HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3425, 13 December 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. Mr Stevens brought up the report of the Public Acts Committee.

FOB THE CONVENIENCE OF THE POBWC.

Mr Andrews asked if the Government will take the necessary-steps *to extend the money order system to £20 instead of £10, as it exists at present. Mr Hall replied in the negative. Th» postal statistics did not warrant the Department in believing that the concession was required. .Replying to Mr Lundon, Mr Jtolleston said the Government was not prepared to give effect to the report of the Waste Lands Committee upon the petition of the Borough Council of Onehunga on the subject of granting to the Borough of Onehunga an endowment under the 350 th section of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. IN COMMITTEE. The House went into committee on the I Working Men's Club Sites Bill. j Mr Wallis said there was not any reason why this privilege should be conceded to Working Men's Clubs. There ! were other equally institutions such as Mechanics Institutes, Temperance Societies, and Christian Associations, which ought to be included. Sir George Grey said the objects of these institutions were very easily defined they were all furnished upon principle of affording instruction. He was a member of one of these clubs himself, and testified to the efficient manner in which they were conducted. Mr Gisborne also testified to the good conduct maintained in connection with, these clubs, and expressed an opinion that it would be well to encourage such estab- 1 lishmvnlf. Mr Ireland spoke in opposition to the bill. \ • „ „; ' ■"/..■ ■•';

Mr Andrews suggested that, the Government would reserre to itself tfce power to preyeut clufci degenerating into

mere drinking saloons and places .of „resortrfor other vicious purposes. %M* Murray spoke'iu similar terms, and suggested that a proviso should be added to the effect that no spiritous liquors 'should be sold on the premises. Ho concluded by moving that a clatue to that effect be added to the bill.

The additional clause wns put and negatived on the voices. The bill as printed was passed. ANOTHEB HABBOTJB WANTS TO BOBHOTV MONEY. The Otago Harbour Board Empowering Bill was committed. " Mr Macandrew said that if borrowing powers to the extent of £250,000 were granted to the Board, the House would be committing an egregrious blunder. The money already spent had been spent <in a reckless waste. Had they given only £20,000 at first, he believed there would have been much more efficient management.. £50,000 pounds was sufficient for securing a dredge, and that Was all that was required. A great mistake had been made by giving the Board too much money, and it had gone to work in a hop, skip and jump way. The result of Sir Ji Coode's report, he believed, would be to show that the whole money had been thrown into the sea. Sir John Coode had told them that if the works went on as they were going he believed they would rise some morning and find the bar wholly blocked up. Mr Dick said that Mr Macandrew, who represented Fort Chalmers,, was simply actuated by jealousy, so as to prevent ships going past the port to Dunedin. The channel was partly cut to Dunedin, and unless they got the money asked for the.work would be rendered useless. All the works carried on by the Board to be approved of by the Governor in Council. * -"•

Mr Barron moved that the amount be restricted to £100,000; he thought that would prevent the Board from dealing extravagantly with the funds. „..-/ Mr Thomson »aid that years ago evidence was given before a Committee of the late Provincial Council to the effect that the certain harbor works proposed would injure the mouth of the harbor, and recent events had borne out that evidence.

He moved that the amount be £50,000 which was lost on a division. The amendment for £100,000 was then put and carried. ' '-. :

Mr Macand re w moved the in sertion of a new clause to the effect that a portion of the money should be spent on the entrance to the harbor, bat was lost on a division.

The Working Mens' Club Site Bill was reported, read a third time and passed, also the Otago Harbor Board Endowment Bill as amended.

Major Atkinson - moved the second reading of the Customs Duties Bill. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.