PARLIAMENTARY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 8562, 17 August 1904, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

LF^ISIATTVE-'COUNCIL. ! The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr Taiaroa, the AttorneyGeneral said that a BilL would be introduced to give effect to the award of 100 acres of land at Milford Haven which was made to Mr Taiaroa in 1853. The Administration Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 2.55 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Water Supply Act Amendment Bill (Mr Bollard), and the Mining Act, 1898, Amendment Bill (Mr Witheford) were read a first time. The Evidence Bill and Administration Act Amendment Bill were received from the Legislative Council and read a first time. The amendment made by the Council in the Counties Act Amendment Bill by striking out the time limit during which the Minister for Public Works may disallow a, by-law was not agreed to, and a committee was appointed to draw up reasons for such disagreement. The Stud Bill was further considered in Committee. 'Mr Massey sugested that the Bill should be made .optional, and not brought into force in a district unless the metropolitan agricultural society expressed itself in favor of it. The Hon. Mr Duncan opposed the proposal, urging that an optional Bill would be so much waste paper, and that they had better have the measure as it is or none at all. Sir J. G. Ward suggested that the matter should be left to delegates appointed by the people interested in the Bill. After considerable discussion, the Hon. "Mr Duncan said he was willing to make the Bill optional for one year. Sir W. Russell said that that would provide no test. The time should be extended to three years. The Hon. Mr Duncan suggested that the Bill be referred to a special committee of the House. iMr Massey said that he saw no reason why they should go beyond the Joint Agricultural and Stock Committe, which was specially fitted to deal with the Bill. Since the Bill was last before the House he had received several letters from presidents of agricultural societies and other representative men objecting to compulsory registration of stallions, and urging that the Bill should be made optional. Sir J. G. Ward suggested the following committee to consider the Bill—Mr Bollard, Mr Buddo, Mr Hogg, Mr Kidd, Mr La-wry, Mr Lethbridge, Mr Massey, Mr Mackenzie, Mr M'Lachlan, Mr Rhodes, Mr Rutherford, Sir W. J. Steward, and the ' Minister for Lands. A motion by Mr Rutherford to report progress was carried on the voices. The School Attendance Bill was putthrough Committee with some machinery amendments. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Sir J. G. Ward announced that the result of Saturday's football match, Britain v. New Zealand, was sent to London, via the Pacific cable, in three minutes. The Police Offences Act Amendment Bill, which is designed to regulate and control amateur boxing, was considered in Committee. In clause 5, which authorised a constable to arrest persons present at an illegal boxing contest, an amendment was made exempting from arrest those persons who consent to leave the premises when requested by the polios. A new clause was added providing that a copy of every permit for a boxing contest be granted by an inspector of police shall be posted on the door of the main entrance of the building in which the contest is being held. The Shops and Offices Bill was considered in Committee. Exception was taken to going on with the Bill in the absence of the Premier, and Mr Barber moved to report progress. Sir J. G. Ward, who was in charge of the Bill, urged that the absence of the Premier should not be allowed to stand in the way of such an important measure. Mr W. Fraser contended that after the statements made by the Premier as to his willingness to make certain amendments to the Bill, they should have been brought down. Sir J. G.Ward said that if any material alterations were proposed he was prepared to defer their final consideration until they had been printed and circulated. He urged that they should go on with the Bill, and see what progress was made. Mr Arnold thought the House could make as good a Bill of it without the Premier as with him. It had been before the Labor Bills Committees of both Houses, and both employers and employees had announced what amendments they desired. Sir J. G. Ward said- that he was prepared to go back to the Referendum Bill (which had been passed over.) Mr Barber said that a deputation on the subject of the Bill was awaiting the Premier's return, and he objected to the Bill being gone on with until the deputation had been heard. A motion to report progress was lost on the voices, and the committal of the Bill was proceeded with. Mr R. M'Kenzie moved to alter the title of the measure to the "Barmaids Abolition Bill." The Bill was principally designed for that purpose, and it was just as well to say so. This proposal was lost by 40 votes to nine votes, and the interpretation clause was then considered.

Mr Graham proposed that a solicitor's office should not be included in the definition of the term "office," on the ground that solicitors' clerks do not require any protection from the law in regard to hours and work. Mr Dutliie moved a prior amendment to the definition of "office," exempting offices in which any person is employed to do professional work. Sir J. G. Ward opposed this amendment on the ground that it would deprive the people engaged in such offices of the sanitation and other benefits which the Act was designed to confer. Mr Graham contended that provision in that respect was made by the Municipal Corporations Act. Mr Aitken said that the sanitation clauses were out of place in this Bill; their proper place was the Municipal Corporations Act.

Sir J. G. Ward contended that there were certain sanitary matters connected with shops and offices which were not dealt with in the Municipal Corporations Act. He would report progress if it could be shown that provision was already made necessitating separate sanitary accommodation in offices for persons of both sexes. Mr Duthie contended that the provision was contained in the Public Health Act. Sir J. G. Ward'said he was advised that that provision did not apply to municipalities. If a division was taken on Mr Duthie's amendment he would report progress. Eventually a division was taken on Mr Duthie's amendment, which was carried by 32 votes to 21 votes, and progress was then reported on Sir J. G. Ward's mot:oi. The second reading of the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill was moved by tie Hod. Mr M'Gowan. The object of the Bill was to prevent agencies being established in the colony for the sale of tickets in Tattersall's sweeps. The Bill also proposed to make the Chinese games of fan-tan and paknpoo He thought it was in the best interests of the community that that form of gambling should be stopped. Mr Massey thought t'ic Bill wns required, as a. good deal of gu sibling went on in the Chinese quarters of the city, especially on Sunday nichts. That sort of thing must be bad both for Europeans and Chinese. Mr Aitkeii was of opinion" tbat the Bill was especially, required in Wellington. The Chinese were in favor of their own countrymen being protected against themselves. .„.. Mr Herdman approved;of the' Bill; but thought that- power, should be given : to j the police to _ arrest men and boys who are in the habit of frequentingrfhegambling dens. .'"'<•' Mr Lawry strongly opposed' the Bill. It might be desirable to do away- with Chinese gambling dens, but tbe Bill would gvie the police a power which no other police possessed. The more they tried by tin-pot and tyrannous legislation to suppress gambling the more'gambling would increase. After further discussion the second read-

ing of the Bill was carried by 44 votes to three votes. Sir J. G. Ward moved the second reading of the Payment of Members Bill. This was chiefly a consolidating measure, and in addition increased from five to fourteen the number 1 of days on which a member may be absent without fine. Mr Vile said that when the Bill was in committee he should move to reduce the salary of members to £250, and of Legislative Councillors to £l5O. After some discussion, the second reading was agreed to on the voices. The House rose at 12.10 a.m.