PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3599, 9 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Pkess Association.)

HOUSE OF EEPEESENTATIVES.

The House resumed at 2.30. Sir George Grey presented a petition from Mr Ehrenfried praying for an enquiry into the circumstances connected with the refusal of certain licenses at the Thames, and he gave notice of motion for the appointment of a committee to enquire into the same. Mr Moorhouse gave notice of a question as to whether Government had authorised the Agent General to attend and participate in meetings held in England re the unity of the Empire. In replying to questions it was stated that Government considered that it was desirable to keep steadily in view the introduction of a uniformity of education, but not to make a sudden change. Fines imposed by the Telegraphic Department were paid into a special account, and were not subject like other revenue to appropriation and audit. There were rules for dealing with them. An agreement was made with the Middle Island .Railway Commissioners for a salary of £900, and a bonus of £500 if his management was approved of. The balance was paid by the authority of the late Government, by whom the agreement was entered into. Colonel Scratchley's report on defence would shortly be produced. Instructions had been given to the Agent-General to make a contract for the supply of fire-arms for cadet corps. Sir W. Fox gave notice that he would move for the correspondence between the South Island Eailway Commissioners relative to the payment of a £500 bonus. The Peace, Preservation Local Public Works, and Eating Act Amendment Bills were introduced, and read a first time. Mr DeLautour moved that the Government workshops be made available for tbe pratical instruction of boys receiving instruction for half time at one or more of the primary or secondary schools in their neighbourhood; that primary or secondary schools, or some of them which may be so situated as to enable boys receiving instruction therein to attend half time at any Government workshop, should be organised with a view to engraft practical instruction upon the education system at present by law carried out. He said that the motion was merely made with the intention of directing the attention of the Government to the importance of the subject. Mr Eolleston admitted the importance of the proposal, and tbe motion was put and carried. : . The debate was resumed on the question, that this House is of opinion that the Government should cease to borrow further, either for the purpose of carrying on the immigration or public works policy, or for the purpose of defraying appropriation of the ordinary expense of the Government.—The motion, that it be postponed till that day six months, was put and carried on a division by 28 to 23.

On the motion of Major Te Wheoro, it was agreed that the report from the Native Affairs Committee on the petition which set forth certain interference of the line of the Waikato railway with an old burial place situate at Taupiri Gorge, be acted on; also, that a grant of land asked for in the petition be made as per recommendation of the said Committee. Mr Beeves moved that there be laid before this House a return showing the number of breweries in New Zealand, the number of barrels of beer brewed by the several breweries, and the description of materials used in brewing as provided by the Distillation Act, 1868. The motion was agreed to. Adjourned at 5.30.