THE VOTE FOR "BELLAMY'S."

Lake County Press, Volume VII, Issue 380, 22 August 1878, Page 3

THE VOTE FOR "BELLAMY'S."

The special correspondent of the I'unedin ' Star ' telegraphed the following account of the discussion on the above subject in the House of Eepresentalives : When the item "Bellamy's on Account of Establishment, L 250," was discussed, Mr Fox said the place was simply a restaurant or private grog»shop. Members ought not to guzzle at the expense of their constituents. If the present prices did not pay, let Bellamy s charge another three-halfpence on beer and something extra on wine. The Attorney-General said that in New South Wales no liquor was supplied to members within the precincts of the House; only sandwiches and coffee. (Here many lion, members were observed to pull wry faces, and two went out.) The true remedy was to abolish Bellamy's. Did any hon. member imagine that ;radesmen did work as the House was doing? Did tradesmen go away from their work every halfhour to some public-house and take a drink ? But that was the case in the House —(Cries of" Oh, oh.") The Native Minister would support the item. Inthe Auckland Provincial Council, when there was no Bellamy's, the whips had to search the club and public-houses at intervals during the debates, in order to get members up for a division. If there were no Bellamy's members would make one for themselves. Members of ihis House were not free from the ordinary frailties of humanity. (Sarcastic "Ao. noes"—and an hon. member: "oh., dear no, not at all.") Ho believed the abolition of Bellamy's would imp de business. He spoke from experience. He had to keep a little Bellamy's of his own in the Auckland Provinci.l Council, in order to keep his party from straying away and beinoabsent from divisions Mr Fox : That was a very bad school for a young politician. Mr v\ ason said it was not so much the guzzling that he objected to as the fearful gorging. There was constant •« stuffing"— morning, noon, and night—and always a disgusting odor of game, meat, and onions. (The tone of strong disgust in which the member for Coleridge uttered the word "onions," elicted roars of laughter.) Then there was the cabbage-water— faugh ! He held in his hand the card of Bellamy's. On one side of it was printed a flowing advertisememt about the quality of wines and spirits. He would leave the Native Minister to judge of those; but on the other side there was " full board—per week, L2 ; lunch and dinner, LI l iS ; breakfast and' dinne-, LI 15s ; dinner only LI 55." Was not this a | retty state of affairs ? There was no good hotel accommodation in Wellington. The days when hon. members had to buy and cook their own meals had passed away. Ho thought the subsidy unnecessary. Mr M'Lean said the last time he was in Sydney he had dinner with excellent tipple in Bellamy's there. Mr Fox said they ought to introduce the system of the United States, where nothing but tea and coffee was drunk within the precincts of the legislature- He attributed the bad legislation to the excitement caused by drinking in B llamy's. Mr VV. Wood here endeavoured to throw oil on troubled waters. He thought they were wasting time. Cries of '* is'o, no," and " question." Mr Wakefield thought the prices should be increased. The item was retained by 29 to 22.