TO-DAY'S PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 109, 10 May 1887, Page 3

TO-DAY'S PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30. Dr. Pollon presented a. petition from certain natives near Auokland praying for permission to bring up a private Bill by which they might obtain relief. Hon. Captain Baillio bronght np the roport of the Standing Orders Committco with referonco to this matter. The matter was of great importance, and ho should like to ask the ruling of the Speaker on the subject ns to whether the petition was admissible. Tho Speaker said that as the standing ordors had not boen complied with, in his opinion tho petition should bo referred to tho Standing Orders Committee. 'Hon. J. A. R. Menzies presonted petitions from tho inhabitants of sevoral districts against tho employment of girls in hotel bars. Hon. Colonel Brett presented a petition from Auckland in favour of tho femalo enfranchisement. Hon. J. W. Barnicoat moved, withont notico, for leave of aWn.ce for a week for Hon. J. C. Ricnmond. Hon. Dr. Pollon moved for leave of absence for the Hon. Sir F. Whitaker. Tho Speakor informed tho Council that as the hon. member referred to had not taken his seat this session, only tho Governor could give leave of absonco Hon. B. Hart moved that in the opinion of this Council horso-racing and its accoseorios should, for revenue purposes, be made subject to taxation, ami in doing so . stated that in one year no loss a sum than .£500,000 passed through the totalizator on the raoo meetings in the colony, and thorefore he thought that more especially in the exceedingly depressed condition of the finances of the colony, the State should t»ko advantage of the moans at their disposal to tax the totalisator. (Left sitting.)