PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8236, 14 September 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, September 13. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock. The Town Districts Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Regiotration of Births Extension Bill and Opium Prohibtiou Act Amondmant Bill were received from the other Chamber, and were a second time. The Attorney General moved the second reading of the Juvenilo Offenders Bill. The second reading was agreed to. , The Sale of Explosives Bill was amended in Ccmmitteo by fixing the age limit for the purchase of explosives at 15 years instead of 18 year-i, as provided in the Bill. The Counoil rose at 4.45 o'clook. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met nt 2.30 o'clock. The New Plymouth Boruugh and the Taranaki School Commissioners Exchange Bill, Haveiock Athenaeum Incorporation Act 1877, Amendment Bill, and the Wairuuum Stream Drainage Bill, were read a second time on the voices. Sir W. Steward moved the second reading of the Marriage Validation Aut Extension Bill. The House divided (ayes 1(5, noes 44). The Bill was lost. The House adjourned for dinner at 5.30 O'clock. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 o'olook. M? Laurensou moved the second reading of th« Saturday Universal Half-holiday Bill. He urged the benefits to the community generally of the measure, and said he had evidence of experiences ia various cities which encourage the belief that the shopkeepers will not suffer. He claimed that the experience of the closing of the factories, banks and other houses of business proved that the public would easily get accustomed to the closing of the shops. Mr Arnold could not give a silent vote on such an important measure, whion ought to be fully discussed even if it had no chanoe of getting on the Statute Book this session. He would prefdr a measure confining the universal Saturday half-holiday to the chief oeutres, and laiger boroughs. The Premier hoped the country would not embark on such an extensive subjeot. In reference to the Bill he oritioised it as ignoring the looal option principle which suited all the various interests affected. The passing of the measure would only increase the present chaos so much complained of. He objected to any proposal confining the halfholiday to the Borongbs without reference to the country districts, whose interests would he affected. As to the universal half-holiday he thought for his part that if such a thing ever came to pass Wednesday would be found, judging by present experience of that day, to be the favourite with the public. Mr J. McLaohlan opposed the Bill. Mr P. Mander tnought Wednesday suited the town and country better than Saturday. Mr H. G. Ell said that the workers were the very people who were calling for the universal Saturday halfholiday. That day certainly suited the vast number of people addicted to sport of various kinds, and they were probably the bulk of the population. Much had been said about shopping needs, but the average man, he held, could do all the shopping he wanted in one or two hours every month. Moreover the wives could do the family shopping at any time they liked, and probably did it now. He hoped the Bill would be passed. i Mr A. W. Hogg opposed the. Bill. His impression was that the people behind the Bill were going too far. Restrictions were getting so numerous that attempts presently would be made to regulate everything in the universe, inolading the sunshine. It teminded him that he knew a nian in Mount View whose fixed idea was that the world was wrong because it went round too fast by two hourq in every revolution. He denounced those*attempts at restriction ss exceedingly selfish and drastic. Tiie Hon. Mr Millar objected to the Bill as not representing the public opinion. He would advise the member for Lyctelton to take a second reading if he oonld get It, and bring up the Bill later on in au improved form. The House divided -Ayes 23, noea 47. The Bill was lost. The following is the division list on the Saturday Bill (no pairs):— Ayes (23): Messrs Arnold, Barclay, Buddo, Colvin, Dillon, Ell, Fisher, Fowlda, Hanau, Hojzan, Hornsby, Izard, Laurensou, R. MuKeuzie, Millar, Poland, Poole, Reid, Remington, Rutherford, Sidey, Tanner,';Wilford. Noes (47): Messrs Alison, J. Allen, Barber, Baume, Bennett, Bollard, Carroll, Davey, Duncan, Field, Flatman, A. L. D. Fraser, VV. Fraaer, Graham, Gray, Greenslade, Hall, Hall-Jones, Hardy, Herri 80, Hogg, Houston, Jennings, Kldd, Kirkbride, Lawry, Lelhbridge, MoGowan, T. MoKenzie, McLaohlan, McNab, Major, Mander, Mossey, Mills, Parata, Rhodes, Ross, Seddou, Smith, Stallworthy, Stevens, Steward, Symes, Ward, Witty, Wood. Mr Major moved the second reading of the Farriers' Bill, for the registration of farriers before January Ist next, the qualification being (1) not loss than a year's practice of farriery, (2) the passing of such examination aa may be prescribed by the Chief Veterinarian, The second reading was passed. The House adjourned t»t 11.40 o'clock.