TO-DAY'S PARLIAMENT. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 88, 11 October 1904, Page 6

TO-DAY'S PARLIAMENT. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. A week's leave of absence was granted to the Hon. Mahuta, on account of a family bereavement. Before proceeding to business the At-torney-General said he would move that after its sitting to-day the Council should adjourn until 7.30 p.m. to-morrow. LICENSING BILL. The debate on the second reading of the Licensing Bill was then begun. (Left sitting.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. A petition was (presented by Mr. Field from Thomas Cook and two others praying for a, grant of land owing to their ha-ving been rendered landless through the mistake of a Government officer. The Petone Foreshore Vesting Bill (No. 2) was introduced by Mr. Wilford, read a first time, • and referred to the Local 'Bills Committee. ' The Trade Monopolies Prevention Bill was the first order of the day, and the Premier^ asked the permission of the House to move that it be read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Commerce Committee. Sir W. Russell objected, holding that the usual notice of such a motion should have been given. The Bill had been circulated for weeks, and the Premier should have adhered to the Standing Orders. The House was, he added, becoming mere slaves of one man, and he (the speaker) was sick of the position. The Premier said unless permission was given the Bill must stand over. The Speaker ruled that the Bill could not be read a second time pro forma, and the Premier said he would not go on with the Bill that day. The House then went into Committee on the Shops and Offices Bill. (Left sitting.) THE LICENSING BILL-CLUBS. When the Licensing Bill gets into Committee in the Council the Hon. S. T. George is to move in the direction of amending clause 53 of the Bill (which provides that chartered clubs shall be closed during the same hours as licensed premises) to provide that clubs shall close from midnight till 6 a. f m. on ordin-ary-days, and shall close on Saturdays from midnight until 6 o'clock on the following Monday morning. * This appeared as a notice of motion on to-day's Order Pftper, and the Attorney-General asked if it was in order. The Speaker ruled that it was.