PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 151, 7 June 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Per Press Association.] Legislative Council. Friday, June 6. Captain Baillie was reappointed Chairman of Committees and a number of the usual sessional committees were appointed. Mr. Waterhouse asked that he might be exempted from serving on the Petitions Committee, saying that he wholly disagreed with the way in which these committees discharged their functions, which has become so wide as seriously to interfere with the freedom of the Executive and the Judicature. As showing this he quoted the cases of the Government employees discharged for incompetence burdening the committees with petitions, and the cases of Angelique Therasse and the convict Longhurst. He said the growth of the lower of these committees was quite unconstitutional, and there was no parallel to it in any other part of the empire. The debate was adjourned. The Council rose at three o’clock. House of Representatives. Friday, June The House met at 2.30. A large number of petitions were presented and notices of motion given. Notices of Motion. Mr. Shrimski gave notice to introduce a Pensions Bill. The Minister of Lands gave notice to move for the Appointment of the usual Sessional Committees. The Minister of Justice gave notice to introduce the Married Women’s Property Bill, Alienation of Lands Bill, Local Courts Bill, and Bankruptcy Act Amendment Bill. Mr. Levestam gave notice of a Bill for Better Securing the Purity of Fermented Liquors. Mr. Macandrew, for Mr. Bathgate, gave notice to move for a Select Committee to Inquire into the commercial depression which at present prevails in the colony, with a view to providing a remedy. The Colonial Secretary gave notice of the following amending Bills: Representation Act, Regulations of Elections Act, Otago Harbor Board Empowering Act, also the Parliamentary Electors Bill. Mr. Hursthouse gave notice to move, that in the opinion of the House it was desirable to discontinue the publication of Hansard. On the motion of Mr. Whitaker, leave of absence was granted to Mr. J. B. Whyte for a week. The North Island Trunk Railway. Mr. Dargaville wished to ask the Government whether the Report re the North Island Trunk Railway would be laid on the table without delay, or would be delayed until after the Public Works Statement.. Mr. Mitchelson preferred that proper notice should be given of the question, and Mr. Dargaville gave notice for Tuesday. Burnham Industrial School. In reply to Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Dick said he accepted the responsibility for the appointment of the present master of the Burnham Industrial School, all the testimonials and other information having convinced him that this man was suited for the position. He had every reason to believe the school was conducted satisfactorily, and he did not at present propose to make any change as to the association of simply orphaned or unprovided for children and those convicted of more or less serious crime. New Bills. The following new Bills were introuuced and read a first time :—Caversham Drainage, Abolition of Plurality of Voting (Mr. Barron); Manukau Harbor Board (Mr. Hamlin); Licensing Act Amendment, School Committees Election (Steward); Extension of Hours of Polling (Mr. Barron); Town Districts Act Amendment (Mr. Whitaker); Eight Hours and Local Option Extension (Mr. W. Green); Seamen’s Representation (Mr. Bracken). Several sessional committees were appointed. The House rose at 3.5.