The Liquor Question.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6358, 12 September 1895, Page 4

The Liquor Question.

(BY TKJUEOBAFH.)

(FEOM OCB OWJf COBBESPOKDBST.| ; Weixikotox,' September U. j The House again went into Committee on the Alcoholic liquors Bill. Clause 31—Dealing with various amvud-. meats to. the principal Act. One'of these, respecting tß t of licenses, raised a discussion an< i opposition.

Dr Newman wanted the repeal of that part of th? clause providing that licenses can be removed, but after discussion the notion was negatived by 30 Votes to 29. The Primler proposed an amendment to the BUI to the effect that no license shall be removed further than one mile from previous premises. " One was struck out by-34 votes, to 26.

Mr T. Mackenzie moved to insert "quarter of a." This was agreed to by 31 votes to 29. Mr Meredith moved an amendment that liquor shall not be supplied to anyone between the time of closing on Saturday evening and opening on Monday morning.

Negatived. An amendment, moved by Mr {George Russell, that any person falsely alleging to be a traveller or lodger shall be liable to a fine of LlO, was agreed to. Clauses 31 and 32 were agreed to. Clause 33. dealing with penalties for the sale of liquor to natives, was discussed fully. Mr T. Mackenzie wanted it made an offence to sell liquor to male natives, exceut in the four centres. He narrated his recent experiences in the Rotorua district, and said that the way in which the Maories are filled with drink there was diszraceful.

Mr W. Kelly denied this allegation and went the length of saying that if Mr Mackenzie had seen any Maori woman drank he must hare been the cause of it. He withdrew this at the request of the Chairman.

The Hon. Mr Carroll was altogether against any differentiation being shown between native and European women, and quoted the recent disclosures in connection with Coker's Hotel in Cbristchurch, and appealed to the House not to pass the clause.

The Premier offered a compromise by Bdding a proviso that the provision shall not apply to Maorf women married to European husbands. Eventually a division decided against Mr Mackenzie, four voting with him and 49 against.

A division followed on the proviso proposed by the Premier, which was agreed to by 27 votes to 22. Mr T. Mackenzie moved another proviso, despite a warm appeal from Mr Mackintosh, who said it was time to put an end to these petty, paltry, and miserable amendments. He only got five others to vote with him.

The next div-'sion took place on the question of the clause being added to the Bill, which was agreed to by 28 votes to 22.

On clause 34, dealing with prohibited persons, Mr R. M'Kenzie wanted to insert a provision that such persons must wear a distinctive ribbon, and someone else suggested kilts, but both were rejected and the clause agreed to, as also were tho remaining clauses of the Bill, with the exception of the last clause, dealing with the increase of beer duty, which was struck out.

New clauses were added making provision for procedure when a "no license" poll is carried, for penalties for breaches of tho licensing law not already provided for, and for the owner of a hotel obtaining a license if the tenant neglects to do so. The Premier, moved a clause fixing the date of the licensing election on the 17th March, 1897, and every three years afcer.

Sir R. Stout moved that it be the second Wednesday in March.

Mr Green moved an amendment in order to give members an opportunity to reinstate the clause fixing the licensing poll on the day of a general election. This was challenged as out of order and so ruled by the Chairman. At 20 minutes to 12 the Premier moved to report progress in order to get the Speaker's ruling on the point and to suspend the Standing Orders. This Hiet with opposition from Captain Rn-soll, and Sir K. Stout and Messrs Button, E. W. Smith, Tanner, Allen, Mackintosh, and Green filled in the time tiU midnight. The motion was then withdrawn, and the Premier moved that the Governor-in-Council shall fix the date. This was received with loud protestations of dissent. The amendment making the date the 30th November, 1897, caused more talk. All the previous amendments were withdrawn and the Premier moved that the date shall be fixed by the returning officer.

This was agreed to, and on the motion of Mr J. W. Kelly, this amendment was further amended to the effect that such date must be in the second week in April. The clause was then agreed to. Mr Button moved to insert a clause ranking tied houses illegal. The Premier said that this would kill the Bill if included. It would be retrospective legislation, and another place would throw it out. Its proper place was in the Fair Kent Bill, and no friend of his wonld vote for such a- clause being inserted in the present Bill. Sir R. Stout said thai the question was whether or not the liquor trade was to be dominated by brewer monopolists. He stated that in Auckland 52 houses out of 57 were tied, and the same thing existed in other cities. The principle bad been Affirmed in 1893.

Mr Russell and Mr Collins supported the clause.

Mr Button stated that he would amend the clause so that it should not be retrospective.

The Premier did not want to be considered as favorable to the tied-house system, but the inclusion of the [clause would jeopardise the Bill, and,the .matter called for special legislation. Shortly after one o'clock the second reading of the new clauses was agreed to by 37 to 19. Mr Allen moved a clause providing that a Stipendiary Magistrate shall exercise the duties of a Licensing : Committee 7 id districts which do not con tain twtougha with a population, of over SOOO. Negatived by, 39 to 15. Mr'W 1 . Hutchison moved a new clause that no woman other than the'proprietpr shall be engaged in the bar of a hotel. Negatived by 30 to 19. Mr-W. Hutchison moved a new clause prohibiting liquor being served to women or minors. - -

After tho telegraph office closed Mr Hutchison's .clause-prohibiting ..the- sapplying of wom'eh'with liquor ttbs negatived by 33 to 10. ■'"■''' Sir R. Stoat moved a new clause that the bar of a hotel be deemed a shop under the-Shopa Act,-and that liquor be only snpplied. to lodgers vv travellers on a half hohdaj. Mr R. _H&£eiizie moved to report progress. '"■ '" ■■.:-■.- Negatived byc3s to 9. clause was read a second time by 25t0t20.*' -.'•'': The Prenrisrmoved to report progress, wbkb - * TJjft^dttjeidJddrn-^d^lt.^a.'