The Local Parliament.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 42, 6 June 1913, Page 3

The Local Parliament.

Despite the very inclement weather the attendance at the “ House ” when Mr Speaker took the chair at 7.45 was very fair, though sickness and other causes had robbed the front benches of ministers and other prominent members. After the records of the previous sitting had been road by the clerk (Mr J. Carmody), the honourable member for Auckland East (Mr E. \Y. Sheeran) moved the second reading of his Licensing Act, Amendment Act, 1913, the principal feature of which was the substitution of a hare majority for the threefifths, as demanded by the Act now in force. The speech which bristled with figures, was well furnished with ,mutations from the latest prohibition literature the muzzling of the people by Parliament being dealt with at some length. The member for Auckland East had not finished when the speaker's hell r mg. but by the indulgence of the House he was allowed extra time to ex plain his measure. An animinated debate idlowed in which the following took part : The Premi r 1 Mr Cl. Andrews), who dealt v> th tit ■ il--of prohibition in Maine; the member for Hawke’s Bay, who, on the plea of democracy, a ivucated the bare majority ; the Minister of Justice (Mr lloh. rtsun), who took up the financial aspect of the question ; til Leader of the Opposition (Mr V.. Kay), who, while giving tin hill a genera! " support, considered that minorities had rights which ought to be safeguarded, and also was not certain that the lull would prove serviceable: tin* Minister of Labour (Mr Kill it), who argued that morality or excess could not be prevented by restrictive legislation ; the member ft a- Orua (Mr J. Cart 1 > who, on general principles, opposed the measure ; and the mnnber for Temuka (Rev. Father Cahill), who expressed himself in favour of the bill. After a vigorous reply by the mover to Ute various arguments adduced in opposition to the measure, the House went into committee and further discussed the hill, the debate being eventually adjourned until next Monday evening __