ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 66, 16 September 1881, Page 2

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

In the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon the Attorney-General moved a resolution in regard to the distribution of the Life Insnrauce profits, similar to that moved by the Colonial i reasurer in the Lower House. A long discussion ensued, in which tho management of tho department generally was lreely canvassed by some of the membera. Ultimately the motion wna agreed to. The Native Land Division Bill and the Fencing Bill were read a third time. The Gold Duties Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Protection of Crops Bill was thrown out by 14 to 8. A quantity of formal business was tranaacted, and tho Conncil adjourned at 11 p.m. On tha Houae resuming last night the queationß were postponed till next day. The Uas Consumers Bill was read a second time. The Law of Divorce Amendment Bill was considered in committee. Mr. Stewart moved aa an addition, a clause that desertion for a period of seven years should entitle a person to a divorce. Mr. Macandrew pointed out that it worked well in Scotland, and he hoped it would be adopted hero. Mr. Gisborne argued that the proposal was objectionable, <*.s a man might be wrecked and prevented from joining his wife for a period of seven years, and he might on his return find his wife married to soruo one else. Mr. Bowen alßo objected to the new clause Tho Premier hoped Mr. Stewart would not press his amendment, as ho had hod no opportunity of giving it consideration. After some further discussion the clause waß added to the bill by 33 to 19. Mr. Seddon endeavoured to insert a clause making three convictions for drunkenness a ground for divorce, but tho proposal waa negatived on the voices. The bill as amended was read a third time, and passed, as were also the Neglected and Criminal Children Act Amendment Bill, and the Dentists Act Amendment Bill. The second reading of the Medical Practitioners' Bill waa negatived by 30 to 25. The Native Land Act, brought down from the Upper Houae, was read a first time. The Maori Committee Empowerng Bill and Native Lands Act Amentment Bill were read a second time. Mr. Seddon moved the second reading of tho Counties Act Amendment Bill, explaining that the main feature was to provide for the election, by the ratepayers, of Chairmen of County Councils. The Premier objected to tho bill, and moved its second reading that day six months. Messrs. Pryce and Hurst also objected to, and Sir George Grey supported, tho second reading of the bill. The second reading was agreed to. Tho Harbonrs Act Amendment BUI (No. 2) waa discharged from the Ordor Paper. When the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill waß committed, new clauses were inserted, giving Municipal Corporations power to make by-laws — To prevent or regulate tho blasting of any rook, stone, or timber within the borough ; to prevent or regulate the placing of obstructions of any kind whatsoever upon any wharf, street, river, or public plaoe within tho borough ; to prevent or regulate tho placing of any writing or printing, or in any other way defacing any house, building, fence, or other erection whatsoever within the boiough; for compelling the cleaning of any private yards or places of any kind whatsoever within the borough ; for preventing the drowning of any animal, or the throwing of any offensive matter or matters likely to produce a nuiaance, in any well, creek, river, or other water or watercourse within the borough; for punishing the driver of any vehicle or of any animal, or tho rider of any animal, who, by negligence of any kind, injures any person or property within the borough ; for preventing and punishing any person driving or riding any animal without sufficient reins ; for punishing any driver or rider who, in passing other drivers or riders, does not observe the rule of tho road; for punishing any person who shall incite any dog to attack or annoy any person within tho borough, or shall suffer any dangerous dog to be at large within the borough ; for punishing tho breaking of any windows in any building within the borough ; ,to provide for the licensing of all rooms and places used as public shooting-galleries, bowling-alleys, skittle-grounds, billiard-rooms, bagatellerooms, or any public rooms or places used for the playing of any other kind of game, unless the same be in or attached to any promises holding an hotel license ; and to make such regulations as the Council shall think fit respecting the use, inspection, hours of opening and closing, and in all respects as to the conduct of such rooms or places ; to prevent and punish the keeping and maintaining, or in any way the assisting in the keeping or maintaining, whether by letting the promises, or in any other way whatsoever, of any house as a disorderly house, brothel, or house of ill-fame ; to compel the owner or occupier of any land or premises in which there is any gully or hollow place, upon due notice from the Council, either to fill up the same or to clean it ; and generally to prevent in any portion of the borough all nuisances, and all practices tending to endanger the lives of or to frighten or annoy the public. Mr. Swanson made an effort to enforoo the early closing movement by moving the insertion of the following new clause :—": — " In respect of auy particular trade or trades, for enforcing the closing of all retail establishments in such trade or trades at a certain hour ia the evening of each or any working day, whereby the employed in such establishments respectively shall be released from work at an hour not later than the Council shall prescribe." The objections urged were that shops would be kept open later in the suburbs out of tho municipalities; that shopkeepera in town would reduce the wages of their employ 63, and that it would be an unnecessary interference with trade. Notwithstanding this, the Committee agreed to the clau-ie by 20 to 10. A number of other amendments were proposed and negatived, the House becoming thinner and thinnor as time went on. At 2.40 a division waa taken, when it was found that only 18 members were present. A quorum was subsequently got together, and the bill was reported with amendments. The Minera Right Fee Reduction Bill wa3 thrown out by 9to 12. At 3 o'clock tho House woB counted out, and waa adjourned till 11 a.m.