House os Representatives.

Yestorday — The Colonial Bank Bill haß passed the L>wor House. Mr Yogel called attention to the fact thatcertiin clauses were drawn moro after the fashion of unlimited than limited liability companies, aid that the power proposed to be given made advances and securities to bo agreed upon. Ho thought there should be some limitation of oharges. Tlio delect Committee on tho Akaroa election reported that Mr Montgomery's electio» is null and void, but expressed a unanimous .opinion that it was entirely through inadveit-

ence on Mr Montgomery's part that ho was placed iv such a positiou. In answer to Mr Murray, the Speaker stated that there must be a new election. The defeated candidate could not be declared elected. On Mr Vogel's motion, a new writ was ordered to issue. The Speaker said he would tako steps to have tho election on as early a date as possible, In reply to Mr W. Kelly, the Hon Mr Richardson was understood to say that the. Government intonded to construct a bridge across the Woinmta river, near Gisborne, and also another om-, tho cost of construction, in part or wholo, to be chargeable against the revenue from confiscated lands. In reply to Mr-W. Kelly, the Hon the Premier eaid he would cause the Poet-office at Gisborne to be opened two hours on Sunday, if the steamer called on that day, or on Saturday night. Mr Thomson asked whether, in view of a system of storm Bignals, the Government considered it desirable to extend telegraphic communication to the Nuggets lighthouse. The Hon Premier said that the establishment of a system of storm signals would not induce the Government to alter the determination come to last session. There were more pressing public works. Mr White asked whether any complaints had reached the Government to the effect that the truck system was in operation on publio works in Weßtland. The Hon Mr Richardson said complaints had been made by members, but not by working men. The engineer reported that it was carried on to a considerable extent, but although correspondence had passed between the Government and the contractors, the former could not get sufficient information to justify their going into tho matter. The Government had caused an extensive circulation of that clause in tho Public Works Act prohibiting Government contractors from engaging in the truck system in any shape. They would take action whenever the matter was fairly brought before them. The Hon Mr Richardson said, in reply to Mr Studholme, that the construction of the Waimate branch railway would be undertaken as soon as tho main line was tolerably advanced. The Hon E. W. Stafford asked when the railway bridges between Young's Creek and Temuka would be commenced. The Hon Mr Richardson explained that the delay was unavoidable. He had the assurance of the contractor that it would be completed within contract timo, the 6th of May next. Mr Bradshaw moved — "That, considering the rapid extension of manufactures in the colony, it is expedient that the Government should bring in a Factory Bill, making regulations for the preservation of the health and safety of tho young of both sexes. The hon member gave a brief history of various English Factory Aots, and some of which enabled private houses where youths were employed to be examined. He read copious extracts to show that the conditions under which thousands of children had been em ployed at home could not fail to lead to their mental, moral, and physical degeneracy and decay. If the Legislature did not interfere, manufacturers would in pursuit of gain go to most unaccountable lengths in the way they worked youths, and, unfortunately unfeeling and unscrupulous parents too often aided and abetted them. In Dunedin, whero there are many factories, it was complained that if a parent refused to allow his child to work the hours required by manufacturers that child would not be employod at all. The intervention of tho law was required to regulate tho hours of labour regarding youths, now that potteries, ropeyards, and brickfields were springing up everywhere. If they did not they would havo soon to contend with those factory difficulties which caused so much trouble in England. The Hon Mr Richardson admitted tho existonco to a great extent of tho evils pointed out, and that they wero gradually increasing. The Government would bo prepared to bring down next session a bill to meet not only the views of members of the House, but employers and employed. He reminded the Houbo that an Inspection of Machinery Bill waß now on tho Ordor Paper. It went some way in the direction desired by the hon member, who deserved the thanks of the House and the country for moving ia the matter. Mr Brown [J. E. or J. C. ?] also bore testimony to the truth of the observations made by the hon mover, and as to tho necessity for dealing with this matter before vested rights had grown up. The motion was agreed to. Mr Wakefield, in a vory long speech, moved that data bo taken, with the ultimate view of constructing an alternative lino for tho Wellington and Masterton railway, for the purpose of securing tho cheap transit of heavy goods which could not bo profitably carried on tho steep gradiont and sharp curves of the authorised lino. Tho hon member quoted voluminous extracts from reports of omincnt engineers lo show tho superiority of easy gradients as compared with steep, with the view of arguing that it was to tho interest of tho wholo colony that an alternative lino should bo constructed at some future time. A division was called for, and the motion was rejected by 30 to 6. First readings: — Napier Harbour Board Endowment Bill ; Manawatu Land Orders Bill ; Christchurch Drainage Debentures Bills; Now Plymouth Harbour Endowment Bill.