HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6261, 27 May 1882, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feiday, May 26. i The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE CENTRAL PRISON. Mr Bracken gave notice to ask how the officer in charge came to be appointed to Mount Cook ceutral prison, when there were many officers his seniors in the colony. CORRUPT PRACTICES PREVENTION ACT. Mr Wynn Williams brought up the report of tha select committee on the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, recommending that in the discretion of the Judges trying election petitions the penalties under sections 17 and 18 should be remitted in whole or in part. Mr Macandrew asked what bearing the report would exercise on the Sfcanmore election ? Mr Wynn Williams replied that the order of reference contained nothing that ) would enable the committee to deal witb. that case. He moved the adoption of the report. The motion was put and carried, with the addition that effect should be given to the report by legislation. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Levestam, Mr Dick j said tho Government did not propose to interfere with the Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881, in the direction of changing the half-holiday from Saturday to Borne other week day. If employers were allowed to select their own day the Government were apprehensive that the half-holiday would disappear altogether. Replying to Mr Levestam, Mr Johnston said the practice in Lyttelton was to issue free railway passes to masters of all vessels over 250 tons, irrespective of the j nationality of the vessel, foreign or colonial. Replying to Mr Levestam, Mr Dick said the Government did not intend to bring in a bill extending the provisions of the Resident Magistrate's Court Evidence Act, 1878, so that it might apply to the Abolition of Imprisonment for Debt Act, 1874. The subject would be under consideration when fche reports and the bills of the Judicature Commission were received, and it would be for members, if not satisfied, to move in the direction indicated when the reports were under consideration. Replying to Mr J. M'Kenzie, Mr Rolleston said that the Government proproposed to introduce certain alterations in the Land Acfc, bufc these did nofc go in the direction of (1) having the Waste Lands Boards elected in place of nominated, (2) the ballot system introduced in disposing of deferred payment lands in place of the auction system, or (3) the introduction of provisions limiting the area that could be held or occupied by one person or company on pastoral lease. Replying to Mr Fish, Mr Dick said that if the business of the session permitted a bill would be brought in to extend the franchise in the direction of giving a vote to leaseholders. Replying to Mr Fish, Mr Dick said the Government had no intention of altering ' or amending the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1881. One member had tabled a notice in that direction, so that any alteration deemed necessary could then be considered. Replying to Mr Fisher, Mr Johnston said mechanics and others engaged in the railway workshops wrought not more than eight hours per day. The engine-drivers were not quite so regular as to hours, but in the aggregate he did not think they exceeded that time. However, he had called for a return in order to satisfy himself on the point. He had no desire to contravene the eight hours' movement any more than was absolutely necessary. Replying to Mr Wynn Williams, Mr Dick said the report of the Judicature Commission weuld be ready next week. FIRST READINGS. The following bills were read a first time : — Bill to amend the Education Act, 1877 (Pyke), Native Reserves Bill (Bryce), Bill to enable the Otago Harbor Board to obtain further borrowing powers (Fish), Government Life Insurance Bill (Atkinson), Bill to repeal the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1881 (Macdonald), Licensing Act Amendment Bill (Dick), Industrial Schools Bill (Dick), Bill to prevent the purchase of votes in the election of members of the House of Representatives (Grey). SECOND READINGS. The Customs Law Consolidation Bill, and the Customs Duties Consolidation Bill were read a second time. CHAIRMAN OP COMMITTEES. Major Atkinson applied to have the motion for the election of Mr Hurst as Chairman of Committees further postponed till Tuesday. Mr Macandrew objected to the postponement; and thought it should be gone on with at once. Mr Turnbull also objected to the postponement, and suggested that the proper way would be to dispose* of the question by ballot. The postponement was agreed to. THE BANKRUPTCY LAW. On the motion of Mr Dick it was agreed to appoint a select committee, to consist of nine members, to inquire into and report on the operation of the present bankruptcy law, and whether it required any further, and if so what amendment, or whether any, and if so' what other system would, in the opinion of the committee, be more effective for the objects to be attained, and also to confer with any similar committee appointed by the Legislative Council, and to report within one month. At 3.40 the House adjourned to 7.30.