PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2895, 6 July 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington, July 5. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. NEW BILLS.

The Hon Mr Whitaker gave notice to bring in Bills to amend the “ Mining Gompanies'Act 1877" and the “Railway Authorisations Act 1881." He also gave notice to bring in a Bill to amend and consolidate the law relating to legal practitioners. A Bill on this subject was received from the Judicature Commission and read a,first time. In reply to Sir G. Whitmore, the Hon Mr Whitaker said when Sir George Grey’s Bills came up, the Council would have the three measures before them, and would then be able to make one good Bill out of the three. LEAVE OE ABSENCE. A message from the Acting-Governor notified that leave of absence had been given to Mr John Johnston for the remainder of the session. BILL PASSED. The Companies Bill was read a third time and passed. FISHERIES BILL. The Fisheries Bill was recommitted on the motion of Mr Hart, with a view to making an amendment providing that a single license to fish should run through the colony instead of a license being required for each district. After some debate, the question was deferred. ADJOURNMENT. The Council rose at 3.45. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30 p.m. NOTICE. OF QUESTION. ' Mr George pave notice to ask if the Government would place the Hinemoa at the disposal of members for the South Island, as to enable them to visit Auckland and become better acquainted with that part of the colony.

SINKING FUND. The Hon. Major Atkinson asked leave to lay on the table a return showing how the Sinking Fund was invested. He did this owing to some doubts having been expressed as to the reality of the Fund. 1 PETITION. Mr Rutherford presented a petition praying for an enquiry into the administration of the Kaitangata Relief Fund, and expressing a belief that; it would be found to have been unfairly administered. . NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Hutchison gave notice he would move that it be expedient to abolish the Grand Jury system. COEONEES ACT AMENDMENT BILE. Mr Steward moved the second reading of the Coroners Act Amendment Bill. IN COMMITTEE. The House then went into Committee on the Dogs’ 'Registration Act 1880 Amendment BUI, which was reported without amendments, read a third time and passed. VAGEANT ACT AMENDMENT BIEL. On the question for going into Committee on the Vagrant Act Amendment Bill, the House divided—Ayes, 47 ; Noes, 24. In Committee Mr Hursthouse moved that the power of inflicting whippings be not as proposed by the Bill entrusted to two justices of the Peace. He argued that it would be unsafe to entrust such a fearful punishment in the hands of Justices of the Peace. Mr Feldwick moved that the punishment be provided for on a second conviction. He could understand that such a penalty might lead to most dire circumstances.

The Hon Mr Dick proposed that it be restricted to male persons. As the Act stood it applied equally to females. , Mr Turnbull moved that progress be reported. He argued that the Bill was totally uncalled for. As the law stood, a twelve months’ imprisonment was provided for, and that was enough. It would be as well to mutilate offenders of this kind at once. It was a most reprehensible measure altogether. The motion for reporting progress was withdrawn.

Mr Moss moved that the Chairman leave the Chair, expressing his abhorrence of the Bill. The “Vagrant Act” as it stood was a blot on the Statute Book. If such a Bill as this was required it ought to be brought down by the Government and not as it had been in a surreptitious manner. That bethought was a sufficient reason for pausing and not allowing irresponsible persons to bring in a matter of such vital import to the subject. Mr Fish concurred that the responsibility ought to rest, and in fact did rest, with the Government. The punishment' of the lash' was the most frightful that could, be inflicted, and they ought to pause before allowing such a provision to pass into law. Mr Macandrew thought something was required to put down the evil-aimed at. Still he did nol approve of the Bill as it stood.

Mr Joyce supported the motion for leaving tho chair, contending that the law as it stood was sufficient to meet the requirements of the case. What was wanted, was a more healthy state of feeling, which would induce these cases, when committed, to be prosecuted. Mr Tawhai desired to know if the Bill was to be applied to the native race. With the,view of gaining information on that head, he supported the motion for reporting progress. Mr O’Callagban, who was in charge of the Bill, stated that it was intended to apply to both sections of colonists. Mr Sheehan said that the well-known Maori haka would be considered an exposure under the Act. The Bill was in conflict with the Act it to amend. Under the old Act, one Justice of the Peace could punish the offence, whereas, under this Act, two were required. Ho thought further time should bo taken to consider the proposal. In reply to a question put, the Hon. Mr Dick said the Bill had come down from the other Chamber, and he was not aware if it had been revised by the law officers of tho Crown. Mi - Morris said that the exposure must be wilful and malicious. Ssch being the case, no Magistrate would convict under a Maori haka arrangement. Mr Watt said that if the Natives were not exempted from the operations of the Bill, he would vote against it. Mr Munro suggested that it should be made an indictable offence in order that tho question of commission might bo decided by a jury. Colonel Trimble supported tho proposal to make it an indictable offence. That was tho only safe course ho could see if tho Bill was to be passed. Mr Moss said that the Bill included women and children, and such a power ought not to be entrusted to minor judges. Ho had been appealed to to withdraw bis amendment, but he would not. He felt strongly on the subject. Mr W. Green would voto for progress

being reported, as he had been given to understand that the member in charge of the Bill would not accept the proposal to make it an indictable offence.

Mr Montgomery would regret to see the power entrusted to a Magistrate. He suggested that the Magistrates should be allowed to administer the Act as it originally stood, but in the event of the lash being required, then he thought the case should go to a jur}'.

Mr Bracken denounced the Bill as calculated to bring about the most serious consequences upon comparatively innocent persons. Mr Hutchison was disappointed with the lone of the debate throughout. It was the punishment to which he objected, no matter by whom it might bo inflicted.

Sir George Grey concurred. The motion for leaving the chair was then put, and the Committee divided — Ayes, 22; Noes, 53. The motion for the. insertion of the words “male persons” was put and carried on the voices. After considerable further discussion, Mr 10’Callaghan accepted an amendment by Mr Sheehan, providing that if the Resident Magistrates or Justices were of opinion that the present legal was insufficient to meet any case, they might committ the offender for trial, and the Judge of the the Supreme Court should have the power to add flogging to other punishments. The Bill was then reported as amended. EIGHT HOUES BILL. The Eight Hours Bill was reported and agreed to, read a third time, and passed. LIDEL BILL. The Hon. Mr Dick resumed the debate on the second reading of the Libel Bill, Ho. 3. The motion for the second reading was carried. BOAD TO OTAGO HEADS. In Committee an application vyas the Governor, requesting that a sum of £SOO be placed on the Estimates for the completion ?of a road to Otago Heads. The Hon Mr Rolleston objected to the application, and progress was reported. .MISCELLANEOUS.' The Employment of Females Act Amendment Bill, the School .Committees Election Bill, and the Small Birds Nuisance Bill were committed. After the Sqhool Committees Bill had been discussed, Mr Steward moved that progress be reported. The Committee divided—Ayes, 26 ; Noes, 20. The Small Birds Nuisance Bill was discussed at some length. Captain McKenzie then moved that progress be reported. ; The motion was negatived on the voices. ELECTION OE SCHOOL COMMITTEES BILL, In Committee, on the Election of School Committees Bill, Mr Hursthouse moved the excision of clause 4; which motion, after some discussion, was carried by 22 to 26. Mr Steward expressing his regret at the decision come to, rooted that progress be reported. Messrs J. Buchanan, and T. Bracken, pointed out that to abolish cumulative voting would be an injustice to the Catholics. ; After some further discussion, the motion to report progress was carried by 26 to 29. EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES BILL. The Employment of Females Bill was reported with amendments. SMALL BINDS NUISANCE BILL. The Small Birds Nuisance Bill was opposed in Committee by Captain McKenzie, so far as the rating power Was concerned. ; Several motions to report progress were made and lost, and the word “ resident” in clause 5 was struck out. . Several members held that this rendered the Bill quite inoperative, but ultimately the Bill was reported as amended, and the House rose at 2.45.