HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3188, 16 September 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday. The House resumed afc 7.20 p.m. BILLS IN TABIOtTS STAGES. The Gas Consumers Liability Bill was read a second time. The Neglected and Criminal Children's Bill and the Dentist's Bill were read a third time and passed. The Divorce Act Amendment Bill was in committee amended by the insertion of a clause making seven years absence a ground for divorce, which was carried by 32 to 19, and this bill was then read a third time and passed. The report of the managers of the conference on the Licensing Bill, reporting that the alterations in the bill were finally agreed to, was adopted. The Medical Practitioner's Society Bill was thrown out on its second reading by 30 -| to 25, and the Taranaki High School Bill was thrown out in committee by 35 to 17. The Counties Act Amendment Bill (N. 2) was thrown out in committee by 24 to 21. The Maori Empowering Bill and the Counties Act Amendment Bill were read a second time, and also the Native Land Act Amendment Bill and tho Counties Act Amendment Bill. The Municipal Corporation Act Amendment Bill was passed through committee, I and the Miner's Right Fees Reduction Bill was considered in committee, but thrown out on a division of 12 to 19. GBANT TO PUBLIC LIBEAEIE3. The House was in committee on Mr Gisborne's motion for an address for a subsidy of £6,000 to public libraries, when, there being no quorum present, the fact was reported to the Speaker, and at 3 o'clock the House was counted out. Friday. The House met at 11 a.m. SECOND HEADINGS. The following bills were read a second time : —Patents Acts Amendment, Sheep Act Amendment, Port Chalmers Dock Trust. COUNTIES SUSPENSION BILL, Mr Hall moved the second reading of the Counties Suspension Bill. Mr Ballance pointed out that the bill raised most important issues, and ought not to be put forward afc this stage of the session. If operated on it was designed to throw the whole system of county government into inextricable disorder. Mr Hall said that, without prejudice to the bill on its merits, ifc was plainly a measure upon which a great deal of discussion and consequent delay would ensue. Under these circumstances he would postpone ifc, so as to enable other business to be gone on with. Sir George Grey hoped the measure would not be postponed. Ifc was one urgently wanted for tho North Island, and it was but right that districts should have the power to say whether they should be governed by Road Boards or County Councils. Mr Wood pointed out that the necessity for the measure was very great. A number of petitions had been received from tin districts in its favor. The motion for the second reading w _. put and carried. BELLS IN COMMITTEE. The House went into committee on the following Bills:—Patents Act Amendment, Sheep Act Amendment, Public Health Act Amendment, Port Chalmers Trust, Employment of Females and Others Bill, Volunteer Bill, Special Powers and Contracts. The latter was still under consideration when the hour for adjournment arrived. All the above, with the exception of the Special Powers and Contracts Bill, were read a third time and passed. The House rose at 1.45.