PARLIAMENT.

Patea Mail, 27 August 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY. * TEETOTAL BELLAMY’S. Sir William Fox gave notice of motion affirming the desircableness of restricting the sale of intoxicating liquor in Bellamy’s. ANOTHER RAILWAY BILL. A Bill to authorise the construction of certain railways was introduced and read a first time. BILLS PASSED. The following bills were passed through Committee, and read a third time and pcssed :—Kaikoura Harbor Reclamation Bill ; Geraldine Racecourse Reserve ; Southland Agricultural Association Reserve ; Rangiora High School ; Akaroa High School ; Waimakariri Harbor Board Loan ; Waimato Racecourse Reserve ; Invercargill Gasworks Site ; Roxborough Recreation Ground Management; Christ church Municipal Council Empowering Bill. CLOSE OF SESSION. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Brown thought this was a fitting opportunity for ascertaining when the Government intended bringing the session to a close. They were all anxious to get away. Mr Bastings said it was nonsense to speak about going away ; they had done absolutely nothing. If members could not afford the time necessary to do the business there they should retire from the position. Major Atkinson reminded them that this was a private members’ night, and the more time they wasted in idle discussion the less time they would have to do their work. Sir George Grey said they were asked to rush through an Imprest Supply Bill representing £250,000. He did not relish things being rushed on in that way. To mark his sense of the Treasurer’s conduct he would oppose the motion. The Government could bring in their Imprest Supply to-morrow, being a Government day, and the delay of a day could not cause much inconvenience. Major Atkinson said that there was no use for a discussion. From circumstances which must be patent to members he was prevented bringing the Bill forward at yesterday’s sittings. The Imprest Supply Bill amounting to £250,000, was then introduced and passed throi?gh all itsslages. FENCING BILL. ABSENTEE OWNERS. On the motion for the committal of the Fencing Bill, Mr Andrews complained that the Bill ought to have been brought down by the Government. The Bill was not only uncalled for but was actually calculated to impede agricultural settlement, He would oppose every clause of the Bill. Mr Bowen insisted that the measure was greatly needed. He also took exception to the carping tone usually assumed by the previous speaker, and charged him with habitual practice of attempting to s6t class against class. Mr Moss suggested that the Bill should be set down on the Order Paper for to-morrow. It ought to have all the prestige of a Government measure. If that course were followed it would enable private members business to be proceeded with. Sir George Grey defended Mr Andrew* from the remarks made by Mr Bowen. After further discussion Mr Bryce said that the Bill was one of great importance and hetlid not feel he would be justified in dropping it as had been suggested. He asserted that it was not the honaficle settler who had cause to fear a measure of this kind, but the absentee owner. He had no objection to accept Mr Swanson’s suggestion that the Auckland Fencing Act should be excepted from the schedule of repealed Acts. The House went into committee on the Bill, and at 2.30 a.m. all the clauses had been gone through. The bill is to be recommitted for some amendment. REPRESENTATION BILL. Replying to a question from Mr Speight, Mr Hall said Government would endeavor to have the new clause (leasehold qualification) which was inserted in the Representation Bill, struck out again. The House rose at 2.35 a.m.