WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2959, 9 August 1878, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

Thursday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Leave of absence for a week was granted to Messrs Tesehemaker and Orn?ond. LICENSED WBIGHErS. Mr J. E. Brown asked if the Government would introduce a bill providing for the appoiniment of licensed weighers of agricultural produce delivered at railway stations. The Hon. Mr Macandrew said lie thought the present law provided all necessary facilities, but if it was thought further legislation was requisite the Government would consider the matter more fuliy.

Mr J. E. Brown asked if the Government intended giving effect to the recommendations of the Railway Management Committee of last session respecting the leasing of the Auckland and Mercer Railway, and the local audit of raMway accounts, and vending of tickets at other plices than railway stations. The Hon. Mr Macandrew said that since the committee sat very large reductions had been made in the railway charges on that line, and thus removed the principal cause of complaint. Under these circumstances, the Government did not deem it advisable to take any steps in the direction indicated. As to the latter part of the question, steps were now being taken to give effect to the proposal, and the result would probably be known to the House before prorogation. PORIRUA AND TVANGANUI. Mr Brandon asked whether Government possessed any land between Paikakariki and Manawatu River to defray the expense of a railway line through Porirua to join Wanganui at Fitzherbert or Foxton, should a line be found available. The Hon. Mr Macandrew said that Government had no land, or they would gladly give it for the purpose. THE COUNTIES AGT. In reply to a question asked by Mr Tole, the Hon. Mr Sheehan said the Government had no intention to bring in a bill for repealing the permissive clauses of the Counties Act, and to make the adoption of the whole Act compulsory. They deemed it best to allow the Counties to work out their own destinies. GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. In reply to Mr Richardson, the Hon. Mr Macandrew said there was a handsome clock ordered, and on its way out, for the new Government buildings, Chriitchurch. LAND COURT TITLES. In replying to Mr Johnston, as to whether Government intended to tax land owned by Maoris under Land Court titles, the Hon. Mr Ballance said in a few days bills would be laid before the House showing the policy of the Government on that and various other matters. Mr Richmond was promised that all correspondence between the Department of Justice and the Licensed Victuallers* Association of Nelson would be laid on the table. miners' rights. In reply to Mr George, the Hon. Mr Sheehan said that the question of reducing the cost of miners' rights was entirely a matter for arrangement by the localities themselves. LINE TO SUMNER. Mr Richardson asked whether any application had been made to Government to survey a line of railway from the Lyttleton and Christ church railway to Sumner ? The Hon. Mr Macandrew said they had been petitioned on the matter, but had not been able to comply with the application beyond ordering a flying survey.

CLASSIFICATION OF CEOWN LANDS. The Hon. Mr Sheehan, in replying to Mr Hurstkcuse, said that unless some better reasons were discovered than were known of now, the Government would riot ask the House to legislate on the question of classification of Crown lands.

BILLS BEAD A FIBST TIME. Bill to aholish the duty on gold; and a bill to amend the Disqualification Act, 1876. _ FEMALE BTJFFBAGE. De Wallis moved that, in the opinion of this House, the electoral disabilities of women should be entirely removed, and that the same political rights and privileges should be granted to women as to men. The hon. member spoke at considerable length in support of the motion, and quoted passages from the writings of John Stuart Mill and,, Herbert Spencer in support of the granting of equal rigbta to women. There was no single argument that could be adduced in favor of granting the franchise to men that could not be argued with still greater force on beh&lf of women. By depriving women of the franchise they deprived themselves of one-half of the social forces in existence. It was dangerous to any society to have an outcast or a pariah class, as women practically were. Whenever women had been afforded an opportunity of testing their abilities in the art of administration they had invariably shown a singular aptitude for administering and organising. It was quite impossible to expect that any unrepresented class could obtain justice. Women, should be allowed a fair field and no favor, and they would gradually settle down into those occupations for which, Nature best fitted them. In every position in life the woman w«s wronged— from the labor market up to the marriage contract itself, which from the time a woman entered she lost liberty, individuality, and property, and, in short, became the bond servant of the husband.

It appeared to him that if the franchise were given to women it would have an enormous effect in improving the morality of our young men. Women would.,fhen

be independent, and in order to win them would have first to deserve them. The Hon. M r Fox seconded the motion, but said he would avail himself of the opportunity of speaking on this subject when the Electoral Bills came on for discussion, and in which no provision was made for the franchise of women. The Hon. Mr Stout considered the motion an unheard of one, when two bills dealing with the franchise question were before the House. He hoped the hon. member would postpone his motion until such time as the Electoral Bills came before the House. Dr Wallis agreeing, the debate was adjourned. EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS. The Hon. Mr Fox moved for a return showing the number of prisoners in each goal of the colony for the last three months, specifying the labor they performed and the localities benefited, with the estimated value of work performed. The Hon. Mr Sheehan promised to supply all possible information on the matter, and the motion was withdrawn. sub-inspector o'donnell.

Mr Barff asked for a return showing the travelling expenses incurred by Commission W^ldon during his recent visit to Westlaodßi. The hon. gentleman commented at some length upon the curt dismissal which had been given to SubInspector O'Donnell by Commissioner Woldon without any apparent justification, or adducing one word of complaint against O'Donnell, who it was well known was as good an officer as could be found in the colony. The Hon. Mr Sheehan laid the papers on the table, and pointed out that the proper time to open up this question would be when the estimates for Westland came on for discussion. NATIVE BESEBVE. At the request of the Hon. Mr Taiaroa a return was promised, showing the receipts and expenditure in respect of native reserves on the West Coast and Middle Island. CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS. A return was promised to Mr O'llorke of all persons receiving pensions under the Civil Service Act, etc. The names of Messrs Eolleston and Beeves were added to the Waste Lands Committee. ENDOWMENTS.

Mr Stevens asked whether the Government would introduce a measure this session dealing with the subject of endowments for, counties and municipalities, as promised last session. The Hon. Mr Stout said ifc was simply impossible that all the road boards and municipalities in the Colony could be endowed more than they were at present. The Government, therefore, could not grant the endowments looked for. The Hon. Mr Sheehan pointed out the awkwardness of these conventions of local bodies in Wellington during session ; they found it a daily occurrence that they could not get a quorum of a committee on account of members attending these conventions as Municipal or County delegates. It was absurd to hold these conventions side by side with Parliament in session, especially when they could do all that was required by correspondence. If they sat at all they ought to do so during the recess. Mr Saunders and Mr McLean defended the action of the local bodies in sending delegates to the Municipal and County Conventions at Wellington. Mr Moss pointed out that so many members in the House represented local bodies that it seemed to him the House was under a great deal of pressure. The question was very large, and it would be better to adjourn the whole matter until such time as more light was thrown upon the subject. Mr Russell opposed the granting of endowments to local bodies unless for the purposes of charitable aid. It was absurd to talk of the way in which the value of land was enhanced by public works, and the want to set apart more land as endowments for the very land so benefited by public works. Mr O'Rorke raised strong remonstrance against refusing endowments to the newlycreated Boroughs of Auckland after certain Canterbury Boroughs had been granted rich endowments. If things were to be conducted on that principle, he heped the Government would resume possession of all remaining reserves. The debate was interrupted by 5.30