HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10421, 25 July 1895, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WEDNESDAY. JULY 24;

The House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Crowther, The Hon. W. p. REEVES said he hoped the bbops and- Shop Assistants Act Amendment lidl would meet the views of those concerned aud he assured the hon. gentleman thst there was no desire to unduly and vexatiously harass people in business. ■ v

Replying to Mr G. W. Rnssell, who asked whether steps would be taken to alter th» police management so ss to stop Sunday tradine in liquor, -■•. , >> The Hon. R. J. §KDDON said hs desired to eniorce the law vigorously, but he agreed with the remarks of Mr -Bishop, S.M. at Christcburcn, in deprecating, that young men should ac; aR common informers with respect to the licensing law. He was carefully watching all over the colony any prosecution that might take pi ace, but he saw- no necessity for altering the police management, and he was determined that the police should do their duty ' Replying to Mr B. Ify, Smith, The Hon. J &. WARD said an amendment was contemplated to the. Advances to Settlers Act this sesjion, but in the meantime he thought the board was giving every satisfaction both to small and large tattlers. Replying to Msjor Harris, The Hon. R J. SEDDON said some alteration was necessary by way of cur* ailing the present expenditure in advertising for local bonies, but the matter might be left to those

Replying to Mr G. W. Russell, The Hon. J. G. WARD said the subject of old age pensions had been receiving tbe serious attention of the Government. It was the opinion of a Royal Commission in Eugland that the friendly societies should deal with thia matter, but the Government were still makinsr inquiries into it with-a view of doing gome-'

. Replying to Captain RusseU, The Hon. J. G, WARD said that £150,000 had beeu received from the B<ink of New Zealand under the New Zealand Consols Act The currency of depo.its was to the Ist February 1910, acd the rate of interest to be paid was 3i per cant. 2

Replying to "Mr E. 81. Smith, : . The Hon. A. J. CADMAN said he had given instructions to his department; to communicate wiuh tho A gent-general respecting the intentions of Siemens and Co.. regarding the working of lronssnd in' New Zealand, and whea he received .any-definite information on the subject he should lay it before the Houss.

RETURNS. Sic R. STOUT moved for a return of the newspapers m the colony that received Government advertisements during the last year and the.amounts paid ;. ako a return of tie amounts paid to any Australian papers for advertisements during tbe same, period.— Agreed to Sir R STOUT move* for a return showing .he aggregate amount■ borrowed under "The consols Act 1891" The Lands for Settlement Acts 1&92 and 1394, " The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act 1386," « The Advance,, to Settlers Act 1894," and The Native Land Purchase Act, &c.

Tee Hon. J. G. WARD said the whole of the information would be attached to the Financial Statement.

Bir R STOUT said it never had been The H«n- J- G- WARD assured the House that those amounts would be furnished in the Statement.

The Hon. R. J. SEDDON moved the adjournment of the debate, and s«ud if those retirns were not famished in the Financial Statement fair R. Stout's motion would be treated as an unopposed return.

Mr Seddon's motion was carried by 39 fco 24,

THE HIRE SYSTEM. Mr W. HUTCHISON moved-" That in the opinion of this House it is necessary that the 'hire system' should be subjected to le^al regulation and restraint, and the Government are requested to introduce legislation for this purpose; by the ' hire syatem' being meant the conditional purchase of furniture, pianos, sewing machines, or other articles of a durable character. ' He aaid his reason for moving +b* motion wav because he had seeu great hardship and injustice inflicted under thi3 hire system.

Mr M'NAB suggested that the matter mirtit be dealt with in the Sale of Goods Biil now beforo the House, when the whole question could be threshed out.

Mr HUTCHISON approved of Mr M'Nab'i suggestion.

The motion was loet by 37 to 19. A COOK STRAIT FBKRY. . Mr W. HUTCHISON moved-" That it U very desirable in the interests of the travelling public that the Government should take imme" uiate steps to maintain a daily connection ; between the North and South Islands by i couple of Government mail steamers." He said ithat travelling over tha country wa!t ver „ properly getting info the bands cf the Govern ment, and they should have the regulation <,f the whole traffic. He felt convinced this n-o posal would ba for the convenience of 'the public, and wouid tend to regularity of the mail service. The Hon. J. G WARD said tho Government were of opinion tho time had not arrived fnthis project, which would entail a ve-v l»r°« expenditure on the State &a lo^^te^ hydiSoU8 "°D 'tllem^-s nUBNHAM INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL Mr G. J. SMITH moved that a ; eturn be laid be ore the House showing the numb?* of boys who have during the past 12 montln nIZ their escape fiom ihe Burnham l odu "Jrfal School, and the nnmber who havo been r Jt,XrX7?A to the school either by the police cro'wte Agreed to. ••".trei-o. The House rose at 5.30.