PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2612, 4 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. W ELLINGTON, August 2. LICENSING RILL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.rn., and resumed the discussion of the Licensing Bill in Committee. Amendments of a minor nature were very numerous, and there were two divisions on proposed amendments. The first one was on clause 195, providing a penalty for publicans harboring prostitutes, which was moved to be struck out, but the clause was retained by 17 to 11. The second division was in an alteration in clause 189, the words “to the knowledge_of such person ” being struck out by 15 to 13. By this amendment publicans are made punishable for selling adulterated liquors unwittingly. At 5 p.m. the Bill was finished except the postponed clauses and the new club clauses which were postponed till next day, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. DIRECT BTEAM SERVICE TO ENGLAND. Mr Macandrew moved Committee be appointed to consider and report as to the best means of establishing a direct steam service between New Zealand and the Mother Country, the Committee to consist of Sir George Grey, Messrs Bain, Hutchison, Johnston, Montgomery, Oliver, Pitt, Reeves, Richardson, and the mover.” Mr Johnston said Government had no objection to the motion, and were quite alive to the importance of direct communication being established. COUNCIL REFORM. Dr Wallis moved —“ That the time has come when members of the Legislative Council should bo elected by the people of the colony.” Mr Hall regretted the question would not receive that full discussion and consideration it deserved. The whole question was one for ventilation, in order that the point might be carefully considered, and with a view to that he suggested that the motion should in the meantime be withdrawn. Sir George Grey understood that the premier intended to introdnee a Bill to modify the constitution of the Upper House. That was what he led the country to expect, and ho called upon Government to make good that expectation, and he was sure they would all aid the Government in the endeavor. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment.

A FLOGGING BILL. Mr Weston moved the second read ing of the Offences Against the Persons Act Amendment Bill. Mr invited the House to consider the Bilfg» carefully. The tentency of introducing the lash as proposed was to brutalise instead of repressing crime. Mr Stewart agreed with the principle of the Bill, but not the details. Alluding to age at which consent might be given by females,l3 years age,he said it was well known that in the colonies girls of 12 or 13 years of age were upon the streets.

Sir George Grey said once a legisla. ture embarked in a course of this kind, it was generally found that it went on from step to stop until the tiling was resorted to under almost every circumstance.

Mr Bolleston hoped the clauses providing for flogging would be passed. If the Bill was not passed it might fairly he taken that the House meant to deal lightly with scoundrels. Mr Speight pointed out that the Bill proposed*to place in the hands of J.P.’s the power to inflict the punishment of flogging for being guilty of a momentary fit of passion. No wives who had the slightest regard for their husbands and no matter how much they might be abused, they invariably retained some feeling of that kind, would ever think of exposing their husbands to such a debasement as proposed by the Act, He would feel a burning sense of shame were he to be a party to a measure of this kind. Mr Stevens agreed the offence of wife beating was so prevalent in the colony that it was evident the existing penalty was insufficient for its suppression.

Mr J, B. Fisher said that punishments of this kind would have the effect of defeating the very purposes for which they 7 were intended. Once a punishment of this kind had been inflicted all chance of reconciliation between man and wife must be at an end. Then again, the effect to children was equally debasing. Whipping was a degrading thing and ought not to bo lightly resorted to.

Mr Bowen thought that the lash should only be reseated to under an iudictment, and not for a first offence. There was nothing but whipping for habitual wife abuse.

Mr Pyke considered the Bill one for the protection of wife beaters. It was not for a moment to be supposed that any' woman would expose her husband to any such consequences. An assault might consist of a man shaking his fist in a woman’s face, and for such an offence the man could be had up and flogged. Such a proposal was ridiculous. Mr Turnbull would support the motion, but at the same time he would see that certain modifications svere provided for.

Mr Hall said he would support the motion.

Mr Weston having replied, the second reading was negatived on a

division by 23 to 19

The House.rose at 1.25 a.m