OUR PARLIAMENTARY SPECIAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7497, 17 October 1895, Page 2

OUR PARLIAMENTARY SPECIAL.

[FBOM OUB SPECIAL BEPOE-EB.]

(by telegraph.]

W__i_ng_ow, Last night,

LIQUOR BILL.

Tho Liquor Bill has at last been got through the Council, passing its final stages in that Chamber this afternoon. A conference will takb place within a day or two on the amendments.

An important new clacse was moved by the Hon. Mr Maogregor, audcarriod, allowing the Governor to appoint a euffioient number of special inspectors, not being officers of for the purpose of prosecuting and detecting violations of the Licensing Act, and tho sale of adulterated liquor, Buoh inspectors ta have all the powers conferred by the licensing laws on the officers of tho police, wbilo at the Bame time the responsibility imposed upon the police shall not be diminished, The Hon. Mr Macgregor also moved a new olause giving Licensing Committees power to allow more than one bar in a house, with a view of preventing drink being sold or supplied exc.pt at a publio bar, but this was rejected by 23 to 6

A further new olause proposed 'by the Hon. Mr Maogregor, requiring anyone found on hotel premises during prohibited ] hours to explain his presence to tbe satisfaction of the Court, was refused by 18 to 10, after which the Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. NEW ZEALAND BOYS IN THE MARINE. The Legislative Council adopted the report of the Litbor Bills Committee that faoilitieß be given New Zealand boys to join the mercantile marine. The Hon. Mr Mo Lean mentioned that on the Union Company's steamers a large number of firemen and trimmers were of Kew Zealand birtb, and were altogether a much better class of men than formerly employed. SHOPS AND OPEICES. ' The Labor Bills Committee has inserted a proviso in the Shops Aot that where a Bhop and office are oonjoinfd in the same building, and under tho same tenancy, the two divisions shall not be compelled toclope on different days, but the entire closing of both on vhe shop half-holiday will free the offioe from the necessity of olosing on tbe day appointed for offices. LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT. The Lands for Sottlement Bill passed its final Etages in the Council with au amendment striking out the District Land JKegiatrar from the memberß proposed to be added to the Board. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S BILL. The .hipping and Seamen's Bill was read a third time in the Council- .Amendments were made providing that boat drill ehall be held on Home trade ships at least once a month, and on intercolonial ships at le-st ocoe -each round voyage. Iron ships must hive tbeir compasses adjusted before leaving the colony. RESERVES DISPOSAL BILL. The Reserves Disposal aud Exohange Bill, introduced by the Minister of Lauds, provides for the exohange of a cortaiu portion, of tho ' Napier cemetery and Botanical Garden reserves. It authorises the removal from reservation as a State f orestofJjjUJ. acres in the bt orsewood Burvgy-"ciiatriot7in the Te Ohu block. The ftgvernor is empowered to give 275 aope-gpf Sunday Island aud 'heUße of of tho itland to Thomas Bell. JShe Wairoa County Council is empowergdr4o sell by auction 55 acres of the fetryteserve, Muhaka, the prooeeda to be uggd only towards the oonalruotion of a bridge across the Muhaka river. EX-INSPECTOR BULLEN. Ex-Inspector Bullen, of Auckland, has again been petitioning for compensation, but the Petitions Oommittee consider he has already received all that is due. RATING ACT AMENDMENT. The Eating Aot Amendment Bill passed its second -reading, and the Stock Act *mendment Bill passed its final stages iv the Council to-iaght. NATIVE BILL. When the Native Bill waa in Committee, Mr Hill moved to increase the area which may be alienated from 500 to 640 aores and. tbis raised the ire of the Premii r, who expressed himself vt r> much surprised to hear Buoh a euggestion come from such a quarter. Later on Mr Seddon met with opposition to another clause, and Mr Hall oame to his rescue He commenced hie speeoh, "This ia a very useful clause," when Mr fceddon sharply iuterjaoted, "It is all through if you will hold yonr tongue." The member for Wuipawa mildly retorted, "If the Premier would sometimes hold his tongue it would be much better," Several members who bad intended speaking on the Native Land Laws Amendment Bill were caught _apping, and the Bill passed into Committee without debate, thus* effecting a oonsiderablo saving of time. There' was a long discussion on Clause 5, which provides that no alienation shall bo confirmed in favor of a person holding more has 640 aores, members pointing out thut it would prevent Email Bettlers increasing their holdings. One member said, "You might as well starve a man as put him upon 640 acres of some native land " , The Premier agreed to amend the olause, bringing it into conformity with tho Land Act, bo that a person purchasing may hold 640 acres of first-olass, 2000 aores of secondclass, or 6000 acres of third-class land. 'Jo clause 43, which gives the I'rown the right to detsrmine any lease when it wishes to purchaee native land, strong exception was taken, members stating that it would give insecurity of tenure to loosees, who would not improve the land if they were liable to be turued off at a moment's notice The Premier agreed to insert a proviso that no lease shall be determined except on the recommendation of tho land for Settlement Board of the distriot. He said that in the Hawke's Bay distriot there were 70 000 acres whioh the natives originally regarded an timber leases, but which were held under absolute leaso. 'i be lessees had removed all the timber, and had stuok to the land. The Government oould not acquire it. This clause was neotssary to enable them to do 80. After two hours' discussion, it was decided that tho compensation to leßßeeß should be determined in the same manner as provided by the Public Works Act In cases of land taken for publio roads, a : proviso to exempt ihe South Island from the operation of this clause was lost by 34 to 26, and the olause as amended was ' carried by 46 to 16. i New clauses 64 to 67, permitting a ( native to mortgage hia land to pay his , debts, wera etruok out, being provided for ' in new fc'eotion 4, which gives the Govern- , nient power to remove any lands from . Clause 117 of tho principal Act, whioh . restricts alienation. ■

Other leaa important amendments wero mads, and the Bill passed its third reading.