THE PARLIAMENTARY BAR.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 98, 22 October 1904, Page 9

THE PARLIAMENTARY BAR.

RESTRICTIONS AFFIXED BY LEGISLATfVE COUNCIL. CURTAILMENT OF PRIVILEGES OF POLITICIANS. The first material amendment made in the Licensing Bill by the Legislative Council concerned the Parliamentary liquor saloon, commonly known as "Bellamy's," and, to the surprise of most people, the restrictions imposed by the House of Representatives on this popular resort (in the matter of abolishing its liquor-selling aspect in the event of "nolicense", in Wellington) were drawn still tighter by bringing it into line with the hotels, as far as ita hours of closing are concerned. The first attack came from the Hon. J. E. Jenkinson, who (with the object of striking out the clause altogether),--moved to delete all the words except one. This s>et the debate in motion, and it continued for a considerable portion of the evening. The amendment was lost by 23 votes to 6, and ifa mover returned to the charge with an amendment to make the drought in Bellamy's dependent ou nolicense being carried in the majority .of the electorates of the colony, instead of Wellington alone. He thought it unfair that members who came from all parts of the colony should have their liquor stopped during their stay in Wellington. The Attorney-General thought there might be something in the hon. gentleman's contention, but the principle to be upheld was that liquor should not be retailed, in a no-license district. The Hon. J. Feldwick, contending that Bellamy's was a separate licensing district, urged that it ought not to be goveerned by the local option poll of another district. "The inordinate number of candidates for Parliament" that would result if Bellamy's were - placed outside the Licensing Acts was adduced by the Hon. T. Thomson as an argument in favour of the clause; and the Hon. F. Arkwright thought that if the clause were' rejected, the public would say that the members of the House of Representatives were willing to do without liquor while Legislative Councillors were not. , ; * Tho Hon. W. M. Bolt Suggested an amendment making Parliament Buildings a licensing district. The clause, in his opinion, had been put in in order that the Council might throw it out. The proposal was opposed to all precedent. On division the amendment was lost by 17 votes to 9. , Referring to the Council's decision regarding the clubs, the Hon. S. T. George thought that as clubs were placed in the same position as 'hotels, so Bellamy's should also be placed in the same position, as it was looked on as one of the best clubs in the colony. He moved that no liquor be sold in Bellamy's on Sundays. " ' "The flag had better fly at half-mast," interjected the Hon. G. Jones. The amendment was supported by the Hon. T. K. Macdonald, ac he intended to vote to kill the clause. Why should members take any cognisance of what the prohibitionists did in Wellington? He could not understand how the AttorneyGeneral had fathered such an absurd proposal. The fathering of the dause was disclaimed by the Attorney-General. "Don't drive me to the publichouse !" pleaded the Hon. J. M. Twomey. "Let me have Bellamy's." He assured the Council that he was not a member of 'the sly grog party. He was a member of the "temperate temperance" party. If the amendment were agreed to he would remember that he was entitled to bring a quart of spirits or a gallon of beer into the no-license area every day. It would be a good test of the locker system. On the ground that it would keep "hangers-on" from infesting Parliament Buildings on Sundays, the Hon. W. .Bee-ha-n supported the amendment. The amendment was carried by 21 to 5, a round of applause greeting the At-torney-General when he voted for theamendment. As a supporter of the "whole hog" idea, the Hon. T. K. Macdonald moved a further amendment that no liquor should be sold in Bellamy's after 10 p.m. on week days. He appealed to members "to swallow the whole animal, tail and all." In the course of further debate the Hon. W. C. Smith asked what the At-torney-©eneral thought about it, and wanted to knoAv what members would do in the long exhausting process of considering the Estimates all through the night. "They can bring their own liquor," suggested the Hon. S. T. George. The Attorney-General' replied that as the Council had decided that the clubs should observe the same laws as hotels, it was only reasonable that the sale of liquor in Bellamy's should cease during the closing hours of hotels. Of course, members could obtain soup, cocoa, or any non-alcohc^c stimulant. "There are others to be considered besides tho members," said the Hon. F. Trask, in the course of his contribution to the proceedings., and he spoke of the necessity of considering the officials and the press reporters. The reporters had ] very hard work to do, and had to sit through the long fatiguing hours of the night. ''They are mostly teetotallers," interjected the Hon. G. Jones. "Well, they've become teetotallers only very lately," rejoined the Hon. F. Trask, with reminiscence- in his voice. The division was taken shortly after, ripples of laughter greeting some of the "Ayes" and broad grins some of the "Noes." Mr. Macdonald's amendment was carried by 18 votes to 10. The clause as amended was then carried by 22 votes to 6.

Bursley— '"He claims to be related to you, and says he can prove it." Ffloyd — "The mam's a fool." Bursley — "That may be a mere coincidence."