GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1365, 14 July 1885, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Legislative Council met it 2.30 p.m. on Friday.

Mr Chamberlain moved for a return showing the number of properties purehabed and taken for the Crown under clause 13 of the Property Assessment Act from 1879 to the present date, specifying the various properties and the amount paid for them.—Negatived. 1 The Hon. IheColoniil Secretary moved the second reading of the Administration Act Amendment Ml and the Wellington Public Streets Closing Bill, which were agreed to,

The Council went into Committee on the Wellington Streets Closing Bill, which was reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed. The Council adjourned at 3 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATION. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. Replying to questions, Ministers said : That a medical man had heen appointed for the East Cosst between Tologa Bay and Fast Capo ; that no increase of salary had boon given to postmasters who had to keep their offices open from 7 to 8 p.m., but a bonus of £IOOO had been distributed among them ; that if anything further could be done to improve the Ha«st Pass Road from the Ocean Beach to the Pass, with the money available, it would be done ; that the Government would take into consideration the advisability of constructing a bridge over the Buller River at Lyell; that the Auckland Accident Association would have granted them the same privileges (sale of tickets at railway stations) as the Dunedin Association, if they made proper application. Replying to Mr Rolleston, > whether in view of the danger to the life of the travelling public from the absence of a footbridge over the Rangitata river, and of the fact that this dangerous river is the only large stream on the Hurunui-Bluff line which is not so bridged, the Government will make provision for this work to be executed at an early date, the Hon. Mr Richardson said he would cause enquiries to be made in the matter. He, however, thought local bodies north and south of the bridge should contribute towards the cost of the work undertaken. Several now Bills were introduced. Mr Steward moved the second readme of the School Committees Election Bill. He said that the main points of the Bill was the doing away of the present system of cumulative voting, and the provision that annual meetings of ratepayers should take place in April instead of January.—Th.3 Hon. Mr Stout opposed this Bill, but it passed its second reading On a division by 31 against 24. Mr Conolly moved the second reading of the Alienation of Lands Bill. Ha said he regretted the Government had not taken the Bill up, as it was one of great importance. The principle of the Bill was to prevent the tying up of land, to prevsnt its disposal, by the owner. He said he would be glad to receive suggestions on the Bill. After a debate the aocond reading of the Bill was agreed to on the voices. The House went into Committee on the Employment of Females and Others Act 1881 Amendment Bill.

A great many amendments were proposed.

Mr Bradshaw moved an amendment in clause 3 to the effect thai persons employed in printing offices shall be allowed to continue work till 4.30 p.m. on Saturdays. The amendment was an addition to the clause providing that no young pernon should be employed tor more than 8 hours per day.—Agreed to. Mr Hatch moved the addition of the words " bv the Governor " after the word "holiday."—Agreed to. Mr Fergus moved the addition of the words "and that each domestic servant shall have a holiday in ench week."—After some discussion the motion was withdrawn.

Mr Holmes moved nn amendment to section 3, to the effect that on the petition of two-thirds of the employees of any

—_ - ■ i manufactory any othe'' working day m the week except Saturday may be set apart as the day on which business shall cease from 2 p.m. without loss of wages; the Council of any Borough to make the notification by resolution, published ia the newspapers.—The arr-endment after a long discussion was carried by 35 against 19.

The remaining clauses passed without amendment, , The Hon Mr Stout moved the addition of the following section :—" Notwithstanding anything contained in section 126 of the Licensing Act 1881, no female other than the licenses or wife or daughter of the licensee, is the case may be, shall, with or without her consent, be employed in the bar of any licensed houso after the hour of six p.m. or before the hour of eight a.m. Every holder of a license who shill permit the provision of this section to be broken on his licensed premises shall be deemed guilty of a breach of the aforesaid section, and shall 'oe liable for every such breach to the same penalties, and forfeiting as in the said section as provided in respect of a breach therefor." Ho pointed out that this question was at present exciting attention in all parts of the country, and no less than 21,000 people had signed the petitions submitted during the present session. This motion led to an animated debate.

Mr Hursthouse said the greater proportion of those vho signed the petition against barmaids were jealous wives and children under age. He admitted that to a certain extent barmaids did induce some weak young gentlemen to visit ban, but he did not think they were justified in taking away employment from these young women. Mr Pyke wished to know what the meaning of the cry against barmaids meant. They were earning an honest living as well as factory girls, He knew some very respectable women among them. Of course there were a few black sheep, but in what class of society were there not black sheep ? He asked, if the House by its action drova these young woman out of employment, what was to be done with them ? They could not be driven out into the streets. He considered it was a cruel persecution to deprive these poor girls of their bread. He intended to oppose the proposition in every shape. Sir George Grey believed it was a very difficult subject to deal with, and it had cost him a great amount of thought. He did not entertain a very high opinion of that class of young gentlemen who went from bar to bar in the evening, but he believed the proposal of the Premier was one of immense injustice, not only to barmaids but to the whole of New Zealand. He pointed out that many of these young women were helping their mothers and orphan brothers and listers, and it would be a cruel wrong to deprive them of their means of earning a comfortable livelihood. He had heard that amongst the barmaids were as estimable and good women as any in New Zetland. He hoped the Housu would not perpetrate such a cruel act as was proposed and embark in such a cruel Byatem of legislation. Mr Gore said if the Premier consented to alter the hours mentioned in his motion he would give it his support. He thought they were going out of their way in passing a law of this kind.

Mr Hobbs did not agree with the view taken by the Premier, fle had seen a little of the world, and his experience was that hotelkeepers invariably disliked their business and wished themselves out of it. He thought the atmosphere of hotels was not tit for young voraen. He intended to support the amendment. A number of other members haying expressed their views on the matter the House divided with the following result;— A.yes, 24 ; Noes, 40. Mr Stout's proposal was therefore negatived. Mr G. F. Richardson moved—" That nothing; in this Act shall apply to Butter and Cheese factories."—Agreed to. Mr o'Oallaght»n moved to add the " any farming or open air occupation." This amendment was lost, and the Bill was then reported with amendments, which were ordered to be considered on Wednesiay next. The Adoption of Children Act 1881 Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The House rose nt 11.30 p.m.