PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1426, 10 July 1883, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Bv Telegraph.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30 p.m. Mr McDonald took the oath and his seat for , 'Bruce., ■'' 'SicGeohoe Gsiy'inoved tho'aecond reading of tho Constitution Aot Amend- . ment Bill, No. 2. It was the same Bill which had been bofore the House last : session, and was intended to provide '• against the occurrence of a dead-lock between the two Chambers. The people of this colony had he held an inherent right to determine tho form of the constitution undor which they would lire, and this Bill would really socuro that right to them. It would prevent constituencies being terrorised or bribed, and instead of tho sham of an appeal to the people in the ordinary way as at present, the real voice would he heard by a plebiscite before their rights were taken away as they had been by the abolition of the provincial syatem. Major Atkinson had nut heard a single good roason given for the Bill, This Bill would enormously increase the powor of the Legislative Council, and destroy that of the House, for the Council would have power to force a,plebiscite He held that the will of tho ponplo had been fully con- ' suited bofore aboli ion took placo, and on the exporionco of other countries ho altogether objected to a plebiscite. 1 Mr Shephebb opposed the Bill. A plebiscite would simply mean giving all the powor to the largo towns. Mr Macanmiew said that Otago and Auckland had almost to a man opposed abolition, hut their voice had been unfairly swamped. Sir G. Giiey replied, and the House dividod, the Bill boing thrown out by 4G to 24. In tho Eight Hours' Bill Mr Buyce . moved that the Chairman do leave the chair, After a long discussion tho com mittee divided; ayes, 31; noes, 31. Tho Chairman gave his voico with the noes, and the discussion proceeded. A very long discussion took placo on the Eight Hours Bill. A motion by Mr Tnrnbnll that it should not apply to farm or domestic servants, was loßt by 34 to 23, On clause 2 being put it was struck out by 30 to 24, This being tho only opora tive clause, the Uill was thou loft (o consist only of a short title. It was reported to be amended, and Green moved it be recommitted on Bth August. This was lost by 30 to 28, and tho Bill Has thrown out altogether, The House divided on Sir Geokoe Gbby's motion to go into Committee on tho Law Practitioners Bill, Ayes, 34; noes, 31. The Bill was passed through Committee without amendment. On the motion for the third reading tho Houso divided, ayes, 32; noes 32, The speaker said as there was a further stage he would vote aye. The Bill road a third time, On tho question that the Bill pass, tho Houso again divided: ayes, 34; noes, 34. The Speaker said that as tho Houso was bo equally dividod on the Bill, and as tho portals of admission to the law had been opened very wide last year, lib would givo his vote with the noes. The Bill was thrown out. The Houso rose at 12 o'clock,