HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1905, 20 September 1884, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THURSDAY. A considerable amount of routine business was transacted, suid seveial bills were ad\ anced a stage. Sir G. (hey moved the .second reading of the Members' Honoiaiium Reduction Hill. If canicd mom hers who sat in the labt se^bion n-ould only receive half the amount, which was very fair compensation for thpir services. He had expected that the Legislative Council would have moved in this direction, and he had included them in. this measure so as to relieve them from the difficulties of the situation. Col. Trimble, Sir Julius Vogel, Messrs Seddon, Hatch and Cadman opposed the bill, and Mr Peacock suppoited it. On a division the motion for second reading was lost by 42 to 23. Mi Steward moved the second reading of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill. He e*ipl uned that the distinguishing features of the Bill were optional endorsements, tiiennial elections, and of compensation in the c imj of licences taken from .no fault of the licen.see. "Pealing with the first proposition, he argued that under the compulsory endorsement the licensee was subjected to great hauls-hips; for example, the adulteration of liquor was an offence which, undor the existing law, must be endorsed on the ceitih'cate. In the case of adulteration with water, if the licensee exceeded a obtain pinpnition, then it was an offence, and as such had to be enclosed on the ceitificate. Water, be it leiiiembeiod, was not attended by seiions effects, similar to many chemical drugs. On the contrary, w.iter in many instances was the ie\erse of deleteiious. .Respecting the triennial elections, he urged that on the score of economy alone it would be of gieat ben ice to the State. In the absence of a compensation clause great hardships were entailed on r,hc holders of the^e licenses. ■ Mr Harper suppoited the bill, and Mr Fulton opposed the compensation clause. Mr Wiiki'field »a,id the bill was introduced in the interests, of the licensed victualler-,, and should be carefully watched. The 18th clause of the Act was one of a paiticulaily reprehensible character. It provided that, if a person agiin^t whom a prohibition older had been ivuied, was found drunk, he was to bo liable to one month's linpiisonment, and for a second offence not les-> than one nor moie than two months. That was altogether a reversal of the wise and humane law of prohibition. It was not the man who supplied the hquoi , but the pool half-ci .w,ed mdmdual on whose beh.ilf the law was- made. It was a wicked and illogical piopos.il, and one which .should condemn the whole bill. Aftei some further discussion, the motion for the .second leading was canied on a division by 38 to K>. The Schools Inspection Bill was thrown out on the motion for second reading. The House adjourned at 12.40 a.m.

FRIDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Walker g,ue notice of motion that cmintiy volunteer corps be placed on a more satisfactoi y footing. Mr Sedclon gave notice that \cndors of ]>alcnt medicine, t>bioco-i, ."tc, be licensed, and the fees ie-er\ed for local levenue. Replying to the questions, it was stated that 'a lecord of the traditions and language of the Chatham Iblands native had been in hand bince 1873, but had not beencouipleted. The compiler of the Maori traditions of New Zealand was paid £200 per cUimmi, witn a bonus of £300 on completion of the woik. — Government refused t ) eicct a post and telephone office at Foi tioM?. — The election of a siding and stock loading ya ids at Wallacetow n would be proceeded with as .soon as funds permitted. — Facilities similar to those enjoyed by Euiopean expoiters in the ttansnu&sion by post of foieign patterns and sample^ would be piovided for the New Zealand inanufcictiuor. Thy following billh were introduced and read a first time :—False: — False Notice of Biiths Deaths and Mamages ; Dog Registration Act, 18S0, fmthei amendment (Mr Stewaid); to amend the Jiuies Act, 1880 (Sir G. 1 Giey). A Public Revenue Bill was intioduced by message fiom the Governor, and ordered to be rend on Tuesday. Sir Julius Voercl ino\ed the second reading of the Parliaments y Honorarium and Pnvileges Bill. Capt. Hus^ell argued that amount, £210 (per annum), was t"o much, and would move its reduction by one-half when in committee. Sir Julius Vojrel replied, c intending that fit mount nai only fail and reasonable. Membeis who considered it t<>o high had their leniedy. and might, if they choose, leive the bin plus m the hands of the Treas-my. He condemned the Disqualification Act,, to which lefere.ice had been made, a.s an insult to Parliament. The following bills weie also read a second time:—Publice :— Public Health Act, 1579, Amendment, Slaughtei houses Act, 1877, Amendment. The House rose at 3.35.