HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1410, 16 July 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30.

The Inspector of Prisons. Mr Tumbull gave notice that he would ask if Government intended to give effect to certain recommendations concontained in the report of the Inspector of Prisons.

Public Works Act Amendment. The Public Works Act Amendment Bill was introduced by message from tlie Governor and read a first time.

Abolition Act. Mr Mheehan gave notice of his intention to introduce a bill to repeal the Abolition of Provinces Act.

Questions. Replying to questions put, it was stated :— That no slight was intended in reappointing Mr Osborne a member of the Bluff Harbor Board, as an appointment of the kind gave no right to expect reappointment. The Government could see no necessity for refunding the 10 per cent, deducted from workmen in the Government quarries at Greymouth. The deduction was made in conformity with an order of Parliament; the men were paid 9s and 10s per, day, 1 and no reason had been shown for making this an exception to the general rule respecting these reductions. The Government would consider a proposal for issning railway i stamps of the value of from 8d to 20s, i to be obtained from railway guards, and available , for payment of railway fares, but the' check upon guards obtaining money in that was slight, and Govern- 1 meat, had no wish to increase the risk "thereby occasioned. A, telegram had been received from the Agent-General relative

to the ' actuaries' report 6n the Life In-. puvance Department. It read : " Actuaries leport to-day; finance department declared sound. Surplus, £77,000, pronounced very good; lecoramend divide £60 000. Gives groat credit department. Instruot whether wire other points."

Licensing Bill. The Licensing Bill was further considered in committee. Claut-e 126 was amended, on the motion of Mr Jones, j;o read " No female other than the wife or daughter of a licensee shall be employed in a bar more than 10 hours, and not later than 11 o'clock p.m. Clause 128 was struck out. CLuse 31, "A bottle license shall authorise licensee to sell," was restored by 36 to 14 votes. The schedules were then passed with a few technical instructions, and the bill reported with amendments, and the report ordered to be considered on Tuesday.

Eegulation of ElectionsThe Regulation of Elections Bill was re-introduced, and read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 5.30.