PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4468, 10 September 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

[FHO3I OUU SPECIAL REPORTER.]

Wellington, this day. Tim House met at 2.30 p,m,

Notices of Motion.

Mr Barrox gave notice to ask the Government if they intended to amend the Bankruptcy Act so as to admit of preferential claims of clerks, servants, artisans, labourers, or workmen in the employment of tho bankrupt beforo and at date of the filing of the bankruptcy petition, being recognised according to the intention of tho Act.

Sir Gkokoe Grey gave notice that on Thursday next he would move that on Wednesday, 17th instant, tho House form itself into a committee to consider an address to bo presented to tho Gos-ernor asking him to place on the Estimates an amount to enablo the Government to supply each day to tho press of the colony a sum mary of events which occur throughout the world.

Mk Smith gave notice to ask the Government if they intend to bring in on Impounding Bill during the present session. Mr Fnv.HEitiiKßT gave notice to ask the Defence Minister if the Government will supply the seamen of tho various Naval Artillery corps in the colony with cutlasses. Mr Johnston gave notice to ask the Colonial Treasurer if any effort had bojn made to induce the holders of debentures, in respect of which sinking fund is payablo, to effect an oxchange of such debentures for inscribed stock, with a view to saving to the levenue the annual charge for sinking fund, which, in tho Financial Statement of 1883, was shows to bu £270,000, and is increasing ; or to placing at the disposal of tho Legislature tho accrued sinking fund of £2,7!)2,308, and saving to the revenue tho annual charge of £119,000 payable to the sinking fund. Mr Uiudshaw gave notice of motion, " That in tho opinion of this Moubo medical practitioners while in activo practice should not hold the office of coronorin this colony." Now Bills. Notice was given of tho following new bills:—Sir Julius Vogel—The District Railways Leasing Bill, Members' Honorarium and Privileges Bill, and Insurance Department Incorporation Bill ; Mr Dargaville— Bank Notes Security Bill; Hon. Mr Tolo— Bill to placo Manukau Harbour under tho Control of, and to Vest certain Lands in, Auckland Harbour Board, and a Bill to reconstruct the Auckland Harbour Board ;Mr Locke —a bill to amend tho Native Lands Acts and tho Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act, 1872 ; Cupt. Morris—tho Ohinemuri GoldfieldH Revenue Adjustment Bill ; Colonel Fro«er—Thames Recreation Reserves Sale or Exchange Bill; Mr W. J. Hurst-a bill to Repeal the Sharebrokers' Act, 1871.

Qncstlons and Answers,

Replying to Mr Hamlin, tho Commi.ssionkk of Customs said the shifting of tho position of sandbanks at the entranco to tho Manukau Harbour created v difference of opinion as to the advisability of guiding light* at Manukau Heads, and consequently tho Government were not able to form an opinion. Replying to Mr W. F. Buckland, the Commissioner, of Telegraphs said tho Government proposed to establish a telegraph station at Elleralio, and inquiries were now being made respecting tho extension of the telograph wires through Punmuro to llowick. Tho Government would bo able to come to a conclusion on the subject in a few days.

Replying to Mr Peacock, the Post.ma.stkkGk.nkhal said the Government had already decided to allow newspapers to be posted at receiving boxes so soon as boxes had been enlarged. He expected they would be ready by tho first proximo.

Replying to Mr J. B. Whyte, the Ministkr fok Public Wokkh said the intention of tho Government respecting the completion of tho railway between Waikato and To Aroha would bo embodied in tho Public Works Statement. They expected tho combined railway and traffic bridge over the Thames river at To Aroha would bp open to public in a few days. Replying to Mr Peacock, Hon. Mr Stoct regretted there were not funds available for erecting Auckland University Buildings. Replying to Mr Monteith, tho Premier said tho whole question of charitable uid was receiving attention. Replying to Mr Bcetham, tho PREMIER said it was. not the intention of Government this session to bring in a bill to amend tho Registration of Electors Act, 1879, unless circumstances should arise that would make a new election necessary. First Readings. Tho following bills woro introduced and road a first time : —Bill to abolish postage rate on newspapers printed within thocolony (SirGeo. Grey); Wellington Harbour Board Loans Consolidation and Embowering Bill (Mr Johnston) ; Gaming and Lotteries Act, ISSI, Amondmont Bill (Mr Fitzherbert).

Married Women's Property.

Tho Wellington ladies could not havo been interested to a very great extent in the measure introduced by Mr Stout for the protection of the property of married womon, seeing that only threo representatives of the sex were present to hoar the debate on tho motion to go into committee. Two of theso, in fact, loft after the first two or throe speeches. The " lords of creation " were not bo indifferent, the strangora' gallery being orowded, Mr Downio Stewart led the attack, but was very lukownrm. Mr Wakefield, who followed, spoke incisively and effectively. Ho went for what he call* the socialistic tendencies

of the bill, and asserted that it was drafted on tho assumption that all men wore scoundrels. Ho drew an arousing picture of tlio domestic miseries that would arise when the husband was nursing babies at home while tho wife was away attending law courts while she sued or was being sued for debt. The measure would be prolific of domestic unhappiness if it were carried out. A friend to whom he was talking said he believed the bill would pass, but the best thing they could do would be to keep as many married women as possible from knowing that there was such a law in existence. Mr Conolly made a good defence for tho fair sex, asserting that they were entitled to equal privileges with men. He also championed the cause of female intelligence. Ho contended that women were in no degree inferior to men so far as intellectual powers were concerned, and raised a general laugh by expressing a fear that ere long " Men would bo outrun by sweet girl graduates with golden hair.' Other membors followed on both sides, and the debate wound up by a speech from Mr Stout. The bill was allowed to go to Committee. Mr Taiaroa looked exceedingly dubious when ho was informed that the bill would affect natives, and even premiers. Soft sawder failed to remove the cloud of anxiety that appeared to settlo on his countenance. The debate in committee extended woll into the evoping sitting, at which there was a fair attendance of tho leaders. Strong opposition was displayed to the provision onabling a wife to insure ker husband's life for her separate benefit, and some membors waxed eloquent on the fact that they were offering premiums to wives to insurp husbands' lives, and then by poisoning them or putting thptn out of existence, getting the insurance money. Mr Gillies, however, repelled this base in? Binuation, which he said arose in themindß of members from too slavish reading of novels, where tho confiding and innocent husband was always poisoned by a villainous and abandoned wife. Members were sp determined to do the ladies justice that they would not even atriko out tho insurance privilego, and preferred to leave themselves open to be quietly sacrificed by avaricious wives rather than curtail the power of their better halves. While the question was under consideration, one of the Maori members created amusement by an appeal not to allow thp potion of (he bill authorising a woman to enter into partnership with a man other than her husband to apply to Maori women. He eaid he ieaitsd the native women would be captivated by the greater personal attractions of whitemen, and that they would desert their coloured better halves. He added, truly onough, that many Maori women in tho pftsfr had been led astfay by designing whitempn. He was alarmed lest this measure should extend the evil. It was evident that the hon. momber did not exactly comprehend tho meaning of the olause, and the interpreter proceeded to explain it, Mr Stout spoko strongly in favour of it. He denied that it wag a bill of socialistic tendencies, because it provided for what socialism endeavoured to prevent —the right of individuals to hold property. He had always encouraged individualism rather than socialism. Ho thought it desirable that those women who had not a marriage settlement should have it provided by Act, In the present state of the law the earnings of thrifty women oould be taken b,y liwy ami impvoviding husbands. The Premier promised that on the third reading he would move a clause providing that tfie bill should not apply to lands held by Maoi} women. The bill was reported with amendments, and ordered to be committed on Friday next,

Tho Foreign Companies Act. Mr Stout moved tho second reading of the Foreign Companies Act, which he said was a measure to enable foreign trading corporations to efficiently carry on business in New Zealand, to sue and bo sued, and otherwise have legal status in the colony. At the suggestion of Mr Peacock, tho debate was adjourned, copies of tho bill not having been distributed till that evening.

A motion by Mr Pvke for a return showing the number of duplicate votes recommended at last election.and where recorded, was opposed by Mr Stout, and negatived.

Native Land Court Grievances,

Wi Pere moved a lengthy resolution to the effect that the administration of the Native Land Court woa unsatisfactory; that the hearing of claims to a block at a distance from tho district was wrong in principle ; that it was wrong for the Chief Judge to hear now claimants ; and that the fees were excessive.

Mr Baixance said the denunciation was too sweeping. lie would take the matter into consideration, and .see if any -of the matters complained of could be remedied. Taiaroa was recommended to introduce a motion on Mr Ballanco's assurance, and this course was followed. Railway Employees. Messrs Levestam and FiT/.iii:]U!Ki:Tmade a stand on behalf of railway employe's. It was ultimately agreed after discussion that in the opinion of tho I lous-o no reduction should be made from the salaries of railway or other Government employes on account of holidays.

Tho House adjourned at 11.30 p.m.