HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 17, Issue 17, 12 October 1894, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Monday, Ociobbb 8. Thej Qoloriial Treasurer gave notice con- "' earning a renewal of the San Franoisco mail service, and announced the appointment of Mr Watson as President of the Bank of New Zealand at a salary of - L 2250 a year; the position to be held dnring good behaviour. V" > ponsideration of the Licensing Bill in Committee was resumed. Mr G. J. . - Smith moved to amend clause 3 so as to "'*" " make the bill apply to persons who sold . -Wine,' which was lo*t by 30 to 22. A .':' ' Motion by Kr Tanner that the Act should not apply to any person selling liquor in •my room in the Houses 6f Parliament •', was' earned by 26 to 23- On clause 9 • an amendment thae persons in partner- . ship with brewers, wive and spirit merchants, or others connected with the liquor t.&flb* should oot' be disqualified ftom seats on the licensing committees '' ,Jf f ji ''lost by 46 to 5, but auctioneers', commission agent?, and brokers are to be floatified to act on the licensing com- ■'■■■■ toHtee* Mr Collins mo»ed "That no professional or paid advocate for or * ! iigatrist the suppression of the lquor traffic shall be eligible to sit on a committee/ and after considerable discussion ! tbia Waa carried by 28 to 26. -Sir ' B. ■''■ Stout- warmly opposed it. Mr T. Maokenzie thought- the amendment quite '•' ; Sasbnable. These temperance agitators ' iU "'" Were the curse of the country, and some ' df the ; scum of the colony had crawled to lhe' front in the temperance agitation. ■ The Hon. Mr Seddon said he considered ' gk man whose living depended upon agi- -• -Ration was just as olosely connected with the liquor interest as a partner in a brewery. The amendment was fair, aud treated both sides alike. He himself had shown no feeling in the matter, and ac- ' guiesoed in what the majority had de- : ' «ided to do., The House rose at 2.15 a.m. ; Tuesday, Octobeb 9. Tfan VC*ed question of selling liquor at Bellamy's cropped up again, but was allowed to iirop on an assurance from the ..*.-, Premier that he would set apart a day to discuss the matter. A motion by the Treasurer in connection with tho dispute between the Auditor-general and the Pablio Trustee was also adjourned . Ibe Native Lands Court Bill and Offensive Publications Bill were passed, and an -s*; .amendment in the Government Eailways Bill introduced by message was agreed - ' ■" The Licensing Bill then came oa again. - OB jolause 12. Mr McNab moved an • gmeadment, the effect of which would be to restore the present form of elective committees. His amendment was that ' the licensing aoramittee for ordinary licensing distriots shojjld consist of a ■< fflggistrate and ; eight other oejrsojjfi, resijdents of the district. Mr Seddon refused £o accept the amendment. After a lengthy .dissuasion the olause was struck out on _thevoiee«. The Hon. Mr Seidon moved to titer Mr McNab's amendment so as to provide tha* the licensing election shall Jot be held on *b* saae day as the general eleotion. T h*s »tw carried after • lengthy, and at times very pergonal, dts«fc?sion. Mr McNab's amendment m^ing committees elective was agreed to on the voices and olause 12, as amended, was added to the bill. Progress was then reported, and tho bill ordered to be Again committed next day. The House rose at #.$0 a.m. Wednesday, Qmqvw IQ, Jn reply to questions, it was stated, np monetary assistance could be given to j - kindergarten schools; the report of the Tariff (Committee could not be considered this session-; tbe matter of the cost to local bodies of administering the Licensiing Act would be Considered ; Government had npt decided who was to succeed Sir W- B. Percival as Agentgeneral- restrictions would be placed pm 1 the naturalisation of undesirable Chinese.; Government did not insider that Sir Eobert Stout's oharges were sn/fteient to place tbe Eailway 'Commissioners pn Their trial; New Zealand was preyed to negotiate , with other Governments for intercolonial freetrade; Gqvernment wished to encourage mining aud in- ' tended to offer' a bonus for tho best , *scans of exterminating rabbits. . Replying to .. Mr 0, J. Smith, Mr . uW*.rd said the Government would not interfere with the management of the Bink of New Zealand after the executive officers, were appoiuted. The Govern- . meat also considered that it was inoxpedieet that the details of tbe working |Tflf '*•*. *W & W*W*J

threshed out on the floor of the House. As to what would be done by the Government in the event of the directors of the bank proposing amalgamation with another institution, the Government would place their intentions fully before the House bofore the session closed. They would plaoe such a bill on the Statute Book that no doubt would be felt as to what aotion would be taken by the Government if any such proposals were made The reports of the conferences on*the Shops and Shop Assistants Bill and on the amendments in the Factories Bill were agreed to. It was agreed " That the House is of , opinion that the audit of the Public ; Trust Office nepd not have b«en inte-— •' rupted and should now be proceeded with ! and that the matter be referred to a select committee." In reply to Sir E. Stout, Mr Seddon said he hoped some compromise would be effected between the parties on Die Licensing Bill, and that the bill would proceed. On the motion for the committal of the Dniry Industry Bill a short debate took place, the tone of which was generally in fa-for of the measure, but opinion was divided as to the wisdom of introducing a grading system. Mr J. McKenzie said he intended to ask tbis Hou«e the session to vote a substantial sum to assist this important industry. He had no hesitation in saying that before ten years were over the dairy . industry would be as valuable to New Zealand as the frozen meat trade. The bill was committed and passed through Oommittee witb the amendments made by the Stock Committee.