The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3733, 3 July 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1883.

The Bill introduced by Mr M. W. Green, intituled tho "Local Option Extension Bill," repeals so much of section 4 of the Licensing Act, 1881, as relates to the definition of "ratepayers" and " ratepayers' roll," and re-defines the term "ratepayers" as including all persons whose names appear on the ratepayers' roll (as defined below), and all women over the ago of 21, who have resided for six months within the electoral district wherein the licensing district or any part of it is comprised. "Ratepayers' roll" is defined as a roll of county electors, or a burgess roll, or a ratepayers' roll, and includes the roll of women already mentioned, and a roll of the electors for a representative in Parliament. After six years from the date of this Act coming into operation, all existing licenses shall be subject to tho vote of the ratepayers. "Wholesale licenses after 31st December, 1884, aro to be subject to local option, and wholesale, conditional, packet, and transfer licenses shall be granted only by a majority of members of the District Licensing Committee. Bottle licenses are to be abolished after three years from the date of the Act, and no license shall be granted if the majority of adult residents within half a mile oppose it. School Committees Election Bill (Mr Steward). —This Bill provides for a retirement of members of School Committees in rotation. In balloting for members of Committees no voter shall record more votes than there arc candidates for election, nor more than one vote for any one candidate. The definition of "householder" (for elective purposes) in the Education Act, 1877, is repealed, and is redefined as every man or woman of the age of 21 and upwards who is the resident owner, lessee, or tenant of any dwelling- within the School District, and who has resided within the said district for not less than three months, and every parent or guardian who is liable to maintain or has the actual custody of any child attending the school. Evidence Bill (Mr Hutchison).—This Bill repeals the fifth section of tho Evidence Further Amendment Act, 1875, and in its place enacts that a prisoner may be competent, but not compellable, to give evidence at his own trial, and that, also, a husband may give evidence at his wife's trial, and vice versa. If a person, however, voluntarily gives any evidence at the initiatory proceedings, he or she shall be compelled to give evidence at any further proceedings. All questions asked of a prisoner shall come from the Bench, and not from counsel. Geraldine County Waterworks Bill (Mr Postlethwaite).—This is a local Bill to enable

the county named to raise money for the purposes of irrigation. Sale of Goods by Retail Bill (Mr Bathgate). This Bill, of two short clauses, enacts that no person shall be entitled to recover any debt incurred for goods sold by retail.