HOUSE OF REPRESNTATIVES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XVI, Issue 179, 3 August 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESNTATIVES.

The House met at 230. Mr Hall gave notice to ask leave to introduce the Railway Construction Bill. Mr Dick gave notice that be would ask leave to introduce the Town District Bill. Sir George Grey gave notice that be would ask if the ten per cent redaction had been made m civil servants salaries last month, and if so, by what authority. A communication was rear) from the Auditor-General, to the effect that the £300 illegally paid to Mr Bees, had not been refunded. Mr Hall moved that the communication be dealt with by the Public Accounts Committee. Mr Stewait strongly objected, insisting that the proper course was for Government to refer the matter tor advice to the lanadviser, with a view to the recovery of the money. Mr Johnston said the communication had been made by an officer who was m no way amenaMe to tbe Government, and there was no option left with them as to the course to be pursued. Motion agreed to. In reply to questions put, it was stated an additional supply of timber .waggons was being prepared for the trade m Southland, — Government would inquire into the alleged impossibility of obtaining convictions for breaches of the Arms Act, m consequence of the severe punishment provided, with the view of getting the punishment more m accordance wilh the offence.— lnquiries would be made into the condition of affairs existing m small telegraphic stations, with the view of relieving the operators from Sunday duty. To prevent confusion Alexandia (Otago) would m future be designated Alexandra (South), to distinguish it from Alexandra North. — Government considered the precautions already taken against the introduction of smallpox sufficient, and would not suspend all communication with Sydney and Queensland. — Government deemed the law 09 it existed between landlord and tenant unsatisfactory, and if time permitted step 3 would be taken this session to have it amended. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :— lnvereargill Gasworks Site (Bain) : Christchurch Municipal Council Empowering Municipal Corporation Amendment (SteV6na). Mr Hall moved for leave to introduce a Bill to readjust the representation of the people. Mr Barron moved as an amendment that it bo a recommendation to Government m framing the above-named measure, that tbe present number of representatives sbonld not ue exceeded. He disclaimed all intentions of raising a party question, the amendment being moved m conformity with a general feeling prevailing amongst members. Mr Hall said the amendment was most unusual, and at this stage would be most inconvenient. He suggested the amend men t be withdrawn, and when the Bill came on for second reading it be repeated. Mr Levestam stigmatized the amendment as an attempt to influence Government by means of a district caucus. Mr Macandrew denied that such was the purpose, and considered the present an eligible opportunity for discussing tbe point. The whole framework of the Bill depended upon the numlip* of members to be provided for, and ihe s, >uui i hat was settled tbe better. Mr Mm« -nil l the present was the most cjuvuun.ni, opportunity they could get for discussing tbe point, as upon the second reading Government would regard any such criticism m the light of an adverse vote. Sir George Grey said the amendment had come upon them m tli« form of a surprise, aud he moved an adjourumuut v .In: -I bate. Mr Hall objected to an adjournment. Mr Delautour supported the adjournment, and insisted that if they allowed tbe Bill to go to the second reading, any adverse criticism would be taken as a no-confidence motion. The motion for adjournment was negatived. Oa tbe original motion and amendment beinc put, that the latter stand part of the question, the House divided. Ayes, 22 ; noes, 40. The Bill was introduced and read a flist time. The Honae adjourned at 5.30. On the House resuming, In Committee of Supply on the estimates, it was proposed to ro on with the Post and Telegraph Deparlments. The Postmaster General stated that the amalgamation of the two departments had enabled 31 officers to be dispensed with, and altogether a saving of Hourly jC.'I3,OOU appeared m the present

estimate of these departments, as compared with last year. The salaries had been rearranged, and fixed at what shonld be paid to each officer, without.the ten per cent or other redaction for the last nine months of the year. Several members objected to the form m which the estimates are printed this year, and to going on them then, as they had only just been circulated. After some discussion Government consented to postpone the estimates till Frid\y. Progress was then reported. The Gaming and Lotteries Bill, m Committee, was strongly opposed by Mr J. B. Fisher, who denied it was wanted by the country, and doubted whether Government really wished to paw it. Mr Dick expressed an emphatic conviction that the country demanded tbe Bill, and I Government intended to pass it. After a long discussion over the various clauses, and several divisions, without any important amendments, being made, clauses 46 and 47 were struck out, and the rest of the , original Bill passed. Mr Dick then moved the following new clause :— Every person who uses, exhibits, or keeps, any book, paper, writing, or other means, or substance, for the purpose of entering, recording, or noting any bet, wager, or game, or who invites, solicits, or procures, any person to bet, or make any wager, or enter into any such game, as aforesaid, shall be liable to the penalties prescribed by section 8. Messrs Russell, McLean, Gisborne, and others, protested against this, as going too far ; it would make it penal to bet a pair of gloves, or a sixpence on a rubber, but after some discussion the clause was carried by 21 to 14. Another new clause, brought down by Mr Dick, was withdrawn. A new clause by Mr Delantour, imposing penalties on keepers i of Chinese gambling houses, passed, as also ! the schedule. The Bill was reported, and the House rose at one o'clock.