HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 30, 3 August 1895, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Evening Sittikq. animals pbotection act amenlmkkt BILL. This Bill was amended on the motion of H the Premier. An amendment was adopted to provide that the penalty for the introduction of reptiles, Ac, shall not exceed .£SO. The Bill passed final stages. AiOPTION OF CHILDREN. The amendments made by the Legislative Counoil in the Adoption of Children Bill (Hon. Mr. Beeves) were agreed to. THE LICENSING BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of the Alcoholio Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill. He said there was great necessity for dealing with this qnestion dnring the present session, so that it might not continue a disturbing element session after session. 'Jhe world was made np of compromises, and they should legislate so as to meet with tho approval of the great majority of the people. The present Bill provided for four issues, namely — Whether the number of licenses in a district are to continue ; whether they are to be reduced; whether there are to be licenses or no licenses. It might be said that this would complicate the question, but thia wonld he a reflection on the men and women of the colony.< It contained a proposal for colonial Prohibition. There might be people who wonld vote for reduction, but wculd go against local or national Prohibition. It was therefore fair to give every elector the four issues to vote upon. It might be objected to that whilst the Bill provided for a bare majority in the case of reduotion it required a substantial three-fifths majority for local or national Prohibition; but if a great reform like Prohibition were to be effective it must be oarried by more than a bare majority. If the colony were polled to-morrow it would be in favour of requiring a substantial majority for local or colonial option. They were told over and over again by Prohibitionists that they wanted a straight issue on local or national Prohibition, and this was provided for in the Bill. A good deal had been eaid about the police not doing their dnty in enforcing the licensing laws, but in every case where it was proved that constables bad not done their duty he ' had discharged them. Ho intended to issue a circular to police inspectors, stating thnt if a police constable was fonnd in a hotel while on duty it should mean discharge from the service, unless he conld prove that he was on the premises on business. This would apply also to Permanent Artillery_men. The Police Force as a whole was to "be oommended, but a few exceptions were taken to reflect on the whole body. The same thing applied to hotelkeepers, and that a. few of them did not obey the law wag no reason why the whole class should be condemned. It was unwise to be onntinnally harassing people who Bpent large sums in endeavouring to cater for tho pnblio. Sir "Bobert frtout congratulated the Premier on having made 'considerable advance in the Temperance cause since 1893. A great blot in tho Premier's speech was that he had no enthusiasm for social reform at all, and looked on thiß licensing question as on awkward subject, which should be disposed of with as little friction to his supporters and the publicans as possible Under this Bill, suppose there weie 3000 voters and 1790 voted for for no license, 1209 for reduction, and one voted to remain as at present;, that one solitary vote would carry the day, and the 2999 would not get their way at ali. And yet this was called a Liberal measure. They had to face a great social evil in the drink traffic, and yet they were denied a bare majority. The kernel of the Bill was whether there should be three-fifths or aba c majority. Mr. Lawry said he never felt more disgusted with the Premier and the Government than over this Bill. There was an overwhelming majority in the colony in favour of leaving things as they stood at present. Mr. Duthie thought there was great need for liquor reform, but any attempt to force Prohibition on the colony must result in defeat. The present Bill was unsatisfactory and wonld not deal with the matter at all thoroughly. Mr. G. W. Russell said ho would support the second reading, but was opposod to the colonial Prohibition clauEes, and would endeavour lo excise them in Cnmnvttco He looked at this question from a moderate standpoint, as did the large majority of the ' people of the colony, and he was in favourof reduction by a bare majority.. Dr. Newman strongly objected to tho provisions for increase of licenses where population increased, which meant that a Committee oonld grant a license for every 700 people. Mr. Willis opposed the provisions for total Prohibition, and for the abolition of New Zealand wine licenses. Mr. Hone Heke heartily congratulated the -Premier on the Bill. In the course of his reply, the Premier said Sir Bobert Stout had oharged him with having no ideal, but be asked what practical purposes were achieved by Sir Kobert's ideals P He was prepared to accept reasonable amendments in Committee, as he wished to see the question, settled for some time at least. The second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the House rose at 1 a.m.