PARLIAMENT.

Western Star, Issue 1571, 17 June 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Erlday 12th J une. In the evening tho Addross-in-Ueply was moved by Mr M‘Guire and see mded by Mr Buick, The Govern in out resolutelv declined to accede to the request of the Opposition to adjourn the debate till Tuesday, and no one seeming inclined to continue it at once the Address-in-Reply was adopted, [Press Association.] (By Telegraph.) AYellington, Tuesday. The House met at 2.30. Replying to Mr Fisher, the Hon. Mr Reeves said the Government did not intend to introduce this session a Hill known as Mr Pykcs’s Private School Bill or any similar measure. Mr Hallauce congratulated Air Bryce upon his having been elected Leader of the Opposition. Air Bryce thanked tho Premier for this congratulation, and said that, as far as his influence, it would be for the good government of tho colony, and he did not think the House would witness any obstruction from the Opposition for obstruction’s sake. Air Ballauce moved the second reading of tho Electoral Bill, which provided that tho one-man-ono-vote principle should apply to bye-electious as well as general elections, and that no elector should register on more than one electoral roll. Provision was also made in the Bill for purging the roll, by which after every general election, those who did not vote should bo struck off tho roll. Writs would be issued within 14 days after the dissolution of Parliament, and a public holiday was to be deelered on the day of tho election. Under this bill wagering at elections would be a corrupt practice, punishable by-law— Sir J. Hall deprecated any extension of the one-man-ono-vote system and would vote against the proposal. He regretted that the bill did not provide for female franchise or for the representation of minorities. Another great reform might also bo introduced in the bill, namely, that public houses should bo closed on the polling day,

Messrs Connor and Gninos.s congratulated the Government on the bill.— Mr Duthle could not agree to tho 1 proposal to declare a public holiday on ; election day. Tho debate was in- j terrupted by the 5.80 adjournment. j The Council met at 2 30 p.m. The Hon. Mr Morris briefly moved the Address-in-Reply, and generally supported the Governor’s utterance. —The Hon. Mr Pbaravtyn seconded, and at great length criticised the speech. He thought that the present stagnation resulted from the determination of tho working men to keep up wages, and remarked that they should not only take but be willing to accept lower wages, when the profits of property owners were low. —Mr Wilson thought it commendable that working men should strike to better their circumstances, but cast the blame of tbe stagnation on the effects of Protection.

Sir G. Whitmore regretted that the Government had not conceived greater originality in their solution of the Labour difficulty than they had displayed in the Labour Bills. —The address was agreed to Mr Baillie was appointed Chairman of Committees. Tho Connell Reform Bill was read for the first time.—Tbe second reading is fixed for to-morrow. The Council adjourned till next day. PARLIAMENTARY VOTES. (From our Exchanges.)

All particulars respecting tlie penal settlement at Milford Sound, its cost and working, tbe number of prisoners, officers, &c. are demanded by Mr W. Hu'clu c ou in a motion of which he gave notice on Friday. As showing the slap-dash style in which tho Government retrenchment scheme was carried out, the following is very pertinent. It will be remembered that a number of tbe Native Land Court judges receive 1 notice tint their services would be dispensed with on a certain date. When Ihe date arrived, however, it was observed that the judges still went on in the usual way with their work. Tim reason, of course, was that it was impossible to dispense with them, and have the work done. One of tho judges who had got notice to quit informed the Government that there were in his court alone arrears of work that would take at least *two years to got through. He was then asked to remain in office until the arrears had been disposed of. His reply was more forcible than polite. He informed the Minister that ho would not do another stroke of work unless his notice of dismissal was cancelled. The notice was cancelled, and lie set about his business ir. his wonted aud practical manner.