POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 12027, 27 October 1903, Page 7

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

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WELLINGTON, October 27.

THE LIQUOR BILL.

It r? understood that the Licensing Acta \Amendmefit Bill will come on for second Jtsadirtg on Wednesday. One member pro?oinenuy identified wirb. what is known as the "trade" interests who lias been whipping hard in favor of the Bill, claims to lw.ve 56 pledged to support tbo second leading. EXTENDED HOURS OF SITTING.

Lr accoTdnnce with a promise made on Jfriday night, the Hon. Mr Guinnes3 last ovening made a statement to the Hortse with regard to what new business might- be taken alter 12.50 a.m.- Mx Speaker said he was of opinion that at- this stage of the session the only new business that ought to be permitted to be taken after that hour was the third reading of Bills which had passed through committee without amendment, la the case of any other business required to be taken after half-past twelve, the practice which had obtained since 1888 should be followed—viz., that notice of motion should be placed on the Oilier Pa.per, and a motion carried in the House setting ssido- that Standing Order which prohibits new business being token after 12.30. (Hear.) He did not know whether thai fact with the approval of the House. There v.tis no sign from, the Treasury benches, hut the Leader of the Opposition said that the decision met with the approval of his ptfrty.—The Colonial Secretary: "I am very glad to hear that, the gentlemen opposite are satisfied." MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.

On the motion of the Colonial Secretary it ms decided not to accept the new clauses added by the Legislative Council, ;md to invite a conference with the other './hamber. The clauses provide for a penalty not exceeding £5 on any person, who wilfully allows a horse or cow to trespass on a cycle track, and bar building •-n reclamation reserves. Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Herries. aud Mr Lauronson were appointed manager's on behalf of the House at any conference that may be held. THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

A short debate sprang up an the third of the Fisheries Encouragement Bill, which continues for another war the bonus on fish exported, ft was by -.lr Buchsm.-in. who ridiculed bolstering up the fishing industry year after war in the manner suggested. ' The member for VVajrarapa, added that when the Public .Vorks Statement came down nt an early date coxmtry members would be t.oid that there was no money for roads and brid"es —This brought Mr Millar m hi* nor/' in defence of the fishermen Tne town members, he said, had nor objected to the continuance or assistance which had been granted for years- to the grading-and MorJ "eL° f buVt(Tl "- ll v - ;l - s some £7OO or A.BOO which the Bill iimposed to par on surplus fish exported to other markets.' No protest was raised a couple of years a-o lo voting £, ; 0.000 for opening the South Airman markets to onr products.—After further debate, in which Sir W. R Resell Mr Kirkbride. Mr Witheford. and ' the Commissioner of Customs (who wiss in charge of the measure) took part, the third reading was affirmed on a division by 4S :o 8. Mr Bedford was the onlv <nember who voted with the minority. COMPANIES LAW. In moving in the House last evening the committal of the Companies Bill, the Onloual Secretary said that, although the Bill was a large one, he. ventured to impress the opmiou that members would find no considerable difficulty in understanding the proposed alterations. Tlie measure had been through the Industries and Commerce o>m-ant-tee, who had taken a deal of trouble in connection with it, and had had tile advantage of assistance from M ■•■s-sj-n J oil iff e (Parliamentary Draftsman), Morrison, ami Jf. D Bell, all trained legal minds. While consolidating the law, the Bill made several important alterations, and put the. existing company law in proper senuence. He expressed the opinion thai if the Bill wt-r----pur. on the Statute Book thi> session it would do a great deal towards smooth in r the dohculties in the way of industries and commerce throughout the colony. Sir Joseph Ward then briefly sketched* the alterations proposed, explaining thai, one new clause made ail members of ,1 jointly responsible for the partnership, whil ■ iuiot-her clause was designed to com "el guarantee companies issuing shares to iix the capital by memorandum. The Bill also provides that share certificates shall show en their face the rights, attaching to shares; m respect to 'which they weie 'issued, and no transfer of shares can be authorised by directors until they are satisfied Hiar. ail that is due upon them has been paid, jo as to prevent innocent persons having' transferred to them shares with a liability upon them wmch they might not have be-n .ware of. Another clause removed any mis. smugs, raised by a recent decision of th> House ot Lords as to the strict legality of declaring dividends where a company have lost some of their capital. An imnoi-fant new clause made it. necessary that* before entering into business a company must t-V--. care that sufficient capital had been sci> Rcnbed for all reasonable purposes. The clauses relating to the registration of private companies were on the same lines as the existing law, but that law had been a dead letter, because it was found very difficult for those who desired to enter into limited partnership wiih a limited liability to-do so. Lnder the new clause partners must, subscribe for all the capital provided in the memorandum of association. Lists of the members must be filed with the registrar from time to time, and the. company must show a list of their members and the ptfi-t-ion _of their capital (if required). In connection with the winding up of a company Jt was, provided that the process should be under the direction of the court. ar,d that it should not be within the power tf aaiy person to make frivolous or vexet-ous objections intended to delay and militate, against the winding up of .1 company in a reasonable tiinq.-'-Mr Vex* wns of opinion that a Bill rf rlrs m.ture required at least a week's consideration He referred especially to that part dealing wita mining law.—Mr M'Nab pointed out that the Klines Act of 1898, which also was a consolidating measure, was carefully revised in the first, instance bv the GoldSelds Committee, the members of which w-ro familiar with mining legislation. P 0 far as the present Bill was concerned, though the session was far advanced, the House ought not to hesitate to deal with it. because next session, wnsn the Consolidation of Statutes Lommisaon presented their report, my oefects in the company law could be muddied. the liidustnes and Commerce Committee had snbiected the Bill to most careful review-! he Colonial Secretary-, in teplv, said .hat the measure had been under e-m-KKieration by the Committee f„r rv.elve weeks and eyery clause bad been gone the Bill had undergone more .-arefnl srrotiny than had any other measur- which had como before Parliament. The Committee, had advisedly refrained from amending the Mining Companies Ac* in connection with the present measure.—The Bill v/;is t ij PTl committed, and the amendments made by -he Industries Committee having been agreed to the third reading was passed on ihe yoices.

"LEGISLATION BY EXHAUSTION." If the Premier adheres to his expressed intention of forcing the Licensing Bill on, some fun may be anticipated in connection with the committee stag.-.. The Prohibition section of the House have arranged a complete campaign -of obstruction, which includes amendments to every line of the Eiil The prospect of legislation by exhaustion therefore, looms large, unless Mr Soddon recognises ths futility.of trying to get tho measure on to the Statute Book this session. A BUSY WEEK IX SIGHT. Next week's programme promises to be the most formidable, as it, will include the Banking Bill, the ocean mail resolutions, and the Public Works Statement JOTTINGS Whatever raccess women may have angling in another direction, I have never heard that they are very dangerous piscatorially —Mr Tanner. Mr Ell is inviting the Treasurer to bring down a proposal to amend the law in tho direction of reducing the exemption, and providing that lease-in-perpcfcuit-T holdersshall pay Land Tax.

The Government are being invited by Mr xwxaafijUi make it to have all

imported bone manures distinctly branded as such before being offered i'or sale to the. public.