EVENING SITTING.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5520, 24 October 1879, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House, resumed at 7.30. SECOND HEADINGS.

The following bills were read a second time : — Hawke's Bay and Marlborough Rivers Act Amendment Bill ; Land Transfer Act Amendment Bill; New River Pilot Station Reserve Bill ; Auckland Free Public Library Aid Bill ; Ashburton County Council Waterworks Bill ; Resident Magistrate's Act Amendment Bill ; District Court Act Amendment Bill.

BILL PASSED.

The Oamaru Waterworks Act Amendment Bill was considered in committee, reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed.

AMENDMENT OF LICENSING LAW.

Mr Acton Adams moved the second reading of the Licensing Further Amendment JSill No. 2. He said that the object of, the .bill was to raake a uniform license fee throughout the colony. In Otago the licensing fee was £25, whereaß in Nelson it : was £40. That was only one of' many examples which could be cited to show the unfairness of the present system. The proposals containedin the bill had been approved by a large.section of the. licensed victuallers in the, colony, and .before it passed through all its stages ac hoped to be in a position to. submit it .to ..the approval. of all. the others." So. far as the general conduct of the trade was concerned the bill did not propose to interfere. He had stated a schedule, of fees, -but he would be quite prepared to make them £5 one way or £5 another, if- thought advisable.

Mr Hall said it was high . time that the matter were taken in hand. It was to be regretted that it was not taken up before. They would not be able to deal with the whole question this session, still that A was i no reason why they should deal with the matter in a partial manner. Jle agreed with the spirit of,, the. : bill, although one or two details would have to be attended to in committee. .

Captain Russell objected to the bill, as a'general measure would: have to be provided for dealing with the whole question. He thought the matter might be left in the hands of the : Government to prepare such a measure during the recess. "Mr Hutchison objected to tHe proposal 'to lessen' the license fee. Id Wellington t alone it iWould reduce the municipal revenue, very, considerably, and he was not aware of any complaint, having been made ,of the^fees charged being too high. Mr Downie Stewart moved that the bill be read that day six months, and reviewed the various clauses of the bill to which he objected. .7

Mr Murray moved as a further-amend-ment the adjournment of the debate.

The motion for adjournment having been withdrawn, tHe motion for reading the bill that day six months was" put, and on a division was lost by 32 to 26.. The bill was then read a second time. -'„..:'; ... PBIVILEGE. Mr Rees spoke to a breach of privilege. ; He had received a letter from an ex'ine.mber of the House, Mr Woolcock, recommending him (Mr Reeves) to turn over, and support the Government, to "which! he had replied that he had never seen, so. much moral turpitude in so few words. He moved that the letter be laid on the table. .../The motion was discussed and then , withdrawn, :

The second reading of the Wellington Harbor Bill was under discussion at 12.30, when our message was despatched.