : Duthie, Hall.

The second reading of the Pharmacy Bill, which provides that no one but a properly qualified man may act as a chemist was agreed to. Mr McGuire's little Bill for prohibiting the importation of liquors was summarily disposed of. ' :- : The Standing Orders were further considered. The House rose at 1_}.20. a.m.

Thursday, July 12. The Speaker took the chair at 2.80 p.m.

Mr G. J. Smith presented a petition, asking for enquiry into clouse 21 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sales Control Act, and for redress.

Sir Robert Stout moved the adjournment of the House* and then sketched the history of the Sydenham licenses, and repeated that clause 21 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sales Control Act was framed with the object of validating the Sydenham licenses.

After the Premier, Mr Bell, the Hon. W. P. Reeves, had spoken Sir R. Stout replied and the motion for adj ournment was lost.

The following Bills were read a first time : — A Bill to constitute a University College for tho Middle District of New Zealand ; Lyttelton Harbour Land Bill ; Women's Political Rights Bill. The Dunedin Waterworks Accounts Bill was passed. The Jubilee Institute for the Blind Reserve Bill was read a second time. Mr Pirani proposed the second raiding of the Pohangina County jßll, designed to create a new county so as to enable differential rating to be imposed in the district affected. Sir R. Stout opposed the Bill. Mr Wilson, the Time* reports, said the Bill would not increase the number of local bodies. It was to change a road board into a county. There would be no necessity for the Bill if the Government would give road boards further borrowing powers, and if hon. members only knew the difficulties that settlers laboured under for the want of roads they would not oppose the Bill. The plebiscite suggested by Sir R. Stout would be very expensive, and he assured the House that the residents were in favour of the Bill. . Mr Buchanan, Dr Newman and Mr Hogg supported the Bill. The Premier agreed that there were too many local bodies in New Zealand. The Government would insist that in the limits fixed by the schedule of the Bill, there should be only one local authority. He did not think much harm would be done by reading the Bill a second time. Mr Bell, Captain Russell and Mr Tanner opposed the Bill, which was talked out, the discussion being interrupted by the 5.80 p.m. adjournment. The debate on the second reading of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists Bill was adjourned. Sir R. Stout's Gaming Bill was committed. There was considerable discuesion regarding clause 5, limiting the number of totalisator licenses. Mr W. Hutchison moved an amendment that certain words he struck out, the effect of this being that the totalisator would be abolished. The amendment was lost by 82 votes to 24. Sir Robert Stout proposed that the number of licenses to be granted in one year should be raised from fifty to seventy five. , After a very long discussion the Premier suggested that the limit of licenses should he a number equal to two- thirds of the number issued during the year 1898. Sir R. Stout said he would agree to this proposal. After further talk the amendment was carried making the years 189293. A new clause rendering it illegal for any person to act as agent for •*^fothcrin % , bet except on a racecourse during a race meeting, was added to the Bill by Sir R. Stout anfr-agreed to. ! The Bill was then reported. The House rose at 1.80 a.m.