PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 132, 8 October 1895, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. • VACCINATION. An interesting discussion on vaccination took place in the Council the other afternoon. In moving for a return showing tii j camber of births in the colony for the last ten years and the number of vaccinations during the same period, the Hon C. 0. Bowen said that he did so because there was some alarm felt at the progress of small-pox in the Southern Seas, and there was a general belief that there had been a laxness in the matter of vaccination. The Colonial Secretary produced a proof copy of the returns for seven years to be incorporated in the New Zealand Handbook to be issued shortly.' Mr Jennings hoped an opportunity would be given to debate this question, as he had found a feeling antagonistic to'vaccination to exist in some parts, which arose from the fact that it was thought the virus used was impure. Mr Walker regretted to hear that there was any suggestion of a feeling in the Council adverse to vaccination, for it was an absolute certainty that vaccination checked the progress of small-pox. Mr Jennings explained that he was prepared to show that compulsory vaccination was a mistake unless on the lines on which it was carried out on the Continent once in every seven years. Alluding to the return handed to him by the Colonial Secretary, the Hon Mr Bowen said that he noticed from it that in 1894 there were 18,528 births and only 9000 vaccinations, which showed that the position is sufficiently alarming. As to what the Hon Mr Jennings had said, he was surprised that there should be any doubt as to vaccination. He felt sure that steps should be taken to enforce the present or some stringent law, as vaccination had been getting behind for a long time. The motion was agreed to..

ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS SALE BILL.

Sir Patrick Buckley moved the second reading of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill. He said that personally he thought that the Prohibitionists had not taken the best course in their action in regard to the liquor question. The Hon Mr Pharazyn considered the principle of local option most unjust and tyrannical. The whole measure from beginning to end was a mistake, and would require considerable amendment in Committee.

The Hon Mr Ormond hoped to see the Bill so amended as to he as little mischievous as possible. If total prohibition were carried in the colony the loss of revenue resulting would throw the colony into a state of utter chaos. He strongly objected to holding the licensing poll and general election on the same day. The Hon Mr W. C. Walker believed that by holding both elections on the same day it would prick the bubble of prohibition, and show how small and insigtificaut were the fanatics who were trying to ruin New Zealand. The Hon Mr Eigg could not countenance prohibition in any shape or form. If it were carried the loss of revenue would ruin the colony, as the land could not bear any more taxation. The Hon Mr McLean said he had always favored temperance legislation, but at this measure he would be compelled to call a halt. He objected to the continual tinkering with the question of prohibition. Sir G-. S. Whitmore thought the provision, allowing prohibition in the colony, should be excised from the Bill. What was wanted was proper police control over the public houses, and a proper supervision of the drink sold.

The Hon Mr Stewart said that already there was a slight reaction setting in against the prohibition agitation in the colony, and he was satisfied it never would be attained. The Hon Mr Grace said a prodigious machinery to check a vice that did not exist was- quite unnecessary. The Hon Mr Jenkinson hoped that the dates of election- would not be separated, as in that case the votes of the moderate drinkers would not be cast at all. The Hon Mr Shrimski was entirely opposed to the Bill. Messrs Kerr, Bolt, Bowen, and McGregor also spoke, and the second reading was agreed to on the voices. HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. AGENT-GENERALSHIP. Mr Seddon said the terra of the Agent-General’s office did not expire till 10th December next, so there was no immediate hurry for the Government to consider the matter. BILLS DISCHARGED. Mr Seddon moved that the following Bills be discharged from the Order Paper : —Public Tenders, Contracts and Works, Law Practitioners Act Amendment, Endowed Schools, Betterments, Lunatics Act Amendment, Beet-root Sugar, Master and apprentice, Hospitals and Charitable Aid, Canterbury College Constitution, Payment of Jurors, Charitable Gifts Duties Exemption Extension, Harbors Act 1878 Amendment, Inebriates’ Institutions, Licensing Acts Amendment (McNab), Referendum, Divorce Act Amendment, Slander of Woman Bill, Native Rights, Kohoai Restriction, Statutes Consolidation and Printing, Mortgages, Domestic Servants’ Half Holiday, Restraint of Incitements to Betting or Wagering, Abolition of Capital Punishment, Second Hand Dealers’ Licensing, Removal of Women’s Disabilities, Female Law Practitioners, Totalisator Abolition Municipal Corporations Fire Insurance, and Medical Practitioners Registration Act Amendment. The motion was agreed to. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL. With regard to the Local Government Bill, Mr Seddon said he thought it would be better, in the interests of

the country, if the House would allow him to move the second reading and explain the Bill, and afterwards adjourn the debate. OTHER BILLS. The motion for the committal of the Asiatic and Other Immigrants Restriction Bill was carried on the casting vote of the Speaker ; and the motion for the committal of the Rating on Unimproved Value Bill was carried by 81 to 19. BILLS. The Margarine Bill, Chattels Transfer Act Amendment Bill, Rating and Unimproved Value Bill passed through Committee without material amendment. The first two were put through their final stages. THE BATING BILL. On the motion for the third reading of the Eating on Unimproved Values Bill, Mr E. Thompson moved that the Bill be recommitted for the purpose of reconsidering the question whether this Bill should be brought into operation by the vote of one-third of the ratepayers instead of one-half. The amendment was lost by 83 to 28. The debate on the third reading of the Bill occupied nearly the whole afternoon. Eventually the motion was carried by 41 to 7, and the Bill passed. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT BILL. The Minister for Lands moved the second reading of the Land for Settlement Act Amendment Bill. He referred to the continued demand for land for settlement, and pointed out the delay and obstacles of taking land compulsorily, making special reference to the Ardgowan purchase. He defended the action of the Board and Government from the charge that they had been doing nothing. The Bill would ratify the appointment of Mr McKerrow as a Land Purchase Inspector, and it was intended to make him chairman of the Board. During the last year to March 31st the Government were authorised to spend £250,000 in land purchase, but had not been able to spend all that sum, but the actual amount spent did not represent all the liabilities incurred up till December 13th. The Government had purchased nine properties, containing 29,626 acres, at a total cost of £112,413. They had 17 properties under offer, of £47,070. By the end of March next, between the actual expenditure and liabilities, the total amount at the disposal of the Government for land purchase would be nearly exhausted. Taking all things into consideration, he thought it would be admitted that his land policy had been successful. Captain Russell said so far as the arrangement of the Bill went, he had no particular objection to it. He still thought the compulsory taking of land most iniquitous, and had done more to injure the prosperity of the colony than anything else. It had kept many desirable settlers from coming. There was no hona Jide demand for land now. The regulations were most irritating, worrying, perplexing and foolish. Instead of dispossessing the present owners, it would be- far better to purchase the estates from the Assets Realisation Board, and thus help to relieve the colony of a portion of its liabilities arising out of the recent bank legislation. Men from whom land had been taken compulsorily had been treated more harshly by far than the friends of the Government, who were given more than its value for land. After further debate the second reading was agreed to on the voices.