PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2250, 18 June 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PEBBS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAK.] HOUSE OP EEPEESENTATIVES, i Feiday, June 17. The House met at 2 30 p.tn. Mr Bastings, the member for Waikaia, was introduced by Messrs Ormond and Eichardson, and took his seat. ADDBESS IN BEPLY. An adjournment ensued for presenting the • address in reply to the Governor's speech. On resuming, The Spbakee reported that his Excellency had been pleased to receive the address, and road a reply thanking them for the same. NOTICES OF MOTION. , Sir W. Fox gave notice that ho would move that the House committee be instructed to confer with a committee of the Upper House with the vie it of getting the sale of intoxicating liquors on the promises abolished, and in lieu thereof to convert the apartment now used for their sale into a tea, coffee, and non-intoxicating refreshment-room, LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted for two week* to Messrs Sheehan and Moorhouse. QUESTIONS. Eeplying to Mr Shbimbki, The Hon. J. Hale said that Government had under consideration as to what railway works should be proceeded with, and on coming to a conclusion they would be prepared to say whether or not it was their intention to go on with the Windsor-Living-stone line, and that as regards the unemployed dependent upon the resumption of such works, steps wore being taken to distribute them over the colony, so that they might be enabled to obtain work. If the necessity were urgent relief would be given. Eeplying to Mr Hutchison, The Hon. W. Eolleston said the Government hod recently given a reserve to the County Council in lieu of another piece of ground long ago promised to the county. Eeplying to Mr Barron, The Hon. T. Dick said that a Gaming and Lotteries’ Bill had been brought down last session, and passed through the Upper House. It did not pass this Chamber. A similar measure would be brought down this session, and Government hoped they would succeed in passing it, Eeplying to Mr Jones, The Hon. W, Eolleston said the Government had not handed over to Mr Thomas Epssell or any person acting on his behalf any pStion of the Te A roha block. Eeplying to Mr Turnbull, The Hon. T. Dick said that enquiry would be made into the circumstances under which George Hobbs and Stephen Batchelor were committed at the Waimate Eesident Magistrate’s Court on the 14th April, 1881, for forty-eight hours’ imprisonment for refusing to pay a line inflicted of £5 6s to Michael Studholme for trespass in pursuit of game ; also upon what grounds, the act complained of having taken place on a public road, the decision of the Eesident Magistrate was arrived at. PERSONAL. Leave was granted to Mr Bbyce to make a personal explanation. He said that he had soon in a despatch from bis Excellency the Governor to the Secretary of State, recently laid on the table, a statement which surprised him. It would be remembered that in January circumstances arose which induced him to retire from the Government. In doing so he bad made it a point of honor to give no version of hie reasons for retiring to any one, not even to his own personal friends. His late colleagues were aware of this. Well, he found printed in the dispatch referred to a statement written by the Governor, In Auckland, apparently on the very day after his resignation, to the following effect :—“ I enclose extract from this day’s * New Zealand Herald,’ containing what is said to be Mr Bryce’s own explanation of his cause, and also comments which probably indicate the opinion of a considerable section of the public.” He was aware that by constitutional practice Ministers were responsible for the actions of the Governor, and ho did not know whether be was to assume that Ministers were aware of the contents of this despatch, but they wore certainly aware of the understanding that he was to remain silent on the subject of his resignation until a proper opportunity occurred. He had no desire to say anything that would reflect on his Excellency. If, however, he had the power or the will to do so he would, instead of any words of ! his own, use the words of the High Commissioner in respect of the conduct of the Intercolonial Conference in acting on statements made by a newspaper correspondent referring to the conduct of a high functionary. He would merely say that having sent home such a version it was in justice incumbent op the Government to give equal publicity to his correct statements as to the cause of his resignation. The Hon. J. Hall said that* Government had no control over his Excellency in connection with communications sent to the Secretary of State. The Government know nothing about the despatch or the inolosure complained of till long after. He (Mr Hall), however, was quite sure that none would object to Mr Bryce’s version of bis resignation being given the fullest possible publicity. CHINESE IMMIGRATION BILL. The House went into committee on the Chinese Bill. On danse 4 it was proposed that the penalty should be increased from £IO to £SO. On a division the sum as printed was passed. The following is the division list:— Ayes, '24 —Messrs Atkinson, Bryce, Colbeck, Ooliins, Dick, Fulton, Gibbs, Gisborne, Hall, Hirat, H. (Wallace), Hurstbonse, Johnston, Levestam, London, M’Lean, Murray, Pitt, Eeid, Eolleston, Saunders, Studholme, Swanson, Trimble. Noes, 23—Messrs Allwright, Bain, Ballance, Fisher, J, B, (Duller), Fisher, J. T. (Heathoote), Sir W. Fox, Messrs Harris, Hutchison, Jones, Kelly, Maoandrew, Mason, Montgomery, Moss, Ormond, Eiobardson, Bussell, Sheppard, Speight, Stevens, Sutton, Thomson, Tole, Whitaker, The Bill was reported with amendments. The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. LICENSING BILL. On the motion for committing the Licensing BUI, Dr. Wallis addressed the House at length, urging daims for compensation whore licenses were abolished by local option, and freely criticising the provisions of the Bill. Sir W. Fox regretted that Dr. Wallis had reopened the discussion before going into committee, and replied to many remarks made by Dr. Wallis. Mr Jones thought that the question of local self government had cropped up in every measure that bad been brought before the House this session, and he considered that the matter they were then discussing was ope that should be relegated to local public bodies to deal with. The House then went into committee on the Bill. Clauses 1 to II were passed as printed. On clause 12, enb-seotion 1, Sir W. Fox proposed as an amendment —“That the licensing committee shaU consist of persons who shall bo annually elected by the ratepayers of the district.” On a division, 19 voted for the clause as printed, and 34 for the amendment. Ayes, 19— Messrs Atkinson, Brandon, Colbock, Collins, Dick, Gibbs, Hall, Hursthouse, Johnston, Kelly, Levestam, Pitt, Eeid, Eolleston Stevens, Studholme, Sutton, Trimble, White. Noes, 34—Messrs Andrews, Bain, Balance, Barron, Bastings, DeLautour, Fisher, j. T., Hon. W. Fox, Messrs Fulton, Gisborne, Sir G. Grey, Messrs Harris, Hutchison, Jones, Levin, Lundon, Maoandrew, McLean, Montgomery. Moss, Murray, Ormond, Eichardson, Bussell, Saunders, Sheppard, Speight, Swanson, Tawhia, To Whooro, Thomson, Tole, WaUis, Wood. The remainder of the sub-sections of clause were struck out, and the clause amended was then passed. Mr Bastings proposed to strike clause 29, family hotels license. The House divided. For the clause

printed, 10 ; against, 27. Clause 30—Meet of club licensee. Mr Lbvbstam moved —" That the hours for the sale of liquor bo restricted from six in the morning to twelve at night.” After considerable discussion this wu agreed to on the voices, and the clause as amended passed. At 12 35 a.m. progress was reported, and the House adjourned.