PARLIAMENT.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1276, 27 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, July 25. On the motion of Ml 1 Smith the House yesterday agreed to resolve itself on a future day into committee of the whole, to consider an address to the Governor, praying that he will recommend this year the sum of £6000 for public libraries. Hutchison next moved — That it is necessary, in the interests of the community and good government, that legal and definite provision should be made for the support "of hospitals, and in the case of indigent and aged persons and orphans. Mr DeLatouv moved the previous question. Mr Hutchison thereupon asked leave to withdraw his motion, which, being granted, the motion for the previous i question was also withdrawn. Hutchison, without comment, then moved — That, in the opinion of this House, it is desirable that a Commission should be appointed to inquir c into the best means of regulating and shortening the hours of employees in banks, offices, shops, and wholesale and retail business places in the Colony. The Treasurer was astonished that Mr Hutchison should make such a startling motion without offering some explanation. To enable the member for Wellington South to give some

reason for his motion he moved the adjournment of the debate. j Mr Turnbull expressed his belief 1 that the Commission moved for would he verj expensive and utterly useless. (Hear, hear.) The debate was eventually adjourned. The interrupted debate on Mr Sutton's motion, relative to the erection and maintenance of hospitals was formally resumed, and adjourned for a fortnight. On the House resuming in the evening, the report of the Committee regarding the School Committees Election Bill came up for consideration. Mr Moss moved for the recommittal of the Bill, in order to re-consider certain clauses. The motion was negatived by 89 to 11. The amendments previously made in Committee were the question that the Bill be now read a third time. Mr Sheohan moved that it be read a third time six months hence, pointing out that it affected very materially the ;te^a^inery; for tb.e carrying, out of the education syslem, as provided in the Education Act. It abolished, for instance, the system of plural voting. I The Minister of Education did not ! think the Bill would have much good effect. For himself, he intended to record his vote against the Bill, because he deemed it inexpedient to deal piecemeal with the education system by a private measure. Eventually the third reading was agreed to by 30 to '10. The Bill then passed. Mr Seddon afterwards moved the second reading of the, Education Districts and Boards Bill, the object of which was to abolish Education Boards, and provide for the administration of the education system from Wellington. By this means Mr Seddon estimated that a saving would be effected in the administration of at least 25 per cent. Hutchison seconded the motion for the second reading of the Bill. Mr Dick held that the proposal contained in the Bill would result in injury to the education system, and would surely be "centralism." He strongly opposed the Bill. MrLerestam supported it. Mr Holmes and Mr Fish spoke in opposition to it, and, after further debate, Mr Seddon replied at great length to the objections urged against the Bill. The supper adjournment took place while Mr Seddon was in the middle of his speech. On the House resuming at 11 p.m. a "count out" eventuated, and the House then adjourned. July 26. In the House of Representatives today Mi' Larnach gave notice of his intention to bring in a Bill this session dealing with triennial Parliaments, and, if not, will then offer facilities for the passing of such a measure if introduced by a private member. The Treasurer gave notice to introduce to-morrow the Property Tax Act, 1883. He proposed to ask the House to read this bill a second time on Thursday next, in order to discuss the question of a Property Tax and a Land Tax. Practically, these were only one subject, and there ought therefore to be only one discussion, and the Government had asked the House to adopt this course in order to save time. With reference to the question of offering rewards for new goldfield discoveries, Mr Sheehan will table a motion to the effect that a sum of £2000 for each Island, shall be placed on the supplementary estimates for the discovery of payable goldtields. Between the 19th ult., and the 24th inst., no less than 20 petitions against the Education Act, have been presento Parliament from Eoman Catholics in various parts of New Zealand. The petitions bear an aggregate number of 2590 signatures. The debate on annexation was then resumed, and will be cont ; nued this evening.