GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1210, 1 October 1867, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23. DIVORCE AND MATEIMONIAX. CAUSES BHilr. Mr. Macfablanb said that it was unnecessary that he should occupy l*** l toivis of tho House for any lengthened time in speaking on the subject of the Bill. (Hear hear.) It had been carefully-considered in tho Legislative Council, and was similar to the Act in operation in Victoria. The principle and provisions of the Bill were such as had been approved of by the English Parliament, and also in that of a neighbouring colony, and were found to work well, and proved of benefit to the people. He would, therefore, move that it be read a second time. Mr. HauGhton objected to the Bill, and felt that the House would support him in moving an amendment, to the effect that it be read a second time this day six montliß. (Hear, hear) That England, America, and other countries had adopted Divorce Acts,'was no reason why it should be introduced to New Zealand, and since no reason had been shown why the Bill should be introduced, he would move its second reading thiß day six months. Mr. O. O'Neiil seconded the amendment. He objected to the Bill on theological, political, and social grounds. Mr. <3-. G-baham said it was well to consider tae passing of this Bill. He had even in Auckland seen many couples living in a state not worthy of the name of matrimony. Cruelty and neglect on the part of the husband, misery and long-suffering on the part of the wife was an every,day occurrence. He had known a number of cases of husbands finishing a life of misery by murdering their wives. "Wife desertion was an oocurrence too common to need remark. He thought that society was pregnant incaseß demanding the interference of a Divorce Act, and, therefore, he could support the motion. Mr. Bunny said that those who introduced the Bill ought to have been in a position to produce arguments in favor of it. It was unsupported and not worthy of christian men. Not a Bolitary petition had been presented to the House in favor of it, and not a solitary case had been recited to show that society wanted it. He would, therefore, oppose the measure. Mr. Tancbkd would give his vote against the measure.

Sir. BEID eaid he would support the second reading of the .Bill, on the grounds thftt the country wanted it. The law of divorce had been on itß trial for years in England and elsewhere, and proved beneficial to society. Mr. Oabb would oppose the Bill. He did not think that the state of society would bo improved by it. Mr. Main said that since tho priciple of the Bill had been affirmed, when leave was asked to introduce it, he did not think that there was any necessity for a debate on its second reading. It had been said that no arguments had been produced in support of the measure, but he had to observe that no arguments had been used against it. The hon. gentlemen at considerable length spoke of the working of the divorce law in England, of his own experience in Divorce Courts, and of the benefits tho community derived from it. He held that there was a necessity for the passing of the Bill under consideration, and would support it. Mr. Patterson would support the Bill. The Hon. 1 the Commissioner of Customs said that no fresh light could be thrown on the subject. It was exhausted in England before the Act came into operation in that conservative country. Divorce law in England had proved a blessing, and no doubt bat it would be in this country also. He hoped the House would'not oppose the second reading. Mr. Kbiholds would support the amendment. Mr. Cauleton said that there was one difficulty in the way to accepting the Bill—namely, that two persons divorced in New Zealand would still be husband and wife in England. Mr. Maoparlasb, in replying, explained that the hon. member just sat down was in error. So long as colonial law was kept within the operation of English law, decisions under it were supported by the British Statute.

Tha motion that the word " now " do stand part of tho question was then put, and the House divided with the following result, Ayes 22, Noes 17. The motion, therefore, was carried, tho Bill was read a second time, and ordered to bo committed on Wednesday. THIRD HEADINGS. Armed Constabulary Bull, Neglected and Criminal Children's Bill, Execution of Judgmentsagainst iieal Estates Bill, and Publio Stores Bill were reported from Committee, read a third time, and passed. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24. MARINE AOT . 1866 AMENDMENT ACT. Oil the motion of the Hon. the Pobthastjsr-Obne-HAi.this Bill was read a second time. DISTILLATION ACT 1866. AMENDMENT HILL. This Bill was committed, several were amended therein, and on the House resuming, it was reported.. T ATI BANG A DISTRICTS LAND BILL. The Bill was considered in Committee, and reported without amendment. On the motion be read, that the Bill be read a third time, Mr. GK Graham moved as an amendment, that it be read a third time this day six months. Mr. J . O'Neill hoped the hon member would not press his amondment. Tho Hon. the Commissioned op Customs suggested the advisability of withdrawing tho amendment. Tho Bill would not alter but would simply amend existing regulations. ■ The amendment was then withdrawn. The Bill was read a third time and parsed. POST OFFICE SAYINGS BANK ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was repotted from Committee without amendment, read a th : .rd time, and passed. B iRTLRY PENSION BILL. This motion was put and carried, and the Bill was readasecondtime andorderedto .be committed on Thursday. SEPABATION OF WKSTLAND. The Fpeakek announcod that he had received a message from his Excellency the Governor, enclosing an Act to constitute the County of "Westland, and to provide for the better government thereof. The Bill was read a first time, and its second reading made an Order of the Day for Thursday. SURVEY OF NEW ZEALAND COAST-LINE AND HARBOR?. Mr. Moobhousk moved, —"That this House do on Wednesday next resolve itself into a Committee of the whole, to consider of a respectful address to His Excellency the Governor, praying him to cause to be placed on the Estimates a sum of money not exceeding ,£3,500, to be employed in completing the survey of the New Zealand Coast Line and harbours." Motion agreed to. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. PROPOSED .ALTERATION OF POSTAL SERVICES.

' The Hon. the PosTMiSTBR-GENEEAii said that when the fclouse was last in Committee of Supply it was understood that the Government would be prepared, when the House again went into Committee of SupDly' to make such proposals as would lead to a saving in the cost of the postal service. Ho had now. to Btate that the Government had' considortd' the matter, and were now prepared to make tho following proposals, by which, if adopted by the . Bouse, a great saving. would be.effeeted. In case, however, thev were carried out, it would not be for the people to complain to the Government in case they did not receive their letters as regularly as under the present arrangements. With to the inter-provincial und inter-colonial services, the Government would submit to the consideration of the Committee the advisability of reducing the four complete services now established- for the' collection and distribution of the Panama and Suex mails to two, or two and a half servioes., , If the. latter were adopted, ate mien would arrive *t and

depart from the yarious potts as follows Auckland —Arrive 27th tod 4rd of each month; leave on the 3rd and 12th. Port Chalmera—-Arrive on the 19th, 25th and 10th; leave on the 4th'an<Vl9th. Taranaki —Arrive on the 26th ; leave on the 4th. " Nelson— Arrive on the 24th snd sth ; leave on tho 19th and Ist. By the adoption of- this proposal a saving of from £4,500 to £5,000 would be effected in the interprovincial service, making a. ■ total - of about £12,000. The service between Auckland and Sydney would be done away with by this arrangement. The hon. gentleman then pointedout wherein a saving of £3,500 might be efiected in the inland mail service, and concluded by stating that the postal service was of vast importance to the Colony,, and, therefore, i every effort ought to be put forth in. order to maintain it in an efficient Btate.

On the item of £64,456 19s lOd for the conveyance of Mails by sea. Mr.. Bu.n'HY moved that the sum proposed be reduced by £7000.

Mr. Moobhouse objected to the coarse adoptod by the Government in this matter.

The Hon. the Phemier said that the postal service might well be reduced without affecting the interests of the community.

Mr. Btony explained that his object in moving the resolution before the Committee, was not to affect the psßtal service between Auckland and Sydney, but simply to reduce the general 'costs of the service. Mr. Ejjbr would oppose any motion that would do away, with the Sydney and Auckland service. Mr. Keyuold3 would have no objection to record his vote against the Auckland and Sydney, service. Mr. "Williamson said the arangement' suggested by the Postmaster-General, if carried out, would materially affect the Province of Auckland." The Sydney and Auckland . service was not only a postal but a commercial service, and ought to be continued. Th.o time table suggested for the arrival and. departure of the mail steamers at and from the various ports was not equally fair to all. If it wera arranged that the Suez and . Panama mails were distributed from, and collected to Cook's Straits, in» manner equally fair to the. various Provinces, he would, support it. j Mr. LtoIiAM enquired, in case the Auckland portion of the Buez mails were conveyed by the Southern steamer, what delay would 'be occasioned in the arrival of the mail?

The Hon. the Postmaster-Gen*er al replied three days later than by existing arrangement. The motion, that the sum proposed for the conveyance of the mails by sea be reduced by £7,000 was then put, and the Houae divided, with the following result: —Ayes, 26; noes, 27. ( ■ X'lie division being equal, the Chairman gave his caßtiog vote with tho noes. The motion, therefore, was lost.. LOAN ALLOCATION AMENDMENT BELL.

The hon. the Colonial The as [jeer moved the' second reading of this bill. - - - After coneiderble discussion the motion was put that the word " now " do stand part of the the House divided with the following result:—Ayes, 26; noes, 13. The motion, therefore, was carried, the Bill was read a second time and ordered, to be committed tomorrow. __