HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1238, 5 June 1880, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICES OF MOTION &C. Mr Spourhfc gave notice that he would move, " That the time had arrived when the reclamation works in connection with the Auckland Harbour be pushed forward." Mr Bain gave notice that he would, ask "The Colonial Secretary on what basis of calculation the Building Societies were expected to pay the Property tax, provided for by the vet of last year." Mr Hutchinson gave notice of a question, "Whether the Government would biing in a Bill this session relative to Chinese immigration."

LEAVE OF ABriENX'E. A fortnight's loave of absence was granted to Mr Sheehan on urgent private business.

IMMIGRATION. "Replying to Mr Richmond, as to what the Government had taken te reduce the immigration striff of agents in the United Kingdom, and also if it was their intention to limit the number of immigrants to tho&e nominated by their friends in the colony. Mr Rolleston said that at the close of I isl session, instructions of the kind had been sent to the Agent, General. All immigration agents wcie discontinued, excepting Mebbrf. Lleed and Claydon, who were uudcr two months' engagement, which could not be broken. With the exception of females, all immigration operations on the pait of the Government had ceased, in the meantime. •

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. In voply to Mr B irron, Mr Hall stated that; facilities would be provided for the bale in Dunedin of the " Ciown Lands Gnide," and such Government papers and Acts as are ii&usilly sold to the public.

A RAILWAY CROSSING. Roplvimr to Mr Stevens, Mr Oliver mul it would bo impracticable (o filter the Columbo-street railway crossiujr, but a foot bridge would be erected ;o make it as safe as po-sible. COURT l'ELh

In reply to Mr Stewart, Mv Rolleston said that new regulations v ere in course of prepaiation relating to Court fees under the Resident Magistrates Court Act, ISG7, so that the hearing fee would not be charged in actions settled out of Court.

THE EXTRA RAILWAY HOURS. Mr .Stewart asked whether the Government were acquainted with the circumstances under which instructions were lately issued to the goods porters at the Dunedin railway sheds, requiring them to work daily nine hours, or longer if required, without any increase of wages ; and whether it is the intention of the Government to require such officials to perform extra Avork without remuneration therefor. Mr Oliver replied that he was glad the question had been asked as it afforded him an opportunity of setting the public mind right on the point. He did not know that such an order had been made until it ceased to operate. During the busy season in Canterbury and Otago the hours of laborers were increased, but then again during the slack season they were not required to work full time, and one counterbalanced the other. The Government had no desire whatever to extend the oidinary hours of labor.

PARTY PKOCLbSIO>~S. Replying to Mr Pyke as to whether the Government will bring down a Bill this session to prevent religious and party public proces&ions. Mr L)ick said no ; the Government relied upon the good feeling of the public in matters of this kind.

xi:\v bills. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—The: — The Lodgers' Protection, Female Redress (Mr Stewart) ; to amend the Oam am Harbor Board Act (Mr Shrimski) ; Auctioneers (in committee), Mr Dick ; Joint Stock Companies Act, 1860, Amendment (in committee) ; Otago Harbor Bo ml Empowering, Execution Agviinst Real Estate (Mr Stewart .

RETtmx ar expenditure. Mr. Shrimski moved, " That a return be laid before the House showing in detail the amount of money expended by the General G-overnment since the abolition of provinces at Timaru, Inveroargill, New Plymouth, Waimato, and Oatnaru in the erection and construction of public buildings, namely, Court-houses, Customhouses, po-it and telegraph officer, ffaoln, hospitals, l.md and registration oliices, &c. " The motion was carried.

ABSENT MINISTERS. . Mr. SBRiaiSKi moved, "That a return

bo laid before this House showing the number of days and dates each Minister of the Crown has been absent from the seal of Government between the 19th day of December, 1879, and tho 27th day of May, 1880." The motion was discussed at somelength, an effort being made to get the Mover to withdraw the motion . Sir George Grey demurred to (he proposal. He said it was a constant complaint against the members of the late Government that they had been constantly runuing about the country. The return asked for would be valuable so as to enable the doings of the Government to be compared with those of their predecessors. Mr. GisnoßNC said that a similar motion had, somo sessions ago, been moved by the member for Egmont, and nothing was then said about its being frivolous. till lie thought that inotiou3 of this kirid -hould not be brought forward. The motion w.is eventually withdrawn.

MAJOR KKPA'S DISMISS \L. Mrßillanoo moved, "That there be laid before this House all papers connected with tho recent dismissal from office o*" the Chief, Major Kepa, Raugihiwinui." Tho motion was put and carried.

LAND TAX DEFAULTERS. Mr Shrim^ki moved, '• That a return be laid before tho Hou«c, showing the number of defaulters, and the amounts due, under the Land Tax in each provincial district, as on the Ist instant." The motion was cairied.

INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE. Mr Murray mover], " That a committee be appointed to whom may be referred all petitions and matters specially relating" to .igiiculturo, commerce, manufacturing*, .md mmmg 1 other than goldmiuing."

WORKS 2*OItTH OF AUCKLAND. Mr George moved, " Th.it copies 'of all naper*, telegrams, &c, in reference to budges over the rivers Orewa, Waiwora, Puhoi, and also all papers in reference to deviation of main Great North Road, byway of Waiwera Hot Sp rulers, JSorth Auckland, be laid before the House."

THE DUAL TRIP OF THE lIINEMOA. Dr. Wallis moved, "That there be laid before the House all telegram* and othev correspondence relating to sending the Hinemoa, s.s., to Auckland two trips m order to bring the Auckland members to Wellington to attend the present session of the Assembly." The motion was put and lost on the voices. A JOINT COMMITTEE. On the motion of Mr. vSeymour, a Joint Committee of the Selection and the Committee on the Standiug Orders was appointed. Mr Tamoaxa moved— "That all petitions not reported upon by the Native Affairs Committee last session be brought on again for consideration. " The motion was carried. SECOND READINGS. Mr Hall moved the second reading of the Electric Telegraph Act, 187<3, Amendment Bill. The motion was carried. Mr Bryce moved the second reading of the Ahauturanga Land Bill. The motion wus carried.

REGULATION OF ELECTIONS. On the motion to go into committee on the Regulation of Elections Bill, Mr George thought it would be better to postpone the Bill until the Re-distribu-tion of Seats Bill was before them, inasmuch th.it the provisions of the latter might to s^rae extent affect the former. Clause 34, for example, of the Regulation of .Elections Bill would have to be altered in the event of the other Bill being- what it was generally expected to be. He also suggested as an amendment he should wish to see adopted that members accepting portfolios should be made to return to their constit.iifnts at once to seek for re-election. That course had been followed in England for many years past, and would have a good effect amongst us. It would prevent members walking over from one .side of the House to the other, for no better reason than simply to secure a on the Government benches. He a'so suggf^ted further amendments of a minor character. He asked that the Bill .should be postponed. Mr Diclc sai^ that the Re -distribution of Seats Bill would not be down for a few days yet, and it would be a serious inconvenience if the business — for in reality they had nothing more on the Older P.mer to go on with — were to be delayed till then. Mr Tolo spoke in favor of the postponement. He contended that the Bill to a great extent affected the question of readjustment, and therefore it would be better to consider them both together. Moreover, it had been stated that the Government did not seriously intend to bring down the redistribution measure. If such were not the case, no harm could result from a short delay. Mr Montgomery had no objection to go on with the first two or three clauses if the Government would then agree to report progress, lie agreed in thinking it should be considered in conjunction with the poposed re-distribution measure. Mr DeLautour also spoke in favor of adjournment. The motion for going into committee was then put and carried. Clause 12, " Every duly registered elector desiring to be a candidate for any district shall give notice to the Returning Officer there for." Mr DeLautour moved, as an amendment—" That the clause be read, ' Every person desirous of being a candidate.' " On a division, " That the clause stand as printed."' The division list was as follows : — Ayes. — Adams, Allwriq-ht, Bain, Beetham, "Brandon, Bryce, Colbeck, Dick, Fisher, R. B. Buller, Fox, Gibbs, Hall, Hamlin, Hursthouse, Kelly, Levin, McDonald, Murray, Oliver, Pitt, Pyke, Richmond, Rolleston, Richardson, Saunders, .shepherd, Stevens, Sutton, Swanson, Trimble. Wakefield, , Wallis, Wood. Noes. — Andrews, Ballanco, Barron De Lautour, Fisher, J. T. (Heathcote), George, Gisborne, Grey' Hutchison, Ireland, Lundon, Maeamlrew, Montgomery, Moss, Reid, Shrimski, Speight Stewait, Tainui" Tawhai, Tole. Sir George Grey moved as a further amendment— "That the word 'or any person who has at any time been a duly quaified elector' be inserted after the word elector in the first line. The amendment; was put and lost on the voices The sitting was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. On resuming in c-mmitteo, progress was reported at 7.35, and the Honse adjourned.