HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3168, 24 August 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE PUBLIC WOEKS POBTFO-10. Mr Bastings gave notice to ask if Ministers intend to carry on the business of the country with the Government as at present constituted, or whether they intend to appoint a Minister of Public Works, and if so whether they will do so before the close of the session ? QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated tha. enquiries had been made as to the amount of Sunday business transacted at the smaller telegraph offices and the result wai that orders had been given to close 100 of those offices on Sundays ; a special train conveying 100 passengers was run from New Plymouth to Waitara on the 17th instant in accordance with the railway regulations, the cost thereof being guaranteed; Govern" menfc were in favor of an exhaustive inquiry being made during the recess into old land claims and grievances by a commission ; tho Government would offer a bonus for the establishment in the colony of a manufactory of glass-ware ; during the absence of the Governor whilst engaged in the performanca of his functions as High Commissioner an officer would be appointed as Acting-Go-vernor, who would receive half salary, as provided for by the Governor's Salary Act, and no extra expense would be thrown on the colony in consequence—His Excellency would be absent not more than six weeks or two months ; the artizans at the Greymouth quarries were paid lis per day, and laborers 9s 6d—the 10 per cent reduction would nol be deducted in future, but the Government saw no reason for refunding the deductions already made; provision had been mad© upon the Public Works estimates out of which £500 could be provided for the road to Otago Heads ; the Government were nob aware how many persons admitted into the Civil Service had been vaccinated in terms of section 63 of the Public Health Aot, 18f6— copies of the Act relating to children attending the public schools had been forwarded for ihe information of the Education Boai'ds when the Act was passed, and the Government had otherwise taken precautions for having the vaccination provis* ions of the Act enforced. NBW PLYMOUTH HABBOB WOB-.S. On the motion of Mr Hall, the New Plymouth Harbor Commission Bill wai read a first time. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Mr* Fulton moved that the Education Act Amendment Bill be read a first time. The House divided—Ayes, 41; noei, 26. On the motion that the bill be read a second time on Thursday week, Mr Barron moved that it be read a second time that day six months. Mr Turnbull, Sir William Fox, and others spoke in favor of the bill. Messrs Speight, Bryce, and Bowen supported the amendment, arguing that the bill could not possibly pass, and conse« quently it would be Bimply a waste of timo to keep it on the order paper. Mr Dick said that he desired to say a word strictly as a private member, and not as in any way expressing the opinion of the Cabinet. He denied that the community at large were completely satisfied with the educational system as it stood. The fact of a bill of the kind being introduced was sufficient to Bhow that such was not the case. It was also a well-known fact that a large section of the community, moi*e especially in Otago, were strongly favorable to the introduction of Bible reading in the schools. He had no doubt but that the bill would be defeated, Btill he believed that it would come again from time to time until they dealt with it in another way. Major Harris moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr Hall looked upon the question as a most important one, and one which ought to be fully discussed. At the same time the present period of the session would not admit of that being done. He approved of the bill, and would vote for the motion. Mr Oliver expressed his surprise that clergymen of the different denominations should be so remiss in their duty in availing themselves of the provisions made for imparting religious instruction ;to children attending the schools. The question for the adjournment of tha debate was put and lost on the voices. On the motion for reading the bill a second time on Thursday week the House divided.—Ayes, 15 ; noes, 52. The following is the division list:— Ayes, 15. Nobs 52. Colbeck Allwright Dick Andrews Fox Ballance Fulton Barron Hall Bowen Hursthouse Brandon Lundon Brown Macandrew Bryce Murray Bunny Shanks Collins Stewart DeLautour Studholme Finn Tawhai Fisher, J. T. Thomson George Turnbnll Gibbs Gisborne Grey Hamlin Harris Hirst Hurst Hutchison Johnston Jones Kelly j Kenny Levestam Levin M'Caughan Montgomery Moss Oliver Ormond Pitt Reid Richmond Rolleston Russell Saunders Seddon Seymour Shephard Shrimski Speight Stevens Sutton Swanson Tole Trimble Whitaker Whyte Wood The amendment for the second reading of the bill that day six months was then put and carried. OAHABU" HABBOB BOABB- BHIi. The amendment made by the Council in the Oamaru Harbor Board Act Amendment Bill was agreed to. The House adjourned at 5.80, and resumed at 7.30. BBPBBSENSATION _H_. On the motion of Mr Hall the Souse

went into committee on the Representation BUI. In the second clause Mr Bastings moved that 60 be tho number of members instead of 91. A long disoussion ensued, and the whole night up to 2.30 was spent by the Nelson members and Messrs Seddon, Bastings, and others, stonewalling the bill, the bell having to be rung every few minutes to get a quorum. After 1.30 Mr Levestam spoke" for half an hour, and then the Chairman left tho chair for half an hour. On resuming Mr Levastam continued reading long extracts, and getting tired he Baid something about bribery, whereupon, to give him breathing time, Mr Pitt called attention to the unparliamentary language used. Mr Baßtings, to help him further, moved that the words be taken down. Mr Speight made a long serio-comic speech as to the danger to the noble cause by the use of strong language. After some discussion the Chairman called on Mr Levestam to withdraw the expression, which he did, and having recovered breath he went on speaking until Mr Seddon came to the rescue, complaining of the discourtesy of Ministers in reading instead of attending to what was said, and Mr Levestam then asked the Chairman's ruling as to whether sleeping members could be counted to make up a quorum. The Chairman ruled in the affirmative. Mr Bastings raised some other point of order, and Mr Levistam, leaving the Chamber, returned speedily with a fresh pile of books, and after further speaking he moved that the Chairman leave tho chair, but this was lost on a division by 23 to 10. Mr Bastings then made a long speech on the beauties and capabilities of Wakaia, which the hill proposed to wipe out. Bis constituents desired him to resist this in every possible way. He proceeded for a long time, when rest was afforded by attention being called to the state of the House. A quorum being rung in, he proceeded to read Sige on page from a Treatise on Political conomy, making explanatory comments as he went. On another division having been made by raising some point of order, Mr Bastings wont on again. At last Major Atkinson raised a question as to whether the discussion should not be limited to clause 2. The Chairman ruled against him. Major Atkinson then objected that Mr Bastings was reading what purported to be his speech. Mr Bastings defended himself, when, his voice failing, Mr Seddon took him to task for lisping out his words like a lady. This giving him a rest, Mr Bastings went on again till 4.20, when Mr Pitt moved that progress be reported. Mr Seddon supported it. Mr Bastings raised a point of order about a member snoring, which he said affected his sensitive organisation. Major Atkinson said the Government would not consent to report progress. He appealed to the minority, now that they had entered their protest, not to persist in hopeless obstruction. Mr Pitt replied that they were determined not to allow the clause to pass that sitting. If an adjournment were wanted they could consult, and possibly come to some arrangement. Major Atkinson rejoined that the Government could not allow the minority to coerce the House. MrHursthouse urged the Government to consent to an adjournment. They were fighting their own best friends. On a division the motion to report progress was lost by 22 to 8. Mr Gibbs said that, a reasonable request for a truce being refused, they must keep up the fight. At 5.10 Major Atkinson moved that Mr Seymour be relieved from the chair, and that Mr Hamlin take it, which was agreed to. Mr Pitt said he would not have made overtures had he been aware as he was now informed, that the Government had threatened that the action of the Nelson membera would weigh with the Government when the estimates came on. Major Atkinson denied that any such threat was ever made. Mr Wakefield said the Nelson members had his sympathy in the bold stand made in defence of what they deemed their rights. He said no good was to be gained by adjourning, but as they seemed determined to go on he would keep up the debate till they had time to refresh themselves. He spoke till 6 o'clock, when another motion to report progress was rejected by 23 to 7. Messrs Seddon and Pitt kept things up till 6.30, when Mr Bastings suggested a half-hour's adjournment, which the Chairman declared. Another motion to report progress was then lost by 22 to 7. A quorum had several times to be rung for. The talking was kept up by Messrs Shephard and Levestam, and at 8.30 Mr Seddon appealed to Mr Seymour, who was again in the chair, to adjourn for half-an-hour for breakfast. There were loud cries of " no," and the Chairman refused to do so. Mr Seddon continued speaking for about two hours, when Mr Pitt and then Mr Levestam relieved him. Several motions to report progress being negatived by a number ranging from 20 upwards against 5, Mr Seddon said he was of opinion tbat Mr Bryce, who had relieved Mr Seymour, was not a properly constituted chairman, and moved that ho now leave for the purpose of referring to the Speaker. The motion was negatived on the voices. At 1 o'clock a motion by Mr Reeves to report progress was negatived by 29 to 19. Mr Keeves has been speaking for the last two hours and a half, and at 3.15, having finished, a division was taken on Mr Bastings' amendment to substitute 60 for 91 in clause 2. The amendment was negatived by 40 to 24. Mr Gisborne is now moving an amendment given the North Island 45 members, and the South 46.