HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4897, 19 September 1884, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Perpetual Trustees Estate and Agency Company's New Zealand Bill was adopted as reported.

Beplying to questions put, it was stated —That as country Volunteers had only to parade four times a year, and garrison Volunteers twelve times, Government would not make the capitation allowance in the one case the same as in the other; Government had under consideration the propriety of reserving native land in.the vicinity of the Main Trunk Railway line from sale, and proposals re dealing in lands ten miles on each side of the line would be made during the session; Government was disposed to deal fairly with unemployed persons desrious of securing work ; a South Island Natives Reserves Bill would not be introduced this session ; Colonial coal would be exclusively used in institutions under the control of the Government; There was no intention to elect a committe of North Island members to consider the East and West Coast railway. Sir Julius Vogel further explained that the Government proposed to bring down a Bill this session to encourage the work being taken up by private enterprise; A Bill for imposing a duty on boiled fruit would not be provided for this session ; The application of Wm. Pox, goldfields discoverer, would be considered in connection with his petition.

The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—To amend the laws relating to native lands (Pere); Middle Island East and West Coast and Nelson railways (Vogel) ; alienation of land (Connolly) ; The Timaru Market and City of Dunedin Leasing Powers Bill was read a second time.—The following Bills passed through Committee and were read a third time and passed :—Auckland College and Grammar School Act Amend ment; Hokitika Racecourse Reserves; Napier Harbour Board Loan Empowering.

Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Members' Honorarium Reduction Bill, and explained its pro» visions, which were that if the measure passed the members of the House who sat in the last session would only receive half the honorarium; and he thought that amount would be sufficient.—Mr Trimble opposed the bill, and moved its second reading that day six months.—Sir J. Vogel thought it unfair that the bill should pass. He did npt think that old members should be subject to a retrospective clause, and he asked the mover to withdraw the bill, and not press it at the present. Unless this course was followed he would support the amendment.—Mr Seddon thought, the mover should be consistent, as he (Sir George Grey) spoke in favor of the amount being fixed, and said each member should receive the full amount of the honorarium, as he took the chance of a long or short session. Mr Seddon continued that, seeing Government had a measure on the Order Paper dealing with the matter, he hoped the bill would be withdrawn.—Mr Bevan also favored the withdrawal.—Mr Grigg and Mr Peacock opposed the withdrawal, and on a division the bill was thrown out by 42 to 23.

Mr Steward moved the second reading of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill, and entered into a long explanation of its provisions. Mr Harper seconded, and was glad to see that the Bill proposed triennial elections of Commissioners, instead of yearly. The Bill had many advantages, of which the principal one was the provision made for compensation when licenses were refused. Another good point was the doing away with bottle licenses, which he characterised as doing an immense amount of harm.—Mr Fulton contended that the Bill was one i which would give perpetual licenses to publicans.—Mr Wakefield thought the form in which the Bill was brought up very objectionable, and unless members were conversant with the present Act, they would not be able to understand this. He understood that the Bill was introduced at the instigation of the Licensed Victuallers' Associations of the colony, and it was a measure which required very careful watching on the part of members. He considered the operation of the present law as singularly successful, and unless there was a great public necessity for a repeal, he would not like to see its provision relaxed. Better hotels had been built under the existing law, and in some instances they compared favorably with those of Australia. He strongly condemned the clause which provided for the imprisonment of a prohibited person should he get intoxicated as most arbitrary and cruel.—Mr Fergus moved that the Bill be read that day six mouths —Mr Hobbs thought the holders ot bottle licenses should be compensated as well as holders of publicans' licenses. -—Mr Stewart considered the administration of the Licensing Act had been a great failure. He also objected to the clause referring to prohibited persons, and he thought it would be wise to at once excise the clause.—Mr Hatch would vote for the second reading.—Mr Smith was of opinion that two important points had feeeo

omitted from the Bill, viz , the size of the licensing districts, which he held were nowj too small, and also as to the increase of the franchise. He would, if the Bill got into Committee, move that every man and woman residing in the licensing district should have a vote.—Mr Grigg would vote against the second reading. He would admit that certain amendments were necessary in the present law, but under the circumstances he thought it would be better to leave the law as it stood.

This day. The debate on the Licensing Act Amendment was continued until 12.30, when a division was taken on the motion for the second reading—Ayes, 39; noes, 16. The second reading was carried.

Mr Smith uioTed the second reading of the Schools Inspection Bill, explaining that its objects were to provide for the appointment of a School Inspector by the Governor, and for the shifting of Inspectors once in every three years.—Mr Ballance asked the House to reject the Bill, and the motion for the second reading being lost by 25 to 21, the Bill was thrown out, and the House adjourned.