HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3135, 15 July 1881, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICES 01? MOTION. Dr. Wallis gave notice of motions in favor of the annual election of the House of Representatives, and of an elective Legislative Council. Mr Andrews gave notice of motion for the establishment of a special class under Government insurance for total abstainers. CENTRAL OTAGO RAILWAY. Mr Dick presented the report of the > County Council Commissioners on the -. Central Otago railway. Mi* Macandrew moved that the report be printed. Mr Pyke moved that their ovidenco also be printed. Mr Hall agreed to printing the report, but not the evidence. The amendment for printing the evidence was negatived on tho voices, and the repoi t was ordered to be printed. ,4_ In reply to questions, it was stated that T the patent locking valves were not used at present by the Government inspector of machinery, but the Government were considering the propriety of using them ; the Government did not intend to appoint an inspector of mines for the West Coast of the Middle Island, but the existing inspection would be made more efficient and be extended to gold mines ; on only one Sun-

day, and then for a few hours, had the railway servants been employed taking stock in Canterbury, and although porters were required to be in attendance for twelve hours, as a matter of fact they were not required to work more than eight hours per day ; the making of adhesive stamps of one description available for all purposes for which stamps are used was under consideration, and would probably be provided for ; the Government had a competent agricultural and analytical chemist in their employ, and did not intend appointing another person to that office; it was nob intended to introduce a bill this session dealing with the,volunteer land scrip ; the Government buildings Were so extensive that it would not pay to keep them insured, and consequently the policies falling in were not being renewed • the order for calf lymph was sent Home in an emergency, before the Government had time to ascertain if a supply could be got in the colony, but they now understood that a limited supply was available, and it would in future be taken advantage of ; the Government were making provision for opening up Crown lands by roads, and the Whangamoa. valleys would be included in the scheme, so as to complcto the trunk road from Nelson to Blenheim. NEW BILLS. The following bills were introduced and read a first time :—New Plymouth High School Act Amendment Bill, and Timaru Water Race Bill. BILLS PASSED. The following bills were passed through committee, read a third time, and passed : —Waitara Harbor Board Loan Bill ; Taranaki County Councils Loan Act Amendment Bill. INSPECTOR OP PRISONS. Mr Jones moved that there be laid before the House any correspondence or report, confidential or otherwise, -which has passed between the Government and the Inspector of Prisons in reference to the gaols of the colony or officers thereof, and which had not yet been laid on the table. Mr Dick said it was unfair to ask for confidential communications of the kind. If confidence of that kind were abused officers would be chary about what communication they might make, hence the public service would suffer. Mr Reid complained that the Inspector's report as presented opened the door for grave suspicion. The Inspector had made some most objectionable proposals, and such being the case it was necessary that his recommendations should be canvassed by the public. He supported the motion. Sir George Grey also supported the motion, and complained that it was unfair that subordinate officers' characters and positions should be aspersed, and the fact kept secret from them. Mr Hall denied that the communication was of the nature implied by Sir George Grey, and insisted upon the policy of the Government being allowed to deem certain communications confidential.

Mr Whitaker moved as an amendment that the words be added, " provided such publication being not, in the opinion of the Government, detrimental to the public interest."

Mr Turnbidl moved as a further amendment that the word " confidential" be struck out, leaving the Government to produce all other documents and papers relating to the matter.

The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. TRANSLATING INTO MAORI.

Major Te Wheoro's motion for the translation of the Maori members' speeches was agreed to. The reports of the West Coast Commission were also ordered to be translated. DRAINAGE Bill,. The Drainage Bill was read a third time and passed. SURVEYORS INSTITUTE BILL. The Surveyors Institute Bill was committed. Mr Rolleston and others opposed its provisions, and progress was reported. COMPENSATION TO FARNELL. The mqtion for compensation to Earnell as immigration agent was rejected on the voices. LICENSING BILL. The House then went into committee on the Licensing Bill. In clause 106, a proposal to limit the £40 fee to boroughs with over 1000 inhabitants was negatived by 36 to 21. A proposal to reduce the fee to £30 was also negatived, as also one to make it not exceeding £25 outside of a borough. A proposal to make this fee £20 was rejected by 37 to 18.

Mr Beeves then moved that the chairman leave the chair, as they might as well kill the bill at that stage as waste more time on it.

Mr Weston, Dr. Wollis.and Mr Levistam, expressed an opinion that the sooner the bill was thrown out the better.

Mr Lundon and Mr Speight defended the bill.

Mr Beeves said the universal opinion was that the bill was now a lot of confound rot.

At 12.30 Mr Andrews moved to report progress, as evidently the committee was not disposed to do any business. Several member's opposed this.

Mr Keeves said he had amendments to propose on the clause which would take till six in the morning.

Mr Hall said, after such a threat, he hoped progress would not be reported. He was prepared to sifc till six to teach Mr Beeves a lesson.

_ Sir W. Fox said, after tho scandalous and disgraceful scenes of the last two nights, he hoped the members would support his motion when it next came on to abolish Bellamy's.

Dr. Wallis protested against such insinuations. Nothing scandalous or disgraceful had taken place, and members were all perfectly able to judge calmly and fairly of ■what they were doing. Mr Weston protested in strong terms against Sir W. Fox's language. Although a young member he would not submit to such imputations on his character. Mr Pyke and others also objected to such insinuations.

Mr Reeves said Sir W. Fox himself was the most intemperate man in the House, and always spoiled his cause by the use of intemperate language. Sir W. Fox ought to be thoroughly ashamed of himself for creating the only scandal which had occurred, and the Premier should also apologise for having lost his temper. The motion to report progress was lost by 33 to 18.

Mr Sheehan then said Sir W. Fox had insulted tho chairman by saying that scandalous scenes had taken place. Not a single member had been called to order, and therefore the accusation, if true, Jmeant that the chairman was neglecting his duty. After some further discussion the proposal to raise the club license from £20 to £30 was rejected by 43 to 8. Tbe bottle license £40 was reinserted by 42 to 7.

Mr Olliver moved an increase in the wine license from £1 to £10, but after discussion the proposal was lost by 28 to 20. Progress was then reported, and the House rose at 2 o'clock.