ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 1783, 22 August 1873, Page 4

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Tuesday, A ugust 5. In the Hou;-e of .Representatives tiie .Premier, in reply to Mr Thomson, said that tbe Trust "Funds which had been invested in four per cent, debentures had been invested at 96, being the average price of the tenders received. The Life Assurance Companies Bill was read a second time. The Premier explained that the object of the Bill was to obtain some security for the performance of obligations by Assurance Companies, and cited facts regarding the position of certain recently-established offices (which as yet had no branches, however, in New "Zealand), tending to show the necessity of some such precaution. A deposit of £5000 is required by the Bill ; tbis sum being increased by subsequent payments of 25 per cent, of the premiums received until it amounts I to £20,000. A provision is also inserted by which policies in private offices may be protected from the operation of the bankruptcy laws ; and married women are enabled to make insurances in their own names. The Telegraph Cables Subsidy Bill passed through committee, amendments being added by the Government providing for the purchase of either or both lines, and for the expeditious construe- j tion of the lines. The second reading of the Education j Bill was moved by Mr Vogel. The Bill is of an empowering character, and may be adopted either in whole or in part by any Province. It provides for the constitution of school-boards and district school-committees, to be elected by the ratepayers, male and female. It defines four different modes of rating, any one i or more of which may be adopted by any ! Province, viz , annual value rates, capital value rates, uniform household rates, and varying household rates. The powers of the Provinces are not at present sufficient for the imposition and successful collection of such rates ; and this 6vil the Bill, if passed, will remedy. Provision is made for aided denominational schools, with the condition that religious iijstnution in such schpols must be given either at the beginning or at the i close of the school hours, and that no child shall be compelled to attend such instruction if the parents express a wish that he should be exempt. After the speech of the mover the debate was adjourned, the hour at which the afternoon session terminates (half- past five) baving arrrived. In the evening the House went into committee on Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood and Co.'s proposals for a connection with the Suez mail service. Mr Vogel sketched the history of the Californian service. That line had only cost the Colony £29,000 per annum for two years, taking into aceount £10,000 stopped from payments to Mr Webb, and £14,000 received for postages. He hoped to see a Californian line established again. Victoria would contribute £15,000 per annum to such" a service, the terminus to be at Melbourne. A telegram would be sent to Mr Eussell, in London, stating this fact, and the other offers received by the Government, and requesting recommendations as to which seemed, with the better information at that gentleman's command, the best course to pursue. These recommendations, when received, would be laid before Parliament. In the meantime the Government recommended the acceptance of Messrs M'Meckan and Blackwood's offer to connect with the Suez service at Melbourne, via the Bluff, for £5000 per annum. No service that could be proposed could possibly give equal advantages to all ports in the Colony, and this service seemed to afford the greatest advantage to the greatest number. The discussion which followed lasted till half-past one o'clock. The Otago members supported the Bluff route. The Auckland members demanded a Bpecial service via Sydney, and on receiving a promise that £5000 would be devoted to that purpose, consented to support the Bluff route. The Wellington members took little part in the discussion. The West Coast members supported the Hokitika and Cook's Straits route. Mr Tribe having alleged that Hokitika was the best port in the Colony for the receipt and distribution of telegraphic news, Mr Cuthbertson took occasion to show that the Bluff was in reality entitled to that pre-eminence, being 100 miles nearer Melbourne than Hokitika, easily entered in all weathers, and practically nearer to Melbourne by nearly a day. The Bluff route would enable at least one large commercial centre (Dunedin) to reply to , letters by return course of post, a result unattainable by any other arrangement. The Government proposal was carried on the voices. Wednesday, August 6. Mr Fox in a long and eloquent speech moved the second reading of the Licensing Bill. The Bill was the same as last year's, with the addition of a provision for the election of a Licensing Court by the ratepayers of each Licensing District, to decide upon all applications for licenses. Mr Clark seconded the motion for the second reading. Mr Bathgate did not approve of the principle of elected Licensing Courts. Mr Thomson thought the licensing power should be vested in Besident Magistrates. Mr Bunny thought the prohibitory clauses would never be put in operation, still if tbe people in aay district desired such a power they should have it, and so he would support the Bill. Mr Cuthbertson thought the proposal for elected Licensing Courts an excellent one, and one that would grow in the favor of the House the more it was considered. It practically embodied the prohibitory clauses. Mr Katene and Mr Takamoana supported the Bill. Mr Vogel did not approve of tbe elected Licensing Courts, but still as the object of the Bill was good he would not oppose the second reading. Mr

M'GiUivray spoke in support of the Bill. The second reading was agreed to without dissent.

The Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill, introduced by Mr Steward, was n*ad a second time. Mr M'GiUivray spoke strongly against the Bill. Mr Yogel opposed the Bill, on the ground that tbe issuo of stub marriages could not iuherit property under the Knglish laws. Mr O'Neill considered the measure subversive of the morality of the people, and moved that the Bill be read that day sis months. The debate was languid, and the second reading passed on a division by a majority of ten. Mr Gillies moved the second reading of the Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill, the object of which was to do away with the limitation of six months, within which moneys recoverable summarily have to be sued for under the existing law. The principal application of the Bill would be to enable Road Boards to recover rates after a longer lapse of time than six months. At present considerable hardship had occasionally to be inflated in recovering rates, or the rate was lost altogether by delay. Bill read a second time. The business in the Legislative Council was of little interest.