Parliament. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Manawatu Herald, 7 September 1895, Page 2

Parliament. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, Sept. 4. The Speaker took the chair at 7.80 p.m. The amendments made in the Counties Act, 1886, Amending Bill by the Legislative Council were, on the motion of Mr Pirani, agreed to. The Divorce Bill-was taken in Committee. At clause 3 Mr Hall Jonos moved to strike out that portion of the clause allowing divorce for desertion. At the suggestion of the Minister of Education the clause was altered to provide that a person must be domiciled in New Zealand for one year before a divorce was obtainable in the Colony. This was substituted for " two years' continuous residence." Mr Hall-Jones' amendment was lost by 31 to 9. Mi Flutman moved to substitute seven for four years, as the term to constitute desertion. Mr T. Mackenzie suggested five years. The Premier supported Mr Flatman's amendment, thinking the question involved a very serious one. Ho agreed that women should have the same rights to divorce as men on the grounds of adultery. Mr Mills moved a prior amendment to provide that the Act is not to be retrospective in regard to any act of adultery. This was agreed to. On division, the four years was retained by 28 to 18. Major Steward moved to add a subsection to the clause providing as a further ground for divorce the conviction of either husband or wife I to a term of penal servitude for an ' attempt to take the life of the / other. |

The amendment waft carried by 27 to 12, and the clause aa amended passed. Those who voted against Major Steward's amendment were : Messrs W. Hutchison, McNab, Tanner, Hogg, Joyce, Massey, Hall-Jones, Collins, Buick, J. G. Smith, Flatman and O'Began. A motion to report progress was then put and carried by 28 to 14. The House rose at 1.85 a.m. * Thursday, Sept. 5. The Speaker took tht chair at 2 30 p.m. The Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed through ita final stages, after a lengthy cuwuuh gion in committee. The Sale of Goods Bill was read a third time and was passed. The Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill was taken in committee, and after all the clauses had been disposed of progress was reported. The Unclaimed Moneys Bill as amended, was read a third time and passed. Th * House then adjourned until Friday, at 2.30 p.m., Major Steward's motion to adjourn until Tuesday being lost.