HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6383, 28 July 1882, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, 27th July. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. KEW BILLS. Sir GKORGE GREY-gave notice that ho would introduce a bill for the reduction of taxation through the customs and property tax revenue, the deficiency to be made good by the imposition of a tax on land. EAIILY CLOSING. Mr HUTCHISON gave notice that ho would move for tho appointment of a Commission to consider and report upon the best means for regulatiug the hours of labour in shops, banks, &c. PARLIAMENT HOUSE. Mr GEORGE directed attention to tho sanitary state of the House, consequent upon which serious illness prevailed amongst members, and more especially amongst the occupants of the reporters' gallery. To such an extent had illness prevailed amongst them that there was only one reporter who was really in a position to continue the work to a late hour in the evening. Tho matter required immediate attention ; not a single hour should bo lost. He suggested that a Commission consisting of the Colonial Architect, Dr Hector, and some independent authority, be instructed to report upon the ventilation, &c., and as to what stops should be taken for'improving the same. There was another matter of even more pressing importance. A few days ago a gentleman belonging to tho reporting gallery was taken suddenly unwell. His medical advisor gavo it as his opinion that he was suffering from arsenical poisoning ; and on investigating the matter it was found that the green damask hangings with which the Chamber was surrounded were impregnated with arsenic, and to that cause the illness was attributed,. Last night a member of the House was attacked in precisely the same way, and he was at that moment laid up with serious illness. That was a matter which demanded immediate a.sten tion. Theso hangings should bo removed at once, oven although the Chamber might look a little bn.ro in consequence. The 'Hon. Major ATKINSON said that Government would undertake to have the matter looked into at once, with tho view of getting the ventilation improved, as also the hangings complained of removed, if found 'MrViVOANDKEW said that thoro was no use getting reportsfoh the subject. What was wanted was what he had all along urged upon the House—viz., that tho business 'should bp closed by midnight, and that they should get

away to their beds at something like a timely Mr GEORGE stated that in the event of the Committee reporting that no remedy could be found, then they nhould bo instructed to furnish an estimate of the probable cost of an entirely new building. Mr J. 0. BROWN agreed with Mr Mac- , andrew, that the best remedy would be to finish the business at midnight, and ho hoped v" Government would facilitate thorn in their en- on deavours to adjourn not later than that hour. P; MrSHEPHARD suggested that the esti- tn mates of a new building should be based on an q ( estimate of removing the seat of Government to Bomo more suitable place than Wellington »•" • appeared to be for the purpose. io The Hon. Major ATKINSON reiterated st that the subject would have immediate con- at Bideration, and that no efforts would be spared to to remedy the evil. en MOTIONS CAIUUEI). T! The following motions were put and car- ec ried:— w By Mr DUNCAN: "For copies of all o\ valuations made by Government under the to land and property taxes respectively within the m county of Waitaki." w By Mr SUTTON : " For a return of all ni moneys collected in the North Island as duty ai upon the sale or lease of Native lands for the n period from Ist April, 1881, to 31st March, n 1882" b By Mr SUTTON: "For copies of the a Judge's notes, and minutes of evidence of the li Judge of the Native Lands Court, who adjudi- I cated upon the Omaranui block in 1860, and t that these papers be added to those already on v the table, in order that the action taken by the r I Judge who heard and decided this matter in o 1 18CC may be placed alongside of the opinion ex- c >resaed by the Chief Judge in 1881. on a matter \ which had been finally adjudicated on 15 years j previously, and of which he does not appear to s lave had any judicial cognisatice." J bills. 1 The following were reported, read a third i time, and passed:—Bluff Harbour Foreshore < Reclamation, and Dunedin Southern Market j Reserves Leasing Bills. ' The Timaru Harbour Board and Tnnaru ( High School Act, 1878, Amendment Bills 1 were further considered in Committee, and re- 1 ported with amendments. 1 The Lyttelton Harbour Board Bill was re- i ported, read a third time, and passed, 1 The Otago Harbour Board Further Em- i powering Bill was further considered in Committee. ' Mr WRIGHT moved as an amendment— " That not more than one-fourth, or the sum of £50,000, should bo spent in the Upper Harbour until such time as there is a depth of 23 feet upon the bar at low water." The Committee divided—Ayes, 41; noes, 24. The amendment was accordingly added as a new clause to the bill. • The bill was reported as amended. Mr FITZGERALD moved the second reading of the Hokitika. High School Bill. Messrs PETRIE and WESTON opposed the bill, contending that the school should be established at Greymouth, as being more central to the district as a whole. The motion for the second reading was carried on the voices. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. Evening Sitting. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. BTLLS. Mr BUCHANAN moved the second reading of the Napier High School Bill.—Carried. Mr MACANDRUW moved tho second readme of the Portobello Road Board Enabling Bill.—Carried. Mr TURNBULL moved the second reading of the Nortli Timaru Cemetery Salo Bill. — Carried. ■ Mr FELDWICK moved the second reading of tho Gladstone Recreation Reserve Bill.— Carried. Mr PEARSON moved tho second reading of the Rangiora Domain Board Empowering bill. Mr O'CALLAGHAN objected to the principle of the bill. _ The second reading was carried. OTAGO HEADS. The House went into Committee to consider an address to T;he Governor requesting him to cause to be placed on the Estimates £500 to complete tho road to Otago Heads. The Hon. Mr JOHNSTON objected, stating that there was an unexpended balance, which would be made available for the purpose. On that understanding progress was reported. - BILLS. The Employment of Females Act Amendment Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. The School Committees Election Bill was further considered in Committee, and reported with amendments, which were ordered to be considered on Thursday next. %n Committee on the Public Offenders Disqualification Act Amendment Bill, The Hon. Mr DICK thought MrLevestam, who was. jn charge of the bill, should move that the Act of 1867 should be repealed. Mr LEVESTAM said the Act of 1867 was of no use. He had consulted tho highest legal authority on the subject. , Mr DE LAUTOUR thought the law should remain as at present. The bill was then reported with amendments. The Small-birds Nuisance Bill was carried with amendments. Sir GEORGE GREY moved the second readme of the Land Boards Bill. , Mr BATHGATE said his leading idea was t6 localise government throughout the Colony, and he maintained a change was necessary in the matter of land boards.

Mr STEVENS said it was impossible for the Minister of Lands in Wellington, to look after the requirements of the people. He thought it would be far better if such an officer was made elective by the people. Mr SEDDON looked upon the present measure as the most important that had been brought before the House, and would give the bill his hearty support. He did not blame the present Ministry for any wrongs that had taken place, but hoped the bill would pass its second reading. Mr FELDWICK called for a division, which resulted as follows : —Ayes, 30 ; noes, 4.

The bill was then referred to the Waste. Lands Committee. The House adjourned at 1.15 a.m..