PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2296, 30 August 1894, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, August 29. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. legitimation bill. In committee on this Bill, The Hon Mr MacGregor moved a new clause providing that the claims of legitimate children in regard to property shall take precedence of the claims of legitimatised children; also providing that no child can be legitimatised it any impediment existed at its bath to the intermarriage of its parents. This was agreed to. A new clause providing for the registration of illegitimate children was also agreed to. INVERCARGILL RACECOURSE EMPOWERING BILL. On the motion of the Hon Mr Feldwick this Bill was read a second time. ANIMALS PROTECTION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Hon Sir P. Buckley moved the second reading of this Bill, and said its object was to prevent the introduction into the Colony of objectionable birds or animals. The second reading was agreed to. OATHS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Hon Sir P. ' Buckley moved the second reading of this Bill. The Hon Mr Shrimski hoped that instructions would be given to the constable swearing a witness to speak slowly and plainly. The Hon Mr MacGregor said kissing a book was a very objectionable method. He thought that the magistrate should administer the oath.’- He considered that oaths were unnecessary, and he was prepared to abolish them altogether. The Hon Mr Stewart pointed out that no mention was made in the Bill of the consequences of perjury. The Hon Sir P. Buckley said he would see that this oversight was corrected. The second reading was agreed to. WELLINGTON CITY DRAINAGE EMPOWERING BILL. This Bill passed through committee without amendment, and passed its final stages. TIMARU HARBOUR RECLAMATION BILL. This Bill passed its final stages, DIVORCE BILL. This Bill was further considered in committee. The Hon Mr Stewart moved an amendment to subsection 2 of clause 3 to the effect that divorce cannot be granted for desertion prior to the passing of the Bill. The Hon Mr MacGregor said that though it was quite right not to make legislation respecting adultery retrospective, the same arguments did not apply in regard to desertion. Mr Stewart’s amendment was carried by 16 votes to 14, and the words were inserted. A motion that the number of years which should constitute desertion should be raised from three to seven was negatived by 17 votes to 13. A motion making the term of desertion five years was negatived by 14 votes to 10. The Hon Mr McLean moved that the term be four years. To this the Hon Sir P. Buckley moved an amendment that the term be four years and nine months. This amendment was negatived by 16 votes to 10, and the motion to make the term four years was agreed to. Sir P. Buckley moved that instead of years it should be four weeks. He subsequently withdrew this, and the subsection was passed. The Hon Mr Bowen moved that subsection 3, which provides that divorce may be granted on the grounds of habitual drunkenness or cruelty, be struck out. The subsection was struck out by 15 votes to 11. The Hon Mr Bonar moved that“subseotion 4, which provides that divorce may be granted on the grounds that a husband or wife has been obmmitted to prison for a period not less than three years, be struck out. This was negatived by 15 to 13. A motion to strike out the provision in subsection 5, that divorce should be granted for repeated assaults, was negatived on the casting vote of the chairman. Progress was reported, and the Council adjourned till Thursday afternoon.

HOUSE OF BEPEESENTATIVES. Wednesday, August 29. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. LEAVE, OP ABSENCE. On the motion of Mr Bell, leave of absence for one week was granted to Mr Dutliie on account of ill-health. New bills. The Now Zealand Company’s Laud Claimants Aot Amendment Bill and tho Lake Forsyth Drainage Bill Wore introduced by the Minister of Lands and read k first time. 1 THE VAILE SYSTEM. Mr Pieani moved that it is desirable that effect should bo given to the report presented to the House in 188 G—that a trial of the Vailo system should bo made on some section of our railways under the direct supervision of Mr Samuel Yaile. Tho Premier believed there was something in Mr Vailo’e sohomo, but it would bo difficult to got a section of railway upon which it could b,o tried, and, furthermore, tho law would not allow this section to bo handed over to Mr Vaile, because the Bailway Department was under the control of the Commissioners. Tho proper course .to take if the House wanted to give tho scheme a trial would be. to alter the law. He would, therefore, oppose the motion. Major Steward thought Mr Vailo’s case stood absolutely unchallenged, but the difficulty was to give tho scheme a practical trial. / Mr Button pointed out, regarding what tho Premier had said as to tho existing law, that if the motion were carried it would he tho duty of the Government to alter the law. Captain. Bussell said that there was no analogy between New Zealand and Hungary, where tho zone scheme had been established. In this Colony there was a scanty population, and people would not travel, however ' cheap the fares were, unless they had business to doTho Colonial Treasurer said he believed that Mr Vailo was on tho right lines; but the motion seemed to be inopportune, because this was not the time to experiment with the railway revenue. He suggested that there should be added to the motion a provision that the districts in which the Vaile system was tried should bo called, upon to recoup any loss of revenue arising from tho change. Mr G. W. Bussell considered the prin- ; ciples of Mr Vaile’s scheme were to a large extent sound, but the rates for goods should be cheapened rather than those for passengers.. It was out o*' the question to hand, over a, section of the-railways to MiVai)o to be managed. | After further discussion tho motion was. lost by 27 votes to 20. consolidated fund. A, motion proposed by Mr G-. Hutchison for a return respecting the, transactions of the Consolidated Fund, month by month, was lost. OAMaKO BILL. At the evening sitting, The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Gaming Bill were agreed to, except the new clause 7, giving the President of the New Zealand Jockey Club the power to issue licenses. WELLINGTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. The amendment made by the Legislative Council in the Middle District of New Zealand Univeraty College IB iIL. was agred to. 1 THE REFERENDUM. Mr O’Eegan moved the second reading of the Beferendum Bill, saying that to Mr O’Conor, late member for tho Buller, was due the credit of bringing this question before the Colony. This Bill was simply one to enable the people to rule. Under the present system of election there was no such thing as representative government. He traced the history of th ; s movement in other countries, and went on to say that in an election as at present conducted there was no opportunity of having a straight-out vote upon any question. This Bill would remedy that evil. Mr Saunders strongly approved the principle of the BUI, urging that it did not go far enough. Dr Newman would vote for the Bill, though objecting to some of its details. The Initiative, however, should be added to the Bill. He maintained that experience in Switzerland showed that the Beferendum. was an appeal to the Conservative element. Mr Allen held that we had the Referendum in New Zealand already. An appeal was made to the people every three years. The Hon Mr Beeves opposed the BilL He thought there were already sufficient checks against hasty legislation. A House of well-informed, practical politicians was a much safer body than tho people to entrust legislation to. In voting for a Bill personal considerations would affect the people just as strongly as they affectedthem now in, the election of a member. He believed that the people were already well represented in Parliament, never better than at the present time. The Referendum was unnecessary, and would be expensive and annoying to-the people. TheReferendum might be established if the revising Chamber were swept away.. Mr G, W. Bussell supported the BilL

The Peemiee, said that compared with the people of New Zealand those of Switzerland were absolute slaves. He strongly urged that the existing system was much to be preferred to that proposed by this Bill. If Bills yfeie referred to the people, they would not have the time or opportunity to understand them. Mr Collins opposed the Bill. Mr Hooo also considered the Bill inopportune. If they adopted the system

prevailing in Swrlond, they would make a most dangtfs leap in the dark. Mr Wi Peue oppl the Bill. Mr Steve.'.', l ; did t think the Colony should bo involvein endless political turmoil, as it would.* by this proposal. The people wanted ast from politics. Mr Heke also ap, and Mr O’Rkoan having replied, the tion for the second reading was put amst by 24 votes to 19. The following is 1 division list: — Ates, 19. —Be Buick, Earnshaw, \ Graham, Hall-.ToneHeke, O. Hutchison, J Joyce, J. W. By, Bang, McNab, Meredith, O’Koganjrani, O. W. Russell, .Saunders, G. J. Smi Steward, Te Ao. Noks, 24. Cadn, Carnell, Carroll, Collins, Crowthcr, Itrnan, Fraser, Guinness, Hall, Harris, Ijg, W. Kelly, Lawry, Maslin, McGoivanMills, Montgomery, Parata, Bure, Pinion, Reeves, Seddon, Stevens, Ward. PAias. Ayes ; Stout, McLachlan, Button, Wilson, itchelson, T. Mackenzie, McGuire, Nrnan, Green. Noes : R. McKenzie. Hown, Lamach, Duncan, J. McKenzie, Thontm, Allen, Mackintosh, Massey. The House adjured at 12.40 a.m.