HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5147, 16 July 1885, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday. The House met at 2.30 p.m.

Tbe Congregational Union Incorporation Bill was read a third time and passed.

Leave of absence was granted to Mr Pearson for a week, and Captain Russell for ten days, on urgent private business. Replying to questions, it was stated that a petition had been received from Fiji,.praying for annexation by a portion of the inhabitants ; that full information respecting district railways proposed to be purchased by the colony would be laid on the table shortly.

Mr Fisher's motion that £2,000 be placed on the Estimates to properly form streets on the reclaimed land in Wellington was lost.

A motion was for appointing a committee to see whether it is advisable or otherwise of printing under contract with private offices any part of Government printing.

On the motion that the report of the committee on the Employment of Females and Others Act 1881 Amendment Sill be agreed to, there was a long discussion.— Mr Levestam moved that the bill be re* committed for the purpose of moving some amendments.—The amendment for recommittal was carried on a division by 43 against 25 —Mr Tole moved that the bill be re committed for the consideration of Clause 3, which was agreed to.—The bill being re-committed, Mr Fitzherbert moved an addition to Clause 3, providing that no young person shall be employed more than 48 hours per week, or 8J hours per day.— The amendment was carried on the voices. —An amendment was moved that Resident Magistrates, or the Inspector in the district, may in cases of emergency allow young persons to work overtime in factories.—On a division the amendment was carried by 35 to 25.—Mr Ross moved a further amendment, "That in such cases it should not be compulsory to any young person to work such overtime."—-The amendment was negatived on the voices. —Some discussion ensued on Mr James McKenzie's motion, to strike out the words " without loss of wages," referring to holidays on New Year's Day, Easter Monday, and any other day set apart as a holiday by Government, was negatived on the voices, and the Bill reported with amendment, read a third time and passed. Mr Hatch moved the second reading of the Sale of Poisons Bill, and briefly explained its provisions, which were to make further and better regulations for the sale of p&isons.—Carried without discussion.

On Mr Steward's motion tbat tbe House go into committee on the School Committees Bill, Mr W. F. Buckland moved that the Bill be read that day three months.—The Premier opposed the bill, as likely to destroy tbe educational system.—Mr Turnbull strongly attacked the Premier, and said no sooner were any amendments moved in educational matters than they were told that they would destroy tbe system at present in force. He hoped amendments would -be made 10 as to make the education system as perfect as possible.—On a division the motion for going; into committee was carried by 36 to J5.

The motion for going into committee on the Armed Constabulary Amendment Bill and Gaming and Lotteries Amendment Bill was carried.

The House went into committee on the Armed Constabulary Bill, which provided for extending the franchise to the Armed Constabulary.—Major Atkinson objected to the bill, and moved that the Chairman leav6 the chair.—The Premier and Mr Ballanee supported the bill, and did not tbink any harm could be done by placing the Act on the Statute Book.—Sir G. Grey could not see how constables would fee influenced if the franchise was extended to them. He supported the bill.—The amendment was lost on the voices.—Mr Guinness moved an amendment that it refer to the civil branch of the force.— The amendment was carried, and the bill reported with amendment.

The House went into Committee on the Gaming and potteries Bill (Hobbs). The bill does away with sweeps, and provides for penalties on persons exhibiting placards or advertising sweepstakes or lotteries. — After a short discussion the bill passed through Committee with amendment. The House went into Committee on the School Committee Elections Bill, which was passed.—Mr W. D. Stewart moved an additional four new clauses, the principal one being that children should attend school on thirty days in each quarterly term.—The clauses were agreed to. —The bill was reported with amendments, as was also the Armed Constabulary Amendment Bill.

The Gaming and Lotteries Act was read a third time and passed.

The debate on the second reading of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill was rev sumed by Mr Peacock, who said the preient system, with all its faults, was

better than the proposal before the House, and he would oppose its pass^n.

This day. Messrs Richardson, Guinness, Brown, Buchanan, Lovestam, Keese, and Hatch supported the second reading, and Messrs Gore, W. White, Newman, and Hurst opposed the Bill.—Mr Pyke said the principle that all parties should contribute alike was excellent, but he did not approve of the manner in which it was proposed, under the Bill, to carry it out. If the Bill was carried the result as far as Otago was concerned would be that the Board would be comprised of 40 gentlemen who would have to meet in Dunedin to administer charitable aid in that district; he would endeavor to amend the Bill in Committee.—The Premier said it was entirely misleading to say that one large Board managed all the institutions in a district; it was distinctly provided that each institution should be incorporated. He did not say the Bill was not open to amendment, and when in Committee Government would say what amendments would be agreed to.—Messrs Stewart, Lake, and Joyce spoke in favor of the Bill, and Mr Fergus moved the adjournment of the debate.—-The House rose at 12.20.