PARLIAMENTARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3148, 30 July 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. WARDEN BOBTNSON. The Gtaldfields Committee brought up a report on the petition for the removal of Warden Robinson, to the effect that the charges .made against him wore entirely unsupported, rliict that iti future .no. petition preferring charges against a judicial officer' should be received until the charges had been investigated by the Minister of Justice. The report was referred to the Standing Orders Committee to consider the recommendation. QT7E3TIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that the fines imposed on employes in the locomotive department of the Middle Island railways were credited to the fnilvnt? servants' benefit fund account; the matter of the amendment of the divorce laws promised last session was before the Judicature Commission v/ith the view of providing the necessary machinery for giving effect to such amendment ; restrictions in the use, of fire, arms in. public, places were, enacted by the Public Works Act, and •when that measure was under consideration facilities would, be given for introducing a clause prohibiting the indiscriminate use of such arms by boys; the Government had tender consideration a .recommendation for the appointment of a trustworthy interpreter for the Waimea and Stafford Town Courts ; the Redistribution of Seats Bill would be introduced at once, and any amendment as to the undesirability of increasing the number of members could be considered at the second reading or in committee, rather than take up the time by affording extra facilities for the purpose. SECOND HEADINGS. The following bills were road a second time :—Crown Suits Bill, Diseased Cattle Bill, Public Reserves Bill, Employment of. Females and Others Bill, Banks and Bankers Act, 1880, Amendment Bill. HAMILTON BOTTNDAMES BILTi. The Hamilton Boundaries Bill passed through committee. It was objected to on the ground that there was no evidence that the bill had been duly advertised in the borough. Mr Dick, who was in charge of the bill, undertook before pushing the bill further* that inquiries would be made as to whether the objection was -well-founded, and if so the bill would go no further until the defect was remedied. GAMING- AND 10TTERIE9 BILL The Graming and Lotteries Bill was partly considered in committee. The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at GAMBLING AND LOTTERIES BILL. The Gambling and Lotteries Bill was considered in committee. Mr Shepherd moved to strike out the provision in clause 8 allowing licenses for using the totalisator, but after discussion this amendment was negatived by 30 to 27, and the clause passed as printed.

On clause 9, prohibiting the fan-tan, being read, a long discussion took place, several members calling on the Colonial Secretary to explain the game, which he professed himself unable to do.

Dγ Wallis and Mr George each gave explanations, ■which differed considerably. Mr Bowen doubted if it was much worse than 100.

Mr Bryce thought fan-tan might be Chinese chess.

Mr Eeeves said that it might be as innocent as kiss-in-the-ring.

Ultimately the game " shellback pool " was added to the clause, and as amended it passed on a division of 39 to 14. On clause 12 being read, Mr Andrews proposed to omifc the fine, and make all offences punishable by imprisonment only, but this was negatived by 28 to 24, and the clause passed.

A similar proposal in clause 13 was negatived by 30 to 13. In sub-clause 2 of clause 17 an alteration was made to permit licenses to be granted for the disposal by art union of works of art or literature, mineral specimens, or mechanical models. The clause as amended was then passed on a division of 26 to 10.

All the remaining clauses to 23 were passed. Progress was reported on clause 24, and the House rose at 12.30.