PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 6908, 19 July 1901, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

In the House of Representatives yes- , tcrday, the second reading of the Statutes Compilation Bill was agreed to. The Pedlars and Hawkers Bill was _jhrown out. '4jT The Woodville County Bill was read n second time. It will merge four local bodies into one. The Christchurch Cycle Boards Bill was read a second time. The State School Compulsory Drill Bill was discussed in Committee. Any girl or boy physically unable to undergo drill may be exempt, The second rending of Mr Hornsby's Control of Female Employment Bill was adjourned till August 15th, The second reading of the Eight Hours Bill was carried. MrThompson to-day called thoattention of the Government to the recent decision of the Appeal Court in regard to defamatory libel, and asked what they proposed to do in the matter. 4k The Hon. 11. J. Scddon replied that the Government looked upon the matter as a most serious one, and recognised the necessity for immediately passing legislation to meet the situation. The Land for Settlement Act Amendment Bill and the Government Advances to Settlers Bill were introduced and read a first time. On the motion that the amendments made in Committee in the Referendum ' Bill be adopted, Mr I'irani moved an that the Bill be rc-conmiittcd, ■■for the purpose of considering a new clause to provide that polling on questions referred to in the Referendum be considered through the post. Mr Scddon opposed the proposal, on the ground that it would be an interference with the secrecy of the ballot. A long debate ensued. The amendment was rejected by 44 lo 13,land'tho amendments made in the Bil in Committee were agreed to on the voices, The Bill then passed its final StagCS. ~, The Police Offences Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed, The House rose at 12.45 p.m.