House of Representatives.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1037, 10 June 1880, Page 2

House of Representatives.

The House met at 2.30. Dr. Wallis gave notice to ask whether the Government intended to extend the Aot for prohibiting indecent theatricals now in Otago to the rest of the Colony. Sir George Grey gave notice of a Bill to perpetuate the recognition of the public services rendered by Mr. Moorhouse to Canterbury. Mr. Hanlin gave notice to move for a return of how £59,000 votes of last session for Roads in North Island had been expended. Mr. Murray gave notice to move that

the honorarium to members of the House of Representatives be reduced to £100 and that no honorarium be paid to members of the Legislative Council, aM iliat the salaries of future Governors and Ministers of the Crown be reduced. Replying; to Sir W. Fox, Mr. Rolleston said he did not consider Judge Bathgate'B position as a director of a company formed in London compatible with his position as District Judge, and that he would be notified of that fact. The following Bills were read a first time :— To Extend the Franchise to Women (Wallis), to Prohibit Party Procession (Pyke). Mr. Dick moved the second reading of the Licensing Bill. In detailing its provisions, he said it was intended to introduce what was known as Local Option, and do away with bottle licenses at presnt in force in some parts of the Colony. Messrs. Barron, Stewart and Seddon oriticised the processions Bill. The debate was interrupted by an adjournment at 5 30. The House resumed at 7 30. Mr. Speight moved the adjournment of the debate on the Licensing Bill. The House then went into Committee of Ways and Means, when Major Atkinson deliverrd his Financial Statement. On the Treasurer moving the adoption of the new beer duty, Mr. Macandrew suggested its postponement but withdrew his suggestion on it being pointed out that it was not the usual course. Sir George' Grey, in a long speech, criticised the financial proposals of the Government, which he said were calculated to benefit members of that House and their friends by taking taxes off themselves, and placing it on the springs of industry. Every one of the proposals went to drive capital out of the Colony. They should begin with a fair system of taxation that would fall on the magnates of the Colony. The Hon. Major Atkinson said Sir George Grey knew nothing of what he was talking about. The exemptions in the Property Tax would be largely in favor of the poorer classes of taxpayers, and the tax was one which would overtake the wealthier classes. Sir George Grey then made another long speech, insisting that the whole effort of the Government was to tax the poor man and allow the wealthy to escape. The Hon. John Hall said that no matter what the Government proposals might have been, Grey would be bound to oppose them. Sir George Grey spoke again, reiterating his assertions. Colonel Trimble quoted from the Hansard to show that Grey was in the habit of making unfounded and inaccurate statements. Messrs Moss, George, Fisher, Gisborne, and others followed. The motion was then carried. In reply to Mr. Montgomery, the Treasurer said provision would be made by which tho new duty might be added to prices under existing contracts. The House rose at midnight. There was quite a bowl out for Sir George Grey at the Native Affairs Committee. He wanted to get Mr. Hamlin chairman, and thinking that exactly at 2 o'clock he had a majority, he moved to that effect. Just at that instant Captain Russell came in, and gave a majority for] Colonel Trimble, Sir George Grey was very indignant. Sir Gteorge Maurlo© O'Rorke. A telegram has been received by the Governor from London announcing that Mr. O'Rorke speaker of the House has been knighted. This Day. The House met yesterday at 2.30. Sir W. Fox gave notice that in committee of the Licensing Bill he would move the insertion of a clause giving relatives the right of action against auyone supplying liquor to persons to their injury. Mr. Sutton gave notice of motion that subsidies be paid to local bodies during the next six months, pending the change proposed in the Financial Statement being carried into effect. Replying to Dr. Wallis, the Government said they had no time to prepare a Bill on indecent theatricals, but if the hon. member would undertake the work, the Government would give him every assistance. The following new Bills were read a first time : — |The East Coast Native Lands Settlement Bill (McDonald), a bill to perpetuate a recognition of the public services of Mr. Moorhouse in Canterbury (Sir George Grey), to amend the Crown Grants Amendment Act (Rolleston). On the motion of Mr. Ballance, it was ordered that all papers relating to land at Murimotu be laid on the table. The House rose at 5. 30 and resumed at 7.30. Mr. Hutchison moved the second reading of the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill. After a short debate the motion was agreed to and the Bill ordered to be committed that day three weeks. On the motion of Mr. Murray, the Drainage Bill was read a second time, and referred to a committee on agriculture. The Proclamations Valuation Bill passed through committee, read a third time, and passed. The adjourned debate on the Licensing Bill was resumed, and further debate upon it adjourned to tho following day. Mr. Dick moved the second reading of the Auctioneers' Licensing Bill, the object of which was to bring all existing Acts on the subject into one general law. Dr. Wallis considered a fee of £40 too high, and suggested it should be £10. Mr, Shrimski suggested it should be £100. The Bill was read a second time and the Houße adjourned at 12.30. "No, no, " said he explaining, "I wasn't really mad when the old man drovo me from the house, but I must say I felt put out." Toasted Long Enough. — The Rev. John Brown was in the habit of proposing on festive occasions a certain young lady as his toast. Having abandoned the practice, he was asked for a reason. "Because," said he, "I've toasted her for sixteen years without making her Brown, and so I have resolved to toast her no more."