GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2685, 14 July 1894, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2,30 p.m. on Wednesday. Bellamy’s. Captain Baillie moved the adoption of the report of the General House Committee, which recommended that the sale of liquor at Bellamy’s be allowed this session only, and that such sale be under the control of the House Committee. Mr Olliver objected to the word “ only ” in the report, which really abolished Bellamy’s after the present session. Mr Kelly, Dr Pollen, Mr Pharazyu, and Mr Kerr also protested against the privileges of the Council being interfered with, Mr McLean said that the report went too far, as he had never seen a member of the Council intoxicated in the chamber. He should, however, vote for the adoption of the report. Eventually the report was adopted, and the Council adjourned. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. SECOND BEADING. Sir Patrick Buckley moved the second reading of the Juries Act Amendment Bill, the objects of which are to enable all petty jurors to serve on the grand juries, to reform the striking of panels for grand jurymen, and prevent juries disagreeing from being locked up all night. Dr Pollen remarked that, as he believed that special intelligence was required for grand and special jurymen, he would move that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. The second reading was carried on the voices, and the Bill was sent to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The House met at 2,15 p.m. on Wednesday. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated that the Government could not this session introduce a Bill giving school committees the right of appeal in case of disagreement with Education Boards, but that a measure would probably be introduced next session ; that the question of the removal of duties from the necessaries of life would be referred to the proposed Tariff Committee, MOTION FOR A COMMITTEE. Sir Robert Stout moved that a committee bo appointed to enquire how section 21 of the Alcoholio Liquors Sale Control Act, 1993, was made retrospective, and what amendment, if any, should bo made in that section. The Premier said that the motion was a very simple one, and had been blandly introduced by Sir Robert Stout. There was however, in this motion as direct an attack as was ever made on a Government. The clause in question had boon inserted in the Act in the ordinary way, aud there

was, therefore, no necessity for an enquiry into the matter. The request for a committee was a most improper one, and he asked Sir Robert Stout to withdraw the motion. Sir Eobert Stout, in replying, charged the Premier with having deliberately planned this clause so as to affect pending litigation in the Sydenham district. The Premier said that the statement was absolutely incorrect. On a division Sir Eobert Stout’s motion was lost by 39 to 17. The House rose at 630 p.m. and resumed at 7.30 p.m. SECOND READINGS. On the motion of Mr Guinness the Criminal Code Act 1893 Amendment BUI - to enable the jury in criminal cases to return a verdict of “not proven” was read a second lime. Dr Newman moved the second reading of a Bill to admit women to the General Assembly of New Zealand. He held that as women now possessed the franchise in the colony there was no reason whatever why they should be subject to the disability of not being allowed to sit in Parliament. Captain Bussell asked whether the Government intended to give a lead on this matter. Mr Reeves replied in the negative. It was a private member’s Bill, but if the House affirmed the principle by passing the second reading it would then be for the Government to consider what attitude they would adopt towards the measure. Captain Bussell was surprised that the Government should abrogate their functions in this way. He at any rate would oppose the Bill, although he had voted to confer the franchise on women. Although he had the highest respect for women he held that it would be a great mistake to bring them into the House. Mr Bussell (Eiocartou) supported the Bill. Mr Hone Heke would like to see the question put before the country. Mr Pirani and Mr McGuire supported the Bill as a logical outcome of the women’s franchise. Mr Mills thought the Bill premature. Mr Beeves said that he should vote for the principle of the Bill. It could not be contended that all women would be fitted for this position, but it was hard that exceptional and highly educated women should be debarred from seeking a seat in Parliament. He did not think that even if the Bill were carried they would have any lady member for years to come. Mr Willis supported the Bill. Mr Allan held that until women had gone through a certain political education it would not be advisable for them to enter the House. Mr O’Began opposed the Bill premature. Mr Flatman supported the Bill. He thought that women could not get a better political training than in the House itself. Mr Massey said that women had domestic duties to perform which were more in keeping than having seats in the House. Mr Carncross could not do anything else but support the Bill, seeing the way in which he had opposed women’s suffrage in the past, and the way in which the women at the last election had supported him, and thus heaped coals of fire on his head. Mr Saunders held that whilst there was no valid objections to giving the women the franchise, there were very strong objections to allowing them to have seats in the House. The division on the second reading resulted in a tie—Ayes 28, noes 28. The Speaker said that the women had behaved so well in exercising the franchise conferred on them by the last Parliament that he felt it his duty to confer a higher privilege on them. He should, therefore, give his casting vote for the “ ayes ” in favour of the BUI and declared the second reading carried. The following is the division list (as telegraphed) : Ayes (28). —Cam cross, Carnell, Collins, Duncan, Flatman, G. Hutchison, Hall Jones, J. W. Kelly, W. Kelly, Lawty, Lang, McGuire, McNab, MUlar, Newman, Parata, Pere, Pirani, Beeves, G. W, Bussell, Seddon, E. M. Smith, G. J. Smith, Stout, Tanner, Teao, Willis. Noes (28). —Allen, Buchanan, Buddo, Cad man Fraser, Graham, Green, Harris, Guinness, Hogg, Houston, W.Hutchison, Maslin, Mills, McGowan, J. McKenzie, B, McKenzie, T. McKenzie, Montgomery, Mitchelson, O’Regan, Pinkerton, W. R, Bussell, Saunders, Stevens, Thompson. Steward. Paira—Ayes : Joyce, Morrison ; Noes: Duthie, Hall. Dr Newman moved the second reading of the Pharmacy Bill to consolidate and amend the law relating to pharmacy. He explained that the Bill was not his own, but he had been asked to pilot it through the House. The Premier saw no reason to object to the BiU at this stage, but the Government had received communications from certain chemists who stated that if the BiU was passed it would deprive them of the means of livelihood. The BUI would also introduce a close corporation, which was uot desirable. He hoped if the BUI got into committee that proper safeguards would be effected. After a shore debate, the motion was agreed to on the voices. RETORTING DEBATES. Mr George Hutchison moved the adoption of the recommendation of the Reporting Debates Committee, to the effect that no speeches of members be reported after midnight. it was agreed to adjourn the debate till a fuller House was present. Another recommendation of the committee, that the number of Hansards to be allowed to members be increased to fifty each, was agreed to.

THE LIQUOR BILL. Mr McGuire moved the second reading of the Importation or Manufacture of Intoxicating Liquor Prohibition Bill. He claimed that the measure struck at the root of the liquor difficulty. Mr Smith (Christchurch) opposed the Bill as a distinct interference with the rights of the people. The Premier said that as the Bill meant a loss to the colony of nearly £500,000 a year he could not see how it could be carried into law. Sir Robert Stout thought that the people of the colony should have an opportunity of voting on the Bill The motion for the second reading was lost by 30 to 12. THE STANDING ORDERS. Consideration of the amended standing orders was then resumed in Committee. The House rose at 12.25 a.m. The House mot at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. THE LIQUOR ACT. Mr Smith (Christchurch) presented a petition praying for an enquiry into clause 21 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act of last year, and for redress in connection with it. Sir Robert Stout moved the adjournment of the debate., and repeated his statement that this clause was framed with the object of validating the Sydenham licenses.

The Premier assured the House that so far as the Government were concerned the clause had no such object. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated that if the Education Boards did not themselves provide for an appeal for teachers in case of .grievances arising, the Government would introduce legislation next year in that direction; that it was not intended this session to intro-, duce legislation enabling women to be appointed Justices of the Peace, but a Bill to allow the appointment of women as official visitors for gaols and lunatic asylums was now before the House; that it was intended to bring the whole matter of Ministerial residences in Wellington under the review of the House so that something might be decided with reference to them once and for all; that the regulation would be abolished requiring a police constable to produce a certificate of character as to his prospective bride before he receives permission to marry. LOCAL BILLS. Consideration of Local Bills occupied the rest of the afternoon. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. and resumed at 7.30. INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISTS’ BILL. Sir Robert Stout moved the second reading of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists’ Bill, to provide for the incorporation of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists. He said that the Bill had passed in the Legislative Council last year, bat was lost in the House by two votes. It was merely meant to give a legal status to a voluntary association. Mr Duncan moved the adjournment of the debate, and this was carried by 30 to 20. THE GAMING BILL. The House went into committee on the Gaming Bill. Clause 3—Selling totalisator tickets to, or purchasing for, an infant, an offence.— Passed. Clause 5 Limitation of totalisator license. Mr W. Hutchison moved an amendment, the effect of which would be to abolish the totalisator altogether. The amendment was lost by 32 to 24 and the totalisator retained. Sir Robert Stout moved that seventyfive licenses for the totalisator in the year be granted instead of fifty, as proposed in the Bill. Captain Russell said that so sure as the totalisator licenses were limited so sure would they have bookmakers, as racing would go on in any case. He suggested that the House should fix the number of days on which racing should be held, say Under two hundred. The Premier thought that no more than two licenses should be granted to metropolitan or other clubs. Mr Lawry urged that the Bill should be deferred till after the racing conference had met, and moved to report progress. The motion was lost by 40 to 18. Several hours were spent in discussing clause 5, amendment after amendment being suggested in regard to the limitation of totalisator licenses, but only to be rejected as impracticable. > Eventually the Premier moved an amendment providing that there should be only used, two-thirds of the totalisator licenses, issued in 1893, provided this section shall not have effect till after 31st July, 1895. Sir Robert Stout accepted this amendment, and it was agreed to on the voices. On Sir Robert Stout’s motion a new danse was added to the Bill providing for a penalty of three months’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £2O, to be imposed on any person who sends to any other person any circular, telegram, letter, or other documents requesting such person to employ him as an agent in making any bet, or investing any money on the totalisator, and the same penalty for any person employing such person to act for him as agent. The Bill was reported with amendments and ordered to be considered on the 26th inst. The House rose at 1.30 a.m.