THE LICENSING BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9270, 4 August 1893, Page 5

THE LICENSING BILL.

AN ALL NIGHT SITTING.

THE SECOND READING CARRIED.

FRACAS IN THE LOBBY.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington", Thursday. Sir Robert Stout has carried out his determination conveyed to mo some weeks ago, that ho would force the House to a division on the liquor question. Wary Parliamentary tactician as he is, he was studiously concise in introducing his Licensing Bill, and his example was followed by the Temperance Party, who succeeded him. Ordinarily they are inclined to be verboso, but in this particular instance they were as concise as their loader. The object was to bring the anticipated stonewall on as speedily as possible. That there was to be a stonewall there was never the slightest possible shadow of doubt. Tho adherents of the "trade'' party had pricked off tho card and found there were 37 for and 33 against Sir Robert, giving a small majority of four for tho Bill in an available House of 72 members. The Colonial Treasurer and Sir George Grey would certainly be absent, and tho Auckland anil Thames seats were for practical purposes vacant. Thus every available vote was accounted for, and with such a small number as four to take into account, it was felt on both sides that the result must rest with the party exhibiting the better staying power in the small hours. At a quarter to ten Sir Robert rose to seize the' opportunity to reply, but Mr. Fish was the quicker mover, and with the request that the member for Inangahua would restrain himself while he (the member for Dunedin) said a few words, he proceeded to lay down eleven points, each and ovory one of which he said ho intended to elaborate, and did not belie his promise. Hour after hour he plodded away, quoting, commenting, and condemning. So anxious was ho that not one word should be lost, that after reading about a column extract, anil seeing a member enter, he read that extract again, in ordor that the hon. member might be fully acquainted with the subject.

Midnight found the trade party near the Speaker'? chair, amongst whom were Messrs. Moss Davis and Kidd, alert and following every move. The temperance party, as though determined to show they were ready for anything, and mayhap as a sign of contempt, early made ready to camp for the night. A small knot of Prohibitionists in the Speaker's gallery, amongst whom was the Rev. Mr. Walker and other well known advocates, stretched themselves out on the chairs. Sir R. Stout sat with folded arm*, watchful, but around him lay prone upon their seats his lieutenants. Wrapped in overcoat and rug, with travelling caps pulled over their ears, they slept and snored the sleep of the faithful. So snug were they that there' was sound common sense in the suggestion gravely made by a member that they should hoist their hats on their sticks as a sign thero was a vote tucked away beneath and so avoid a repetition of the counts which came about every half hour. At two o'clock it was evident that Mr. Fish's throat would not stand the strain much longer, and when he turned to Mr. Swan and asked that gentleman if he was ready to follow there were cries of question from the watchful. "Oh," said the member for Dunedin, "that was not going to disconcert him." The Premier had once stood upon the floor of the House for two hours without saying a word, and so would he (Mi. Fish) it occasion required, Then Mr. Fergus suggested a ten minutes adjournment to see if a compromise could not be effected. Neither combatant, however, would hear of this, and ten minutes later the prohibition party carried a resolution to clear the galleries, and for reporters, including the Hansard men, to withdraw. At twenty-live minutes to three, just as Mr. Fish had commenced to quote from a giltedged Bible, his voice gave out. Ho had accomplished his part of the feat. Mr. Swan followed, and with slow deliberation tried his voice, treating the House to a full page supplement of a newspaper report on the prohibition States of America. Mr. Swan was slow, but he was sure, and talked on till seventeen minutes to live. Then Mr. Bucklanri took up the running. His vehemence roused the sleeping prohibitionists, who had long before consumed the whole of Bellamy's stock of coffee, tea, and soup. Crossing over the House, Mr. Joyce sat himself just beneath the member for Manukau, the better to keep up the tire of interjections. Mr. Buckland appealed to Mr. Guinness, who had relieved the Speaker for a nap, but the Chairman of Committees was drowsing, so the member for Manukau said he must protect himself, and none knows better than he how to do this. Thenceforward the debate got angrier, and words which never by any chance get into Hansard were pretty freely used. Mr. Dawson followed Mr. Buckland, and kept up the biockade till just bofore seven. It then ended.

The galleries were reopened by the prohibition vote, so that Sir K. Stout's reply of three minutes might bo recorded, and at .-even o'clock the long-staved-ofF division took place, Sir Robert winning by 26 to 9. Then took 'place an angry scene, almost a riot, over the re-admission of reporters to record Sir Robert. Stout's speech of attack on the anti-prohibitionists while they had been gauged. Mr. Fish denounced it as monstrous, and told the Premier ho would help him to light " the knight of Inangahua." Mr. Fraser, though less fierce, was quite as condemnatory, as was also Mr. Backhand. Mr. Fish howled accusations across the floor at Sir Robert, who left ad soon as he had made his reply. The stormy scene was carried into the lobbies One of the leading anti-prohibi-tionists from the South used strong language to one of the Opposition whips, who gave him a shove. This gentleman's ire, then at boiling point, at this boiled over, lie divested himself of his coat, and lion, members squared up to each other in Queensbeiry stylo. Friends rushed in to part them and drag them away. This they succeeded in doing, but another instant's delay in tho intervention, and there would have been a light in the lobbies.

Many members do not anticipate the Bill will get much further in committee this session ; certainly every block will be placed in its way, and it will be even more iiercely fought. * The following is the division Jisb :— Ayes, 26. Bruce McLean Buick Meredith Cameron Moore Duncan O'Conor Earndiaw Pinkorton Guinness San ■ I ford Hall-Jones Saunders Harkness Seddon Houston W. C. Smith W. Hutchison Stout Joyce Tanner J. Kelly Taylor McGuire R. Thompson Noes, 9. Buckland Lawry Dawson Rolleston Fish Swan Fraser T. Thompson W. Kelly Pairs.

For the Bill :—G. Hutchison, J. MeKenzie, Willis, Wilson, Newman, M. J. S. Mackenzie, Palmer, -Jas. Mills, Hogg, Hall, Fisher, Duthie, T. Mackenzie, Buchanan, Wright. Against the Bill: — Taipua, Russell, Pa rata, Mitchelson, Shera, C. H. Wilis, Richardson, Macintosh, YV. P. Reeves, Kapa, Lake, Rhodes, Valentine, Blake, Grey.