PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1861, 7 September 1895, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

» (By Telegraph.) WELLINGTON, September 6. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE RtTNHOLDERa. In reply to questions by Major Steward and Mr Flatman, the Hon. Mr McKenzie said that no injustice would be done to the runholders m Canterbury and Otago who had suffered by the severity of the winter and heavy fall of snow ; and everyone would be treated fairly. It was the intention of the Government to bring m a Bill this session to remit the sheep tax m cases where the sheep had been lost m the snow, but the Government did not propose to remit the sheep tax throughout the colony. Each case would be dealt with on its merits. Even now the runholders were refusing to pay the sheep tax m anticipation of a remission by the Government, but those flock-owners who had not lost their sheep should not try to benefit by those who had been more unfortunate. The question of remission of rents m exceptional cases would also be considered, and the Government would do their best to relieve those who had been unfortunate,and were honestly entitled to assistance. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to other questions it was stated that the Government were making investigation! as to the position of the funds m the Public Trust Office and Post-office' Savings Bank, and if the law was found to be defective an amending Act would be introduced, the Public Trust, however, stated that it would not be possible to make the funds m that office more seoure than "at present ; that the Government had under consideration a proposal that all cattle and sheep slaughtered for export should be inspected before being shipped; that it was proposed to apppoint a deputypublic trustee; that if a majority of the House decided to put the liquor traffic under thorough control the legislature would have to take the consequences m regard to deficiency m revenue ; that the matter of the Government Life Insurance Department still charging 7 per cent, interest on loans to members was receiving the attention of the Colonial Treasurer ; that the Tariff Bill would be brought down next week about Wednesday. The adjournment of the House being moved, the answers given to several of the questions by Ministers were discussed until 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. THE LICENSING BILL. The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 2— lnterpretation. A long discussion took place on the proposal that the licensing poll should be taken on the same day as the general election. The Premier said that he should be prepared, although it would add to the cost of the elections, to amend the Bill by having separate polling booths and separate officers. He wished to get the voice of the whole of the people on the licensing question, as he felt that they never would have rest till this important question was decided. He hoped that the House would give a straight out vote as to whether or not the licensing poll should be taken on the same day as the general election. Mr Hall-Jones moved an amendment that the licensing poll should not be taken on the same day as the elections. The Premier announced that the Government did not treat this Bill as a party question. The division resulted m a tie ; ayeß— 31 ; noes— 3l. The Chairman of Committees gave his vote against the amendment which was declared lost, and the clause passed unaltered. Clause 3— which provides that the granting of licenses is subject to a vote of the electors, and sets out four questions on which the vote is to be taken. Mr G W. Russell moved the excision of the first Bubsection inviting the electors to determine whether the number of licenses m a district is to continue. He said that if this subsection were struck out three questions would be left for the electors to decide, namely, whether there should be a reduction, whether there should be total prohibition m a district, and whether there should be total prohibition m the colony. The Premier could not accept the amendment, as the electors had as much right to have this issue submitted to them as any other. Sir R. Stout saw no reason why the amendment should not be accepted, as it would not affect the Bill. After a short discussion the amendment was lost by 42 to 21. Mr Millar proposed to strike out the second subsection which makes the question whether the number of licenses existing m a district is to be reduced on£ of the questions to be decided by the electors. The amendment was lost by 59 to 3, and the clause passed unaltered. MrT. Thompson proposed to strike out clause 4, which provided that the poll should be taken on the day of the General Election. He said that the question was one of such great importance that another vote should be taken on it, especially as the last vote had resulted m a tie. The responsibility of deciding the question should not rest with the Chairman of Committees. On a division Mr Thompson's amendment was carried by 31 to 30 and the clause struck out. The following is the division list :— Ayes— 3l. Allen Lang Buddo Maslin Buick Massey Carncross. McNao Carnell Montgomery Crowther » O'Regan Duncan Parata Duthie Pinkerton Flatman Russell, G. W. Fraser Russell, W. R. Hall-Jones Smith, E. M. Hutchison, G. Smith, G. J. Kelly, J. W. Tanner Kelly, W. Thompson, R. [Three names missing.] Nobs— 3o. Bell McGowan Button McGuire Cadman McKenzie, J. Carroll McKenzie, R Collins McLachlan Earnshaw Millar Green , Mills Hall ' Morrison Harris Newman Hone Heke Pirani Hogg Reeves Hutchison, W. Saunders Joyce Seddon Mackenzie, T. Stevens Mackintosh Stout Pairs. Aye— No— Wi Pere Meredith Clause 6, which provides that each voter shall be entitled to vote on any one or two of the proposals, but on not more than two, and voting shall not be cumulative, was discussed at great length. Mr Earnshaw moved un amendment that each voter should be entitled to vote for one, two or three of the proposals instead of one or two. The Premier hoped that the House would stick to the Bill as it stood. Sir R. Stout supported the amendment, and said that if tie cumulative vote were not allowed he would ask all those who supported temperance to vote for killling the Bill by moving that the chairman leave the chair. If the Bill were passed as it stood it would be entirely m favour of the liquor party. The Premier said that this was democracy—that the temperance party would support the Bill as long as they got what they wanted. (Sir R. Stout : 7l Certainly.") Then Sir R. Btout would find that the majority would not vote for the chairman leaving the chair. He considered that two votes were sufficient. Electors could vote for local prohibition

and national prohibition, or reduction and licenses to remain as they were. Mr G. J. Smith said that the Bill as at present drawn was infinitely worse than the present law. Mr Bell said that the Bill was a brewers' Bill. The Premier resented Mr Bell's statement that this waß a brewers' and publicans' Bill, and declared that on the contrary it gave more to temperance reformers than any measure which had been introduced m any legislature m the world. Captain Russell suggested that the first thing to be done was to take a straight vote of the people for prohibition or no prohibition. They could then take a vote for reduction of licenses, but the two should not be mixed together, as it would only tend to confusion. Eventually Mr Earnshaw's amendment was carried by 40 to 20. The following is the division list :— Ayes— 4o. Allen Maslin Bell Massed Buddo McGuire Buick McNab Button Millar Carncross Mitchelaon Carnell Montgomery Collins Morrison Duthie Newman Earnshaw O'Regan Flatman Pinkerton Fraser Pirani Hall-Jones Russell, G. W. Heke Russell, W. R. Hutchison, G. Saunders Hutchison, W. Smith, E. M. Joyce Smith, G. J. Kelly, J. W. Stout Lang Tanner McKenzie, T. Wilson Noes— 2o. Cadman McGowan Carroll McKenzie, J. Crowther McKenzie, R. Duncan McLachlan Green Mills Harris Parata Hogg Seddon Kelly, J. W. Stevens Lawry Willis Macintosh Thompson, T. Pair. Aye— No— Wi Pere Meredith The Premier said that he should loyally accept the verdict of the Committee just given. Clause 7— Provisions subject to which a poll is to be taken. The Premier moved that this clause be struck out owing to the alteration m the previous clause. Thiß waß done. In clause 8, which sets out when a proposal is deemed to be carried, Mr Lawiy moved that a three-fifths' majority should decide for reduction instead of an absolute majority. Lost on the voices. The clause was altered to provide that the Committee at its first meeting after the licensing poll shall reduce the licenses by 10 per cent, if the poll is m favour of a reduction. A proviso was added to the effect that where a reduction has been carried the number of licenses should be reduced by one at least. This was inserted to meet the case of any district which has only one or two hotels. Mr G. J. Smith moved that m the portion of the clause providing for no licenses it should be a bare majority for prohibition instead of three-fifths. The Premier opposed the amendment, which was rejected on a division by 31 to 21. The following is the division list :— Ayes— 2l. Bell McNab Buddo Millar Button Morrison Carnell Newman Earnshaw * O'Regan Flatman Pinkerton Hall- Jones . Pirani Hutchison, W. Saunders Kelly, J.W. Smith, G. J. Maslin Tanner Massey Noes — 31. Allen Lang Buick Lawry Cadman McKenzie T. CarncroßS McGowan Carroll Mackenzie, J. Collins McLachlan . Crowther Mills Duncan Mitchelßon Duthie Montgomery Fraser Reeves Green Russell, G. W. Hall Seddon Harris Smith, E. M. Hogg Willis Hutchison, G. Thompson, T. Kelly, W. Pairs. Ayes — Noes— Wi Pere Meredith t TeAo Parata Sir R. Stout moved that the threefifths' majority for colonial prohibition be struck out m favour of a bare majority. Lost by 30 to 21. . The clause was then agreed to as amended. A motion to report progress was carried by 31 to 20. The House rose at 1.25 a.m.