PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2629, 24 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Aug. 23, LICENSING RILL, The Licensing Bill was recommitted and a clause reinserted that children under 10, shall not be supplied unless lodging in hotels with their parents. The Bill was then read a thiid time and sent bach to the Lower House. KOVAL COMMISSION ON lIAKKOKS. Mr Miller moved the appointment of Royal Commission to inquire into the question of harbors for the west coast of both Islands, with special reference to Taranaki. A debate ensued, during which several members expressed their conviction that .Royal Commissions do no good; that all the artificial harbor work in New Zealand, except at Oarnaru, has been simply money thrown away ; and that it is high time the Legislature should have the political courage to stop the whole affair. Captain Fraser said £500,000 had been squandered at Dunedin, and that the authorities there, and at other places, all thought they knew better than Sir John Goode and other eminent engineers. Eventually on Mr Whitaker pointing out that carrying the motion would do no practical good, it was withdrawn.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. PIE ST READING. The following Bill was introduced and read a first time : —New Plymouth Harbor Commission (Mr Hall). EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Fulton moved that the Education Act 1877 Amendment Bill be read a first time. The House divided —Ayes, 41; Noes, 2G. The Bill was read a first time, and on the motion that it be read second time on Thursday week, Mr Barron moved that it be read that day six months. Mr Turnbull, Sir William Fox and others spoke in favor of the Bill. The Bill was thrown out by 52 to 15. REPRESENTATION BILL. The House went into Committee on the Representation Bill at half past 7, when the Nelson and West Coast members commenced to carry out the threat of “ stonewalling ” the Bill. Mr Seddon spoke for two hours and a half. Mr Levestam was speaking at 2 a.m. During the night attention bad frequently been called to the absence of a quorum, but the ring of the division bell always quickly made up the number. Many members bad evidently disposed themselves fora night’s sleep on the benches well wrapped uu.