Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 441, 2 October 1897, Page 2

Parliamentary Notes.

[From oue Special Reporter.]

Wellington, This day. The speakers to the Address in Reply debate yesterday afternoon were Messrs Morrison, Lewis, Flatman, and Hunter. The latter, who delivered his maiden speech, administered a rebuke to some of the older members who have acquired a habit of constantly interjecting remarks. Although the Local Government Bill has been a considerable portion of it will be |jm«bodied in a measure which the Prenfier has in the stocks and hopes to pass into law this session. Under this measure municipal and county franchise will be extented to all adults who have a 12 months'residence or who Lave paid rates for a period of three months. A proposal by the Hon. Mr M'Cullough to have the election of Speaker of the Council conducted by open voting in place of by ballot was negatived by the Council by 21 to 8. Two technical measures—the Patents, Designs, and Trades Marks Bill and the Adulteration Act Amendment Bill —passed their sscond reading without debate in the Council yesterday afternoon. The Divorce Bill, which Sir Robert Stout has given notice of, is the same measure which the Hon. Mr Bolt introduced in the Council last year. Two sub - committees have been appointed by the Privileges Committee, one comprising Messrs Guinness, Rolleston and Montgomery to search for precedents, the other, consisting of Messrs Rolleston, Guinness, Montgomery, Joyce and Allen to draft a case for counsel's opinion. The committee do not meet again till Wednesday next. At the evening sitting Mr W. Fraser continued the debate on the Address-in-Reply, mainly dealing with the Bushy Park purchase, which he upheld as a good business transaction. The Hon. T. Thompson dealt sc'-iatiw with the charges laid .against the police force of the colony by Mr T. Taylor, combatting the several accusations made. Mr George Hutchison was in his usual good form, and his speech fairly bristled with sharp points. Bushy Park was dealt with at some length, the member for Patea being under the impression that the purchase had not been carried out in a proper manner. Messrs O'Meara and Bollard followed, and at 20 minutes after midnight the debate was adjourned till Tuesday. The debate is not likely to fizzle out before Wednesday. The Young Persons Protection Act introduced by the Premier provides for the appointment of women inspectors, who may take steps to prevent the loitering of girls in the streets, for entry by the police to places frequented by prostitutes and gamblers, and for the punishment of parents or guardians who induce girls to act immorally. Captain Russell and Mr Hunter left for Hastings to-day with the view of attending the races there. The leader of the Opposition returns on Tuesday in order to be present at the next meeting of the Privileges Committee. The member for Waipawa delivered a very neat speech on his maiden effort, and created a most favorable impression.