PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5129, 25 June 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Pbe Pbess Association).

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday,

Replying to questions, it was stated that the first part of the Maori Lexicon would be ready in January next; that the increased duty on books, from 10 per cent, to 15 per cent., was imposed for revenue purposes; that Government could not quite make provision for the expense of the accused in criminal cases; that Government had under consideration the placing of a sum on the Estimates to give effect to the report on the petition! of Alfred Charles Kimbell; that district railways would be constructed under the Local Finance and Powers Bill at the request of local bodies, who would be responsible for half the cost; that no correspondence has been received respecting the action of the University Senate in prescribing a certain class of books for the use of male and female students.

The following Bills were introduced :— The Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill, (O'Connor); the Thames Harbor Board Empowering Bill (Fraser); the Bating Act Amendment Bill (Turnbull) ; the Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill (.Tole); the Divorce and Matrimonial Clauses Act 1886 Amendment Bill (Tole); a Bill to amend " The Impounding Act, 1884" (Buckland); the Sale of Poison Bill (Hatch); a Bill to authorise the Cor* poration of the town of Invercargill to consolidate certain loans (Hatch); the Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bill (Seddon).

Mr McAndrew moved that for the remainder of the session this House shall meet at half-past ten o'clock in the foreoodn, and that the Standing Orders Com* mittee be instructed to amend the Standing Orders so as to give effect to the reso lution.—The motion after a lengthy discussion, was carried by 38 against 31. Mr Fitzherbert moved that it be an instruction to the Standing Orders Committee to consider and report'as to the desirability of some rule in the amendment of Standing Orders in the direction that when the Honsehasbeen counted out twice during the speech of an honourable member, such speech shall, after the second counting, be deemed to be concluded.— Mr Stout opposed the motion, as being against all liberty of speech.—After some discussion the motion was negatived.

Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Plurality of Voting Bill.— Mr Peacock opposed the Bill, as he considered its proposals should be embodied in a more comprehensive measure.—Mr Stout favored the Bill, because he considered one vote sufficient for each. man. —Messrs Hobbs, Dargaville, and Smith supported, and Messrs Buckland and Hurst opposed the Bill.—* The second reading was agreed to on a division by 37 to 25.

Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners Bill.— Mr Hobbs considered the Bill a dangerous one, and moved, as an amendment, that the Bill be read six months hence.— Messrs Moss, M. J. S. McKenzie, Joyce, Turnbull, Fraser, Levestam,.Hislop, Seddon, and Fisher spoke in support of the Bill, and Messrs Samuels, Garrick, and MeDtei'h against the principle.—Sir George Grey having replied, a division was taken that the Bill be now read a second time—ayes, 30; noes, 28.—The Bill was ordered to be committed on the 15th July.

This day. After the supper adjournment last night, the Presbyterian Church Property Bill, and the Adoption of Children's Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. The Imprest Supply Bill passed through Committee, and was read a third time. The House adjourned at 11.20 p.m.