The Liquor Bill.

Hastings Standard, Issue 136, 2 October 1896, Page 2

The Liquor Bill.

PASSES THE LOWER HOUSE. ANOTHER ALL NIGHT SITTING. NO CHANCE OF ITS BECOMING LAW THIS SESSION. m [By Telegraph.] f From our Spicial ('orrespondent. ) Wellington, This Day. After a respite from 8 a.m. yesterday, at which hour progress was reported, till half-past two, when the House again met, the opponents of the Liquor Bill bad ample time to get a much needed rest. It was soon evident that they had returned to the fray like giants refreshed, and indications were not wanting of another protracted sittiug. Consideration was resumed in Committee on clause 2, but the " stonewallers " were not so hard pressed as on the previous night, for the members of the Temperance party, who had hitherto observed a " conspiracy of silence," now showed a disposition to take a hand in the discussion. After nearly three hours' talk without any progress being made, Mr Earnshaw, on behalf of the Temperance section, suggested that a conference should take place between the contending parties. The terms of the compromise he suggested were that the Temperance members should accept certain amendments in the interest of the trade of which the Premier had given notice and that those fighting the Bill should as a quid pro qu<> cease their opposition. During the dinner adjournment a conference did take place on the basis suggested, but with little hopes of any agreement being arrived at. When the Committee resumed at 7.30 p.m.,

Mr Collins suggested an hour's adjournment as there had only been time for skirmishing, a,nd the parties to the conference had not come to close quarters. Mr Earnshaw put a different complexion on the matter by saving that owing to the attitude of the " trade " representatives there was no give-and-take disposition with them. There was little hope of the differences being amicably adjusted. The Premier agreed to the proposal for an adjournment, but the Leader of the Opposition protested, and said that a proposal to decide in rawem what should be decided on the floor of the House was an entirely new departure, and was a fitting climax to the farce of the past twenty-four hours. At 9.30 an adjournment was made to allow of a conference being held to attempt a compromise. It was not thought however that there would be any prospect of coming to a satisfactory arrangement between the contending parties. Mr Seddon, who presided at the conference, called 011 the opponents of the Bill to state their objections. Mr Collins asked for a pledge that no attempt be made to force a bare majority into the Bill, which was agreed to. Mr Carncross got an assurance from the temperance people that if the Bill came back from the Council divested of the club clauses, they would not accept it. They would only accept the Bill if it had both the national option and club clauses. After the conference closed it dawned on the temperance people that if the Council again excised the club clauses they had made terms with the other side which must cost them the Bill. At midnight members appeared quite resigned to an all-night sitting, and a firm stonewall was maintained, amendments being the order of the night. Daylight broke with little advance having been made, and the lights went out on a seedy-looking Chamber. It was five minutes to 7 before the House rose. There was a debate 011 the final stage of the Bill, followed by a division on the third reading, which was carried by 26 to 4. Messrs M'Lachlan, Lawry, Crowther, and the Hon. T. Thompson constituted the minority. The trade representatives look to the Upper House mutilating the measure to such an extent that it will not be acceptable to the lower chamber, and say there is no prospect of the Bill finding its way on the Statute Book.