PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9422, 24 June 1882, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. j ~' The West Coast Peace Preservation Bill passed the third reading, Captain" Fraser entering a protest against it. Mr Chamberlain moved that the Government should compel all coasting vessels to carry oil," so as to throw it on the water in case of broken seas, but it was withdrawn afterjsome discussion, as it was etated that shipowners would try its efficiency without compulsion. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.: ,' The Trades Mark Bill, the Friendly Societies Bill, and some local Bills passed' the thi rd reading. :, Replying to Mr o'Callaghnn,;Mr Rolleston said the Government looked uponi i : the appointment of a Minister of Agricul-i ture «s a matter of importance, and \ it was a subject at present under consideration. Before the session ended he lipped :< they might be able to make. a more de-. finite statement. The propriety of offering the same facilities respecting retarn tickets ',on Wednesdays as,given on Saturdays • will also be considered. Replying to Mr Holmes; Mr Rolleston said steps would be taken to recover £IB,OOO claimable as legacy duty from the Rhodes estate, which the Privy, Council decided they were entitled to recover. Replying to Mr Macandrew, Mr, Dick spid the Government were aware, that Mr X. Forsyth, of the Public, Works Department, Otngo, had invented a method for destroying rabbits for which great merits were claimed. Mi Forsyth would be transferred to the rabbit department for two months, and afforded every facility for thoroughly testing the value of his '■ invention Mr Barron moved—" That any proposal for the increase of the public debt should be submitted to the "electors, and receive the approval of three-fifths of them before any action should in the matter." After a long discussion, Major Atkinson ~ said that such a course would simply iLveao the abrogation of [representative

institutions, and it was negatived on a division by 44 to 25. Mr Huchison moved that the House resolve itself into Committee of the whole to consider an address to the Governor praying he will recommeDd;for appropriation this year the sum of £1000* ; to be divided amongst Educational Boards of the colony, for; the.purpose of encouraging technical education by means of night schools or otherwise,.andfor the establishment of female classes in sewing and cooking, ..,; h;.: } The motion was put and carried on the voices. It was agreed to consider the question of lighting, the, Government Buildings by electricity. j The second reading of the Gold Duties Abolition Bill wa*s carried on the voices. The employment of Females Act Amendments Bill; passed jits" Becond and also 1 second reading of the School Committees Election Bill. Mr Fish moved - the committal of the Otago Harbor Board Further Empowering BilLv It appMreddfrorn.. the discussioi) that £700,000 had already been spent by the Otago Harbor Board, arid that they wanted power to raise and spend £300.000 more. Major Atkinson consented,, to make "the sum £200,000, but othermembers said the result,; pf giving local bodiss so much borrowing power would be that they .could not pay it, and the colony would eventually have to pay it for them. The debate was interrupted by an adjournment.— Mr Steward moved the second reading 'of the Small Birds Nu isance Bill, The Hon'Mrßollestbn seconded the motion. i By the Bill power" is asked to levy a small tax so that everyone interested may be made to contribute towards tKe fund for protection from the nuisance pf 'small'birds'. 1 ' \ ,i v The motion wa3 agreed to after several members.had spoken: . The Eight Hours Labor Bill passed in committee. >. Mr Weston moved the second reading of the Offences Against Persons Bill. It appears that the principal objects of the f Bill are to punish larrikins, wife-beaters, and other serious kinds of assaults by whipping them Messrs Hutchison, Hursthouse, Moss,TurnbuU, Levestam, Holmes, Fish and Sir George Grey ridiculed the •'Bill, 7 -' as are tiinr of HarbOrOus riiethods of punishment. ~ Messrs Rolleston," Green and Colonel Trimble-supported the Bill and eventually the motion was carried by 47 to 22. On the motion for going into Committee on the Affirmation in Lieu of Oaths Bill the Hon Mr Dick said that a similar Bill had been passed in the Upper and as the two measures would clash he would suggest delaying the present one until the other had been'received, and then to hand it over to Sir George Grey. Objection was taken to this course, as the one before the House had been introduced by Sir George Grey before a similar measure had been introduced into the. Legislative Council, and, therefore, it was' held as unfair to the latter. ! The Bill was amended in Committee, and progress reported. ■ » [ The House; then adjourned. ■ • ,% :