HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3049, 11 August 1893, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

i The House met at 2.30 pm. REPLY TO A QUESTION. In reply to a question Mr McKenzie ■aid that the Government did not intend to introduce a Bill to amend the game laws of the colony. AIT EXPLANATION. With reference to last night's division on the Licensing Act Amendment Bill Mr Scobie Mackenzie said that the pair arranged with Mr Ward was on Government questions only, and that he (Mr Mackenzie) was left a free hand on other question". Having received no indication from the Government Whips he overlooked his pair, but under the circumgtancea he considered himself absolutely blameless in the matter. KELSON RESERVE BILL. The Nelson Institute Reserve Bill was withdrawn owing to the adverse report of the Crown Law officers. BILLS PASSED. The Wanganui Hospital Board Empowering Bill, Taranaki Belief Fund Distribution Bill, Wellington City Empowering Bill, Wellington Suburbs Sanitation Bill, and Kiwi County Bill were committed, read a third time, and passed. SECOND READINGS. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association Empowering Bill, Christchurch Hospital Act Amendment Bill, and UewmarKet Hall Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. The House adjourned at 5 30 p m. Tne Hou6e resumed at 7.30 p.m. ac>i; THE ROAD BOARDS BILL. . , Mr Wright moved the second reading of the Road Boards Act, 1882, Amendment Bill. He said that the Bill was exactly the same as chat introduced and read a second time last session. The object of the Bill was, firstly, to prevent the manufacturing of bogus votes by which holders of large properties were at present enabled to sub-divide those properties for the purpose of getting more votes than th»y would otherwise be entitled to, the maximum being five votes. Another provision of the Bill was to constitute new road districts. The motion was agreed to. REFERENDUM BILL. MrO'Conor moved the second reading of the Referendum Bill, to refer to the electors of the colony certain questions or Bill* for thoir decision. He spoke at length in praise of tha referendum system, and said that ho hoped the democrats of tHe'House would show that they possessed democratic principles by voting tot the Bill, The Bill was rej acted on a division by 33r020.

LICENSING BILL NO. 2.

The next order was Mr Fun's Licensing Act. 1882, Amendment Bill, No. 2, but MrFi h s«d that as the Government intended to deal with iha whole liquor question he would ask leave to withdraw his measure. Lave wan unanimously given, and the Bill was diichwged from the Order Paper. ISTBTITUTK OF JOURNALISTS BILL. 'Sir Robert Stout moved the second reading of fhe New Zealand Institute of Journalists Bill, to provide for the incorporation of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists. He said that hia Bill marked a development in our social life ; it was, in fact, a milestone on the road to progreda, and anything that would raise the profession of journalism must have a good effect on the colony. Mr W. Hutchison seconded the motion, md said that if the institute conferred any honour or distinction on journalists, there was no class of men who deserved it more/ Mr Hogg regretted, as a journalist of some years' experience, that he could tot support the Bill, as it would prevent employers of labor from selecting those *ho were capable of doing journalists' work. Mr Scobie Mackenzie spoke in support} of the Bill, and paid that it was evident that Mr Hogg had never read che measure. - Mr Buckland supported the Bill on the ground that it was calculated to make men manly and noble, and to bring them more closely together. Mr Sandford did not think that there wag any necessity for the Bill. Mr Fish after speaking strongly against the Bill, moved as an amendment that it be read a second time that day three months. Mr McLean seconded the amendment. F Mr Taylor and Mr Shera opposed the Bill. Dr. Newman and Mr Beeves supported the Bill. The amendment was carried on a division by 25 to 23. BILLS PASSED. The Fencing Aot A m?ndment Bill, and the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act, 1877, Amendment Bill, passed through Committee without material Alteration, and were read a third time and passed. PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. Mr Taylor moved tha second reading of the Public Health Act. 1873, Amendment Bill. The motion was agreed to. MARRIAGE BILL. The Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Bill was committed without amendment, and read a third time and passed. The House rose at 11.45 p.m.