PARLIAMENT.

Western Star, Issue 1572, 20 June 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Tuesday 16th Juno,

The Financial Statement was delivered by the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer at the evening sitting. The delivery occupied an hour and a quarter, and was received with a burst of applause from the Ministerial party. At the suggestion of Mr Bryce the debate was, on the motion of the Hon. Mr Seddou, adjourned till Friday. Wednesday, 17th .Tuni. In the Legislative Council the Criminal Code Bill was read a first time. In the House of Representatives Mr B. Thompson interrupted questions by moving the adjournment of the House to enable him to bring up the subject of Sir H. Atkinson’s letter of last year about Mr Thompson’s charges against the late Mr Sperry. He challenged the late premier or any of his friends to prove that these charges were wx’ong. Mr Rees’ motion urging the Government to open up communications with a view of holding a conference at Chicago to discuss the relations of capital and labour was carried after some discussion; and Mr O’Conor carried his motion to appoint a committee to report as to the form and working of executive government elsewhere with a view to putting an end to the evils of the present party system. In the evening the debate on the second reading of the Electoral Bill was resumed. With scarcely an exception all the speakers approved of the measure. Mr Mackintosh supported the bill, but he thought the question of female franchise should be dealt with separately. He approved of the proposal with regard to the purging of the rolls and thought the plan proposed by the bill would be the most effectual way of doing this.

Thursday, 18th June. Replying to questions, it was stated that the amendment of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act was such a largo question that the Government did not hold out any hope of bringing in such a bill this session, but it would be considered during the recess.—That as far as the Government was aware there was no occasion for appointing a Royal Commission to inquire into the effective and economic working of the Government Insurance Department. —That the Government did not intend this session to introduce a bill for mining on private property. It was arranged that the financial debate commence on Tuesday. Mr Taylor moved the second reading of the Coroners Inquests Bill to provide for the payment of coroners’ juries.—Agreed to. The second reading of the Dentists Act 1880 Amendment Bill was agreed to.

Mr Moore resumed the debate on the Electoral Bill, and Said he should give it his heaHy support.—-Messrs Blake, McKenzie (Clutha), Earnshaw, Thompson (Auckland) and Buckland having spoken, the debate was interrupted by the 5.00 adjournment. On resuming in the evening Mr Parata urged that the offspring of Europeans and half-castes should have a vote in Maori elections.—Mr Kapa spoke in similar strain.—Mr Duncan warned the Govevnmcnt that if they allowed the proposal for a female franchise to be inserted in the bill at the instance of Bir John Hall and Mr Bryce it meant killing the Bill in the Legislative Council.—Mr Ballance, in replying, said ho saw no harm iu including a clause extending the franchise to women.—-Motion for second reading agreed to.

Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Promoters and Directors Liability Bill, to amend the law relating to the liability of directors and others for statements in prospectuses soliciting applications for shares or debentures.—After a short debate the motion for the second reading was agreed to on the voices. WiiLUNoTON, Friday The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. Mr Buckley said in reply to questions tint the Government had no intention to introduce a bill to amend the Gaming and Lotteries Act, hut would bring down a measure with a view of taxing the totalisator. —The Criminal Code Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutory Committee, as also was the Repeals Bill ; both bills being introduced by the Attorney-General. The Council adjourned till Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Hou. Mr Ballauce gave notice to move on Tuesday that Mr Perceval j bo appointed Chairman of Committees ! of the lionise. Mr O’Couuor gave

notice to move that tho salary, and work of the Chairman of Committees be divided among the Chairmen of the tho several Sessional Committees. Replying to Mr Rolleston tho Hon. Mr McKenzie said that the matter of taking measures to check tho growth of tho Californian thistle had been under (ho consideration of the Government, but he had not sufficient time to deal with it as yet. There were other needs such us gorse rights should be respected, and he should be glad to have the assistance of Mr Eollestou and McKenzie (Clutha) and other gentlemen who took an interest in the matter in preparing the bill to deal with the wh do of these pests. Replying to Mr Thompson (Auckland) tho Hon. Mr Reeves said the system of charging quarter-money iu primary schools was contrary to the spirit of the Education Act, and was therefore improper. His opinion was that the Education Boards should put a stop to the practice, and if not, par aits themselves should take the ma ter vp. Failing that remedy Parlia uent should interfere in the matter.

Replying to other questions it was stated that the question of reciprocal tar!if treaties between Canada and Au ifcralasia could not be settled till the Federation of the Australasian Co'inies. —lt was decided that the pc my postage for the colony would co ne into force on the Ist October, an I that the reduced telephone cb rges would come into operation at the same date.

The House went into Committee of Supply; Mr Pereival taking the chair. A resolution was moved anthorising the renewal of deficiency bills to the extent of £716,000. —Dr Newman asked the Treasurer why ho wanted such a large amount.—-Mr Ballance said the resolution before the House authorised the issue of those bills under the Public Revenue Act. Most of the bills were bearing interest at 5 per cent., and all the bills were held in the colony by various trust departments. £IOO,OOO of these bills which were held by the Colonial Bank expired in March, 1892, and he hoped by that time to be able to make s >me arrangements. —The motion was agreed to. An Imprest Supply Bill for £200,000 then passed through all its stages. Mr Reeves moved the second reading of the Employers Liability Act Amendment Bill. He said this was one of the so-called Labour Bills of last session, which were thrown out by the Council.—The motion was agreed to.

Mr Reeves moved the second readof the Shop Hours Bill, providing that in cities and boroughs shops shall be closed at 6 p m. on four days in the week, one evening of one day at 9 o'clock and one afternoon of one day at 2 o’clock. The motion was agreed to.

Mr Beeves moved the second reading of the Factories Bill to provide for the supervision of factories and workrooms.—lt was agreed that the

Bill be referred to a select committee. Tlie House went into committee on the Electoral Bill.—Clause 3 interpretation.—Sir J. Hall moved to insert in the clause a provision for female franchise. A discussion ensued whioh was interrupted at the 5.30 adjournment.