HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3136, 16 July 1881, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICES OP MOTION. Mr Wright gave notice to move that the railway charges on agricultural produce are excessive and should be reduced. Mr Turnbull gave notice to ask whether the Government intended to carry out the recommendations of the Inspector of Prisons as to the diet and punishment of prisoners, etc. Mr Sheehan gave notice for Tuesday next of a bill to repeal tho Abolition of the Provinces Act. PUBLIC WORKS ACT. The Public "Works Act Amendment Bill was introduced by message from the Governor, and read a first time. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that the Government could see no necessity for refunding the 10 per cent, deducted from workmen in the Government quarries at Greymouth—the deduction was made in conformity with an order of Parliament. The men were paid 9s and 10s per day, and no reason had been shown for making them an exception to the general rule respecting reductions. The Government would consider the proposal for issuing railway stamps of the value of from 6d to 20s, to be obtained from railway guards, and available for the payment of railway fares, but the check upon guards obtaining money in that way was slight, and the Government had no wish to increase the risk thereby occasioned ; a telegram had been received from the Agent-General relative to the actuaries' report on the Life Insurance department— the report stated that the finance of the department was sound, that there was a surplus of £77,000, which was pronounced very good, and recommended that £60,000 be divided. LICENSING BILL. The Licensing Bill was further considered in committee. Clause 126. —An amendment on the motion of Mr Jones, that no female other than the wife or daughter of a licensee shall be employed in a bar more than ten hours and not later than 11 p.m., was agreed to. Clause 218 was struck out. Clause 31, providing that a bottle license shall authorise a licensee to sell, was restored by 36 to 14 votes. The schedules were then passed with a few technical alterations. Tho bill was reported with amendments, and tho report was ordered to bo considered on Tuesday. REGULATION OP ELECTIONS BILL. Tho Regulation of Elections Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. The House adjourned at 5.30. Tho House resumed at 7.30. THE ESTIMATES. Major Atkinson stated that he hoped to bring down the estimates on Tuesday. CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS BILL. The Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill was passed through committee pro forma, in order that lengthy amendments might be incorporated and the bill be recommitted. GAMING- AND LOTTERIES BILL. After a short debate, the Gaming and Lotteries Bill was read a second time, Sir William Fox intimating his intention to oppose the clause legalising the use of the totalisator, and several members objecting to the proposed exemption in favor of works of art. NATIVE RILLS. The Native Lands Frauds Prevention Bill and the Native Sxiccession Bill were read a second time. The House adjourned at 10 o'clock.