HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3048, 10 August 1893, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p m. REM.V TO A QOESTION. Replying to a question, the Premier stated that the Government hoped to bring in a Bill to enable them to acquire land from the Midland Railway Company. ALCOHOLIC LIQUOKS CONTBOL BILL. The Premier introduced the Alcoholic Liquors Control Bill. Mr Rolleston asked the Premier to give the House some indication of the provisions of this measure* which was of such large importance at the present time. The Premier said that, as he had before stated, he hoped the Bill would-be found to bo fair and reasonable, such as to give satisfaction to all parties. The Bill would be shortly circulated. THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. Replying to MrMitchelson, the Premier said that the Public Works Statemen would be brought down as soon as certain necessary legislation was passed by the House. ' THE BABBIT PEST. Mr Buckland moved that in the opinion of the House the time has arrived when, with a view of effectively coping with the rabbit pest, rabbit inspectors should be abolished, and the whole system of dealing with the question reorganised. Mr Valentine urged that the matter should be left to the local bodies to deal with. Mr Rolleston suggested that this question should be brought before the Joint Stock Committee, who could take evidence on it. Mr Rhodes was hardly prepared to support the motion till they had more j evidence on it. ' Mr Richardson said that the administration of the Rabbit Act for the last three years had been a failure. He had lately seen rabbits in the South Island in far greater nuoibers than had been the case for ei&ht or nine years past. He did not altogether agree that the matter should be put under local control. Mr Buchanan though t that the inspectors had done their work well on the whole.and it would be a great mistake to abolish them. The Hon Mr M'Kenzie agreed with Mr Buchanan's view, who had spoken with some knowledge of the subject. If Mr Buckland could only show any way by which the colony could be relieved of the rabbit ptsfc, he would be the biggest man in the southern hemisphere. He denied that rabbits were becoming more numerous, although he was not prepared to say that they did not exist. His Department had done its best to cope with the pest. If the Joint Stock Committee could point out to him any way by which he could improve the administration of the Rabbit Department he would gladly accept their advico. He did nob think that the motion ehould be carried, but he would refer the whole matter to the Joint Stock Committee. Sir John Hall was glad to hear the Minister speak in such »n earnest manner. Theire was no doubt that he had done his best in the matter. Still the rabbit pest was greatly increasing in South Canterbury i but he could not agree to the proposal to remove the question from the control of the Government. Mr Meredith could not support the motion although he thought that Mr Buckland was entitled to thanks for bringing it forward. Mr Duncan thought that the Government would have to grapple wirh this question seriously, as it was a great evil. Captain Russell thought that they were starting on a wrong principle altogether. Owners should protect their own property, and the Government could assist them. The Government could not do everything. All they could do was to organise a system by which the rabbit nuisance could be checked. Mr Taylor, Mr Thomas Mackenzie, Mr Fergus, and Mr Reeves also spoke. ' The debate was interrupted by the &.3Q p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7-30 p.m. TI?E LICKNSJNG BJLL,. Si? Rqberj; Stqut moved that the House go into Committee on the Licensing Act Amendment Bill, and a racy condensation of the debate up to the supper adjournment is thus given by our own correspondent : — That the Licensing Question is the most burning political question of the day was shown by the crowded state of the public galleries to-night, when Sir Rbbe*t 'Stout's Bill Was 7set down for committal. Intense interest was shown in the debate whi«h took plac«, Sir Robert, in proposing that the House go into committee, said it was impossibly that Government could bring m a BUI which would please all parties. If the Bill went in ttte direction of local control, ifc^eednofcba introduced. The question WQiild have tq be met this session, and Government could take rp middlo <3°upse. They must range themselves with the liquor party or the temperance party, and he warned them that they could not burke the question. Mr Buckland pointed out that if the act were passed, 188 of 281 hotels in Auckland would have to be immediately cloted, and gave It, as hp opinion that the Bill was only brought m to take the impression of the House before »n dwUbn. TJW ftmw m$ b« hat* been consistent on the licensing question for many years, and believed reform im necessary. Bpth tfte Minister foe Lands and himself had voted lor the Beoontf reading, making ib clear that this, was a'question for Government to take up. 'It was impossible to please the ex-. iremists of either party, and it would not beadyisableinthe interest of theoountrv tc, d"o so. Amjndmjyit of |he licensing laws, |:as Aegegsary, a'n4 the last session of this Parliament was an opportune time for a settlement of this question. The acb of 1886 had served its purpose, and a change was now required. He would propose to Sir Robert. Stout that, on going into committee, they immediately report progress, and iwait the Government Bill, pthorwlse these would no| not'-be 1 niach. pr%e¥r made thirtP night. j ' Messrs'. fc; M. Bmlth and; Fergus haVing qr^ed' thajt lhVß.ni b,® not; turner ppoeeeded with, Mr Blake said that as Sir Robert did not seem disposed to accept the Premier's guggestion he would move that the motion for the committal of the Bill be adjourned lit one week. Mr Seddon, however, urped that the amendment be withdrawn, an! fche;memtier for iAWjri complied. In fhe^dpussi'qn which followed, Mr fish §M that if the Bill were passed an extra tax of 0d in the & Would be necessary to meet the loss of revenue through licenses being taken away. Mr Earnshaw warned the temperance leadeis against going in ■ far ab^e prohibition in. pJf.e^W }b'r I reduction 6t licensed' houses and the regulation of the liquor traffic, and Mr J Mills intimated his intention of protecting in committee tha interests of those who had large sums invested in hotel property. The discussion only

o'clock Sir Robert Stout began his reply. He contendedihat it was only complicating this question by making it a Cabinet question. Had a private member been allowed to carry his Bill through without •he intervention of Government as a Government, members could have voted unaffected by pariy considerations. The licensing law needed no alteration except i i the question of control by the people— Yes orNo. If Government would say they were willing to allow the question of license or no license to be put directly to. the people, he was willing to withdraw his Bill—(cheers)— and that was the only ( ground in the Bill which ha cared a straw tor. The Bill did not say that there were to be no licenses in any district, but simply that the people were to control their issue. License or no license — Tso extremity was contained in that. As to the financial aspect, more than two millions a year was wasted in drink, and what was the result ? The result was degradation, poverty, vice, and crime. With no drink there would be more health, wealth, and prosperity, and crime would be lessened. He would go into Committee on the Bill, and have the Committee to decide as soon as the Bill got into Committee. The Premier said Government had every confidence in the people, and were willing to leave the issue—license or no license—to, them. "By a majority 1" queried Sir Robert. But the Premier would not give his assent to that course, nor would he say what majority he required. Mr Buckland thereupon moved that progress be reported till the effect of the Government measure was ascertained. The Premier asked that the motion be not put, but Mr Fish urged that ib should. Mr McLean, who is a staunch Ministerialist, * t*rned Government that this was not a party question, and they could not count on his support. He wished that distinctly to be understood. Mr Tanner took a like stand, and challenged a division. Mr Scobie McKenzie said the prtint was this —there were two Premiers, the Premier dejure and the Premier de facto. After Sir Robert Stout being allowed to carry this BiJl through a second reading he should be permitted to put it through Committee, At this stage the supper adjournment was reached. The motion for the committal of the Bill was then agreed to on the voices. Clause 2, section 45 (of the Licensing, Act 1881) repealed. In reply to a question the Premier said that the Government were agreeable to refer the question to the people, but, not as at present, to a bare majority. Mr Buckland moved to report progress. After further discussion Mr Buckland obtained leave to withdraw hia motion to report progress. Mr Duthie urged that progress be reported. He objected to going on for an hour or two and then hearing nothing wore of the matter. Sir Robert Stout said that they would hear more of the matter; if not that night on another occasion. The Premier moved that progress be reported irk order that the House might wait for the Government Bill. Sir Robert Sboufc said that he could not agree to progress being reported, but he , would leave it in the hands of the Committee. The motion was carried on a division by 30 to 28, and progress was reported, j leave being given to bring the Bill on again on Thursday, the 17th instant. The following is th<s division list : — Ayes (30): Blake, Buckland, o*rncross, Carroll, Dawson, Duncan, Duthie, Fish, Fraser, Hamlin, Ho^g, W. Kelly, Lake, Lawry, Macintosh, M'Guire, MGowm, J. M'Kerzle C. H. Mills, Mitcholsoa* Par&ta, Reeves, Rhodes, Seddon, Shera, F. M. Smith, Swan, Taylor, T. Thompson and Valentine. Nofls (28): AU«n, Bruce, Buchanan, Earnshaw, Fisher, Hall, 'Hall-Jonas, Harkness, Houston, W. Hutchhon, Joyce, J Kelly, M. J. Mackenzie. T. Mackenzie, M,Lean, Meredith, Moore, Newman, Pinkerton, Rolleston, Smdford, Sauaders, ?tout, Taipua. Tanner, R. Thompson, Wills and Wright. Paira : For—Russell, ii. Hutchison Ward and Hall. Against—Buick, Richardson, Mackenzie and Fergus. - There is a discrepancy between the pair list and tha division list, Mr Scobie Mackenzie being recorded as having voted and paired, but the Government whips showed that he was paired with Mr Ward. Sir John Hall's name also appears twica. NEWM MBBRS. Mr A. J. Cadman, the newly-elected member for Auckland city, and Mr James McGowan, the newly-elected member for Thames, took the path and their seats. "VpMEN\S .SUFFRAGE BILL. Sir .John Hall'moved the second reading of the Women's Suffrage Bill. He said that the majority of the I^ouse had affirmed the clause in the Electoral Bill giying the franchise to the women of the colony, and he ehould ask the House to read the Bill a second time.; ; He spoke strongly of the necessity of women obtaining the franchise. Mr Taylor supported the Bill. Mr Fish, in a vigorous speech, condemned the principle of women's suffrage, and characterised the Bill as a waate of time., ~ v Mr Rolleston regretted having to oppose the Bill, but hehoped thata division would be called for in ordei that it might be seen who were really supporting the female franchise. Mr Blake opposed the Bill. . Mr Reeves coqld not support the Bill because Sir s'Jfdfen Hall had 1 implied that "the Government were dishonest in their asvocac.y of expending the franchise |q women, Thera was no neoessi?y for passing the present Bill, as the House had already affirmed the principle it contained. Mr Thomas McKenssie, Mr Buckland, Sir Robert Stout and Mr Allen also spoke. The second reading vpas carried on a division by 80 to S^. The committal of the Bill wa3 set down for Thursday, the 24(th inst. * ' The House rose at 12.40 a.m.