PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2913, 1 June 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

Legislative Council.

THUESDAY, MAY 31

The Council met at the usual hour. Mr Olliver gave notice to move next Tuesday, " That, in the opinion of this Council, m the present financial state of the Colony, it is advisable to effect economy in the Education Department, and that therefore the school age should be raised to six years, and that the Education Boards should be abolished."

Mr Hart gave notice to move on the following day, " That, in the present depressed condition of the finances, it is, in the opinion of this Council, advisable that a tax should be imposed upon all totalisators used on racecourses." The Coroners' Amendment Bill was read a third time, and passed all final stages. The Council, at <1.45 adjourned till next day. House of Representatives. EVENING SITTING.

Major Steward moved the second reading of the Endowment Eeserves Administration Bill, He pointed out that there were large areas of land in the Colony suitable for settlement which were practicably locked up as endowment reserves, and the object of the Bill was to throw these lands open to settlement without inflicting any injury. The Bill provided for memorial from persons desirous of leasing any portion of a reserve, and if the Trustees of such reserve failed to grant a lease, the application would be referred to the Governor, who, after proper enquiry had been made, could give the lease, and fix the area by proclamation,

Mi' Downie Stewart and Mr Bruce opposed the Bill on the ground that it would deprive trustees of such reserves of all control of them.

On a division, the motion for second reading was carried by 33 to 29, and the Bill was referred to the Waste Lands Committee.

Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Contagious Diseases Act Repeal Bill. Dr Hodgkinson supported the Bill, and expressed regret at the levity with which the subject was treated by members, who had laughed while he was speaking. He was, he said, ashamed to be a member of the House, looking at the way in which such a serious subject was approached. Mr Pyke opposed the Bill, and pointed out that the Act had been declared to be a boon to Auckland. The opposition to the Act, he said, was prompted by a number or women who thought they could keep their husbands virtuous if it was repealed. He submitted that it was not the poorer classes who patronised abandoned women.

Dr Fitchett, speaking against the Bill, vigorously denounced the sentinientalisra which prompted the sapporters of the Bill, and suggested that the gentlemen who protested so loudly against the Act, as well as against the totalisator, knew very little of what they talked about. He ridiculed the idea that legislation could not restrict vice without encouraging it.

After further discussion the motiai for the second reading was lost, 01 division, by 87 to 20,

The House rose at 1.5.a.m.