Evening Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3394, 7 November 1879, Page 2

Evening Sitting.

The House having resumed, the debate on E. B. Worgan was continued at considerable length, a large number of members joining in the discussion. On a division being taken, the amendment was lost, the rotes being—Ayes 21, Noes 41. CANTEBBUBY SHOW. Mr Hall said that a requisition, signed by a number of members, asking, that the Hinemoa be placed at the disposal of members desirous of being present at the Canterbury Agricultural Show, had been preseuted. The House would not be adjourned for the purpose, but the steamer | would be given for the purpose asked, and that she would leave Wellington to- j morrow evening, when the business had concluded. ABOLITION" OF rMFHISONJIEUT I'Olt DEBT BILL. Mr Adams suggested that this Bill should be withdrawn. He pointed out that the Act at present in operation was quite sufficient for the protection of men who had not the means to pay. On the other hand, he argued that there ought to be some compulsion in the case of those who were able to pay tluir debts, and persistently refused. Mr Rolleston likewise spoke in similar terms.

Mr Moss said that imprisonment for debt was a resource reserved against small debtors. As the thing now stood, it was a mere fiction : the debtor was not imprisonmed for not paying, but for con» tempt. Mr Andrews spoke in faTor of the Bill. It was, he said, the wives and families of debtors imprisoned for debt who were made to suffer ; it was not the sharp class of fellows who were punished. Th<?y took good care not io be caught in that way. Mr Hutybiuson said the Legislature had

most effectually abolished imprisonment for llu» man that contracted debt to the fxtt-nf. of hundreds ot thousands of pounds; tlurr could .whitewash themsen 1 a without any difficulty, and it was unfair to retain it against the poorer debtors —it whh ohu law for tue rich and another for the poor.

Mr Tole said in reality there had been more imprisontn«nt for debt since the socalled übiiliiiou of »!ebt had come in force than* before; st-Il he thought the 'Bill should! be allowed to lie over uutiiit had been s more fully understood by the country at large. Mr Speight 3poke in favor of the bill. Progress was reported and leave granted to sit again. ' A number of bills of minor importace were then passed through committee, and the House adjourned at 12.80.