LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 250, 19 October 1904, Page 6

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE LICENSING BILL. IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. SATISFACTORY PROGRESS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.! WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Licensing Bill was attacked by the Council in Committee this . afternoon. ( The various sub-clauses were passed down to the clause allowing the importation of liquor in limited quantities , for homestead consumption in no-license districts, when the Hon. J. Rigg moved to strike out, the first two words with a view to killing the clause, which he said was a dangerous one, and would be a big incentive to sly grog-selling. The amendment was lost on the 1 voices. The Hon. J. Twoihey moved to amend fche clause in the. direction of allowing persons to purchase liquor for domestic consumption within the borders of a no-license district. The amendment was -lost -on the voices. . . : . . . The Hon. Jenkinson moved, to allow people travelling ■ into -a-" district the same right to carry a' limited supply as a resident, but-the. proposal was lost on the'voices. ' ' .' ' The Hon. J. Jenkinson moved to amend the clause dealing with no-license districts making > the ; exemption so far as the charters of clubs were concerned to apply only, "rin so far -as' such charter concerns-the right to -sell .liquor." This; was, negatived by 27 to 7, and the clause.and sub-sections passed with only? verbal amendments. . ! The Han. W. Bolt wished to strike out the provision for the chairman of a Magisterial Court of Inquiry to report irregularities voiding a poll to the Mm ister, and to remove the onus , of taking action from the Minister and leaving it with the magistrate. On a division the original section oi the bill "was retained-by 17 to 7. On the question of- the proportion of voters necessary to constitute. a valid fresh poll, the Hon. C. C. Louisson moved that i the proportion: be raised to j G5 per cent., which would bring the proportion about what-it was at the present: time. -.-„•. . •' •: The amendment was ■ lost on the voices. Some discussion took place at clause 20, dealing -with the regulations in the f^ing Country.. The Hon. J. B. - Jones moved an amendment .to the effect that

it shall not be lavrfut as. contemplated by the bill, to sell liquor to a male Maori who is under the influence of liquor, but that it shall also be an offence to sell liquor to a male Maori so as to cause him to be under the influence of liquor. A debate ended in the ■ rejection ef this amendment by 25 votes to 5. The Rohi Potae clauses then passed vrithout amendment. On the clauses dealing with the Cook Islands, on the Attorney-General's suggestion, Asiatics were struck out. The remaining clauses relating to the Cook Islands passed with verbal amendments, and the Council adjourned at 11.30 p.m. When the Council rose 30 clauses had •been disposed of, about half the bill. The club clauses were not reached.