PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 137, 9 June 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, Tuesday night. The House met at 2.30. Dr Wallis gave notice that he would ask if the Government intended extending the provisions of thß Act prohibiting indecent theatrical performances, as in force in Otago, to the rest of the colony. Sir G. Grey gave notice of the introduction of a Bill to perpetuate the public services rendered by Mr Moorhouse to Canterbury. Mr Hamlin gave notice that he would move for a return showing how the vote of £5000 of last session for roads, &c , in the North Island had been expended. Mr Murray gave notice that he would move that the honorarium be reduced to ■£100 per annum, and that paid to the Legislative Councillors abolished ; also. that the i salary of the Governor and Cabinet Ministers 1 be reduced. . . -- .■ , , Replying to questions, it was stated that inquiries would be made as to an order made ;by certain Licensing Courts to pull down their hotels constructed of wood, and to rei build the same of stone. — Mr Bathgate's •appointment as director of the Mortgage and [Investment Co-npany, whose prospectus was | issued, in the London Times was considered by the Government to be incompatible with hia appointment .as District Judge of ; Dunedin. — The Government did not intend to amend the Land Act so as to provide for , the use of the ballot in the case of deferred payments on lands. -■--... | The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :— To extend the franchise ;to women (Dr Wallis) j to prohibit party processions (Mr Pyke). \ On the motion o£ Mr Ireland it was agreed \ that post offices ia small country towns should jbe used for the sale of the Crown Lands '. Guide, Acts of Parliament, &c, at reasonable prices. . Mr Dick moved the second reading of the Licensing Act. j Messrs Barron, Stewart, and Ireland objected to the proposal to abolish the bottle license, contending that it had proved a public benefit as well as a safeguard again Bt drinking to excess in the province of Otago Mr Seddon complained that the provision against sly grog selling was not sufficiently stringent, and that concessions should be .; made in favor of accommodation houses. . The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. ; Wednesday. After the delivery of the Financial Statement last night, Sir G. Grey commented on the proposed alteration in the property tax as making an unfair tax still more so, and ; benefitting the . rich at the expense of the , poor. These who benefited by the expendi- '■ ture should feel the pressure of taxation. Major Atkinson defended the proposal, pointing out that Sir George Grey had previously urged it. Sir G. Grey said he had done so only as one objection to an altogether objectionable tax." ■■ Mr Reid pointed out that Major Atkinson had said previously that he condemned the beer tax as unsound in principle. The Premier said the circumstances of the country had changed. He defended the Government proposals, and replied at length to Sir G.Grey, who again spoke at consider- , able length. After some further debate, in which Messrs Moss, Fisher, George, Gisborne, Reid, Seddon, Stewart and Speight took part, the ; motion was agreed to, and the House rose at * 12.10.