HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 48, 25 August 1904, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

CVUn. laijAssua. ■ Aft«r we went to pros* yesterday a Cook Islands Bill was introduced by Governor's message. Tho Leader of the Opposition asked ■Whether the message introducing the Bill '\ras in telegraphic form, He roso to a point of order if it wore, and pointed out that tho Bill should- be introduced .in writing and could not be introduced by telegram. He quoted a standing order J in support of his contention. ■ The Colonial Searetary urged that the >prnotioo was not an unusual one, and had been done scores and scoros of time* and had never been challenged before. It had happened for twenty-five years that the Governor in his absonce from Wellington sent official communications by telegram. His official telegrams hari been accopted by the and Compi tro'.ler-Qencral as sufficient authority for payments from the public fund. Tho nuthority ought to bo accepted when transmitted by a responsible Minister. The Speaker sustained tho contention of the Leader of the Opposition, and ruled the introduction of the Bill out of order. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:— Publio Morgues (Sir W. J. Steward), Nelson Town School Site (Mr. . Graham), Petroleum Mining (Hon. J. M'Gowan), Publio Health Act Amendment, Water-supp'.y Act Amendment, Maori Antiquities Act Amendment, Bating Act Amendment, Plumbers' Registration, and Local Bodies' Leases (Sir J. G. Ward). Mr. Allen moved the adjournment of the House, and the rest of the afternoon was occupied in discussing the replies given by Ministers to questions. MARRIAGE RESTRICTIONS RE- - MOVAL. On resuming, in the evening, Mr, W. H. Field moved the second reading of the Marriago Restriction* Removal Bill, which provides that a man may marry his mother's brother's wife, and a woman might marry her mother's sister's husband. Mr. Field explained that to satisfy hypercritical objectors he would alter his Bill to provide that a man might marry his mother's deceased brother's widow, and that a woman might marry her father's deceased sister's widower, Ho thought the Government should bring down a comprehensive measure dealing with tho whole question. Mr. Heke thought the Maori custom might with advantage be adopted. Often a Maori woman would on her deathbed request 'her husband to marry her elder or younger sister. Tho second reading was lost, on division, by 35 votes to 21. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM. The Legislative Council Roform Bill (Sir W. J. Steward) was committed, and an interesting debate' (which w reported in another column) ensued. Progress was reported at midnight (after four hours' debute), and the Bill was thus virtually killed. HARBOURS ACT AMENDMENT. The Harbours Act Amendment Bill was committed!. The Bill proposes to grant compensation to any Harbour Board in the event oi land being taken by the Government under the Act of 1878. The Bill wa« reported with amendments, and the House rose at 0.50 a.m.