PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2618, 11 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Aug. 10. QUARANTINING THE WAKATII'U. Replying to a question put by Mr Hutchison without notice, Mr Dick said the reason why the Wakatipu from Sydney had come alongside the wharf wAs that the Health Officer must have been satisfied that all the men and passengers had been recently vac cinted, and could not transmit infection to anyone not so vaccinated. She would be removed at once to Quarantine Island. NOTICES OE MOTION. Mr Saunders moved —“ That no financial proposals will be accepted not based on the strict adoption of the annual expenditure of the colony to its annual revenue without any assistance from borrowed money, and whiobdo not aim at the complete separation of colonial and local finance, and the entire emancipation of the latter from the control or interference of this House,”

• Major Atkinson desired to see local and general finauce separated as far as Possible. The power of the local odies must, to a great extent, depend upon what the House chose to take for general purposes. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p*m. adjournment. TARANAKI HARBOR WORKS.

Mr Wright brought up the report of the Committee on the Taranaki Harbor Works. The Committee were of opinion that the evidence disproves the supposition that the proposed work would be of special value to the colony as a harbor of refuge, and the work must therefore he regarded as one of of local rather than colonial character. 'The Committee therefore consider the results from the proposed works would be altogether ina lequate to expenditure required, aud as hut a very limited sum —not exceeding £SOO0 —has been expended upon the breakwater apart from plant, the Committee recommend the Legislature (O at once take steps to stop the further progress of works, to take over the assets and the liabilities, and after providing for the latter, to devote the land fund to its ordinary purpose. The report was ordered to be considered on Friday. LAW niAOTmOXEUS BILL. Sir George Grey moved that all the intervening Orders of the Day be postponed for enabling him to bring in the Law Practitioners Bill. The House divided—Ayes, 43 : Noes, 13. Sir George Grey’then moved that the House go into Committee on the LawPractitioners Bill. Mr Stewart said that if this Bill were passed incalculable injury would be done. He denied that the profession, as it stood, was a close one. He argued that they should go in quite an opposite direction from that aimed at by the Bill. Mr McDonald, in illustrating the high standing of the profession as it stood., instanced a case in Dunedin, in which one of the leading firms in Dunedin had a sum of £BOO struck off (heir bill of costs.

Mr Oliver said he could not support the Bill. The admission in this colony was much easier than it was in many other countries. Ho warned them that if they adopted this Bill they would bitterly repent it. Mr Shrimski said they had heard a great deal about the respectability of the legal profession. Ho reminded them of how many had been struck off the rolls in New Zealand alone for malpractices. Mr Kelly said they were told that the lawyers would be benefited by passing •the Bill, and yet strange to say the only opposition came from lawyers. Colonel Trimble spoke against the Bill. He pointed out that at Home, notwithstanding a university education, it was found that special training was necessary.

Mr Whitaker said the question was one of public interest. To his mind it was unworkable and in its present state it won Id be soon repealed. His objec tion, however, was to the manner in which it was pi’oposed to take the Bill into Committee.

Sir George Grey said the opposition came from the lawyers simply because they knew that some of the ablest men would be able to come to the front. In Committee Sir George Grey moved that the word “ male” be added, so as to confine admission to them alone.

Mr Oliver objected, stating ho did not see why females should be debarred. The question was put that the clause stand as printed—Ayes, 25; Noes, 21.

Mr Stewart moved as an amendment, that the words “ examination in general knowledge” be inserted in clause 2. The House divided—Ayes, 24 ; Noes. 25.

Sir George Grey moved that the words be altered to read, “ examination in law by any one of the judges of the said Court who shall bo entitled to enroll the candidate, &c.”

Colonel Trimball moved that progress be reported, to obtain time to consider the full effect of this amendment. —Lots on the voices.

Mr Stewart proposed that the words “on payment of ordinary fees,” be in serted.

Question put that the words “ without fees stand.—Ayes, 28 ; Noes, 13. Sir George Grey’s amendment was put and carried on the voices, and the Bill reported with amendments. Sir George Grey moved the third reading of the Bill. Mr Whitaker moved that the Bill be recommitted on Wednesday next. The amendment was negatived, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.

TIMAUU iIAKHOII HILL. On the report of the Timaru Harbor Board Endowment Bill being moved, Mr Rolleston moved its recommittal for the purpose of altering the schedule. — Negatived. Mr Whitaker objected altogether to the principle of the Bill. The House divided <>n the question that the amendments be agreed to Ayes 21 ;noos9. The amendments were agreed to, and on the motion for the third reading, Mr Whitaker again objected to tiie principle ol the Bill. The motion for adopting the amendments was carried, and the Bill read a third time and passed. The House rose at 1 a.in.