PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5030, 30 July 1903, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, JULY 29. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. MAHUTA. The Hon Mahuta to Wherowhoro was ■introduced by tho Attorney-General and tho Hon. H. Tomoaua, and took tho oath and his seat. TIED HOUSES BILL. The Hon H. F. WIGRAM resumed the debate upon tho second reading of Tied Houses Bill and tho amendment moved by tho Hon H. Foldwick, “That the Bill bo read a second time that day*' six 1 months.” Mr Wigram, in criticising the Bill, contended that 75 per cent, of hotels wero hied and if the Bill wero passed it would result itf great loss to the owners. It was quite possible that under its provisions a perfectly free house might he confiscated. There was a big loophole in the Bill, which ho would leave the mover te find out for himself. Ho was opposed to the measure. Tho Hon H. SCOTLAND condemned tho provisions of the Act of 1895 in respect to tied houses as foolish and unjust, Tied houses offered greater facilities for superior accommodation than free houses. There was only ono lionise in tho colony ho would not like to seo tiod and that was Parliament House. (Laughter.) Tho Bill was incapable of amendment in committee, and therefore he would vote for tho amendment that it bo road a second time six months hence. The Hon W. 0. F. OARNCROSS said he could not see his way bo support the Bill at all. Tho one argument used in favour of tho Bill was that tho Act of 18D5 had been evaded, and that feature could not bo overlooked; but he did not think the Bill before them was tho night way'to check tho evil. Tho occupier of an hotel would, to his thinking, ho punished equally with—probably more than—tho owner. Ho did not think the Bill was necessary in fnoo of tho declaration of its supporters that tho public would settle the question for themselves before long. He was in this matter prepared to trust tho people. Tho Hon J. RIGG, in rising to reply, said that when the Bill was before a committee witnesses lie relied on for evidence wero “squared,” and that questions that to his mind were not private wore objected to by hon members ns private and were not allowed. Some of the witnesses, ho stated, wore ■actually •tied to brewers. Valuable evidence had been suppressed. Ho urged that compensation had nothing to do with tho tiod house' question. Let that bo discussed on its merits. The brewers

owned tho property; let them realise tho host way they comd. In regard to tho hotels m Meiluigton being closed at 10 o'clock, he t-eeu that every nody could sco wnat that meant. Instead ol lue drinkers being turned out ot tho hotels at ii o’ciuck as neretoloie, when most peopm were at home, they were now let loose in a helpless state at 10 o’clock, and the state oe things created wits horrible. He likened the monopolist to a largo cannibal fish in a trout stream, in reference to Air Macdonald’* speech, ho could only- look upon it as ono- from an inexperienced member. (Laughter.) Air Aiacdonald had said that ho was amazed at the Hon. G. Jones’s fanatical statement. He had said that tho prohibitionists were crying for no license and at the same time they were drinking privately in their bedrooms. How did Air Macdonald know? Had ho been there to see? He asked was tho hou gentleman really amazed, or was this slander? (Aan hon member; “All men are liars”). The motion for tho second reading on lining put was negatived by 25 votes to 8. Tho division was as follows: Ayes (for the Bill). —Hons Baillie, Fraser, T. Kelly. Jenkinsou, Bolt, A. L. Smith. Rigg, Reeves. Noes (against«tho Bill). —Hons Scotland, "Wigram. L. Walker, George, Cadman, Harris, Aiacdonald, Trask, Thompson, Carncross, Tomoa.na, Taiavon, Pinkerton, Foldwick, Balcley, Alillor, Beehan. Bowen, Ormond, Stevens, Johnston, Marshall, Holmes, Williams and Pitt. Tho Council adjourned at 4.20 p.ra. till next day.'

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WEDNESDAY, JULY 29. The Speaker took the chair at 3.30 p.m. PROGRESS OF BILLS. The Presbyterian College Site Bill passed its final stages. The following Bills were read a first time:—Coalmines Act Amendment Bill. No. 2 (Mr Colvin), and Bible Lessons in Public Schools Plebiscite Bill (Mr Arnold). The remainder of the afternoon was spent in the answering of questions, and the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m, EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. RABBIT ACT AMENDMENT. Sir W. R. RUSSELL moved the second reading of the P„abbib Act, 1882, Amendment Bill. The measure provides that the Governor may by ordcr-irt-Couucil declare the Act in operation within any district on the receipt of a petition from stock-owners or ratepayers. The Act of 1901 shall then cease to exist in that district. The Bill also provides for tho immediate taking of such steps for tho destruction of rabbits as may he ordered by the inspectors, and after the expiration of a month penalties ranging up to a hundred pounds may ho inflicted for every month _ during which there shall, in the opinion of tho inspector, bo rabbits on such land. The second reading was agreed to. RATING ACT AMENDMENT. Mr BERRIES proposed the second reading of the Rating Act Amendment Bill, providing for Maori lands to he made liable for taxation on special loans. Ho pointed out that Maoris could buy land from pakehas and farm thorn as well as tho white men, and yet pay only half rates. Tho Bill did not propose to extend tho present rating powers, hut provided that where it was possible to rate Maoris they should be treated tho same as white men. Ho claimed that the system of halfrating was largely abused by tho pakehas. After a long discussion, the Bill was road a second time on the voices. OTHER BILLS. On the motion of Mr MoNah, tho Juries Act Amendment Bill, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, and the Absolute Majority Bill were, read a second time pro forma, and referred to tho Statutes Revision. Committee. Tho Law Practitioners’ Act Amendment Bill (Mr Bauino) was sot forward to the 6th proximo. Tho Shops and Shop Assistants’ Amendment Bill was next on the order paper, but it lapsed because it was not printed, and because its sponsor (Mr Laurenson) was not in tho House. Tho Law Practitioners’ Act Amendment Bill (another measure of Mr Laurenson’s) also lapsed; and thou Sir Houston moved tho second reading of tho Impounding Act, 188-f, Amendment Bill, which gives propertpownors power to destroy pigs, goats or poultry found on unfenced lands. The motion for tho second rending was carried without division. The Bill was sot down for committal on Wednesday next. Tho Houso rose at 12.83 a.m.