PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 135, 18 October 1895, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. CHINESE BILL. Without further debate the Hon Mr Riggs’ motion, that in the opinion of the Council Chinese are undesirable immigrants, was negatived by 13 to 8. LICENSING. The Alcoholic Liquors Bill was further considered in Committee. Clauses 24 and 25—relating to clubs —were struck out. Clause 26—providing that no railway refreshmeut-room licenses are to be granted in any districts where prohibition is carried—was retained on the voices. In clause 27 —costs of elections and administration to be paid by local authorities —several amendments were negatived and the clause passed unaltered. In clause 29—which provides that no bottle or New Zealand wine licenses be granted after the commencement of the Act—Mr Stewart moved an amendment to allow the granting of bottle licenses. The amendment was carried by 14 to 18, the bottle licenses being thus removed from the Bill. Mr Swanson then moved an amendment to allow of the New Zealand wine licenses being continued. The amendment was carried by 20 to 5. In clause 29, a motion by Mr Kenr to increase the number of the Licensing Committee from six to eight was carried by 14 to 12. In clause 82, Mr Shrimski moved to amend the proposal of limiting the transfer of licenses to premises distant not more than a quarter of a mile, by allowing transfers under the present law to be continued till January, 1897. This was carried by 19 to 6. In a portion of the same clause placing tbe onus of proof on a traveller or lodger, new subsections were added exonerating the license, if he truly believes the purchaser was a bona fide traveller or lodger, and fixing a fine not exceeding ten pounds for misrepresentation. The subsection extending the limit required to be travelled by bona fide travellers from three to five miles, was struck out by 19 to 6. The following new subsection was added to the clause by 15 to 9 : The owner or immediate landlord who has evicted a tenant -for having had his license endorsed may apply to the Committee at any quarterly meeting for cancellation of endorsements on the license, and the Committee may grant such application. On clause 44, the Hon Mr Kerr moved to strike out the sub-section which disqualified Justices of the Peace from giving decisions under the Act. The amendment was lost by 17 to 12, and the clause passed. The Hon Mr Kerr moved to strike out clause 45, which made “ tied “ houses illegal, but the amendment was lost by 15 to 12. The Hon Mr McGregor moved to strike out the part of the clause making void every bond, bill of exchange, or promissory note given for security of the performance of and “ tied ” house covenant. This was carried by 21 to 6. An amendment by the Hon W. C. Walker, to postpone the coming into operation of part two of the Act until after the next licensing poll, was lost by 14 to 13. The amendment, that there shall be bo national option poll, was withdrawn. This finished the committee stage of the Bill, which was reported with amendments, and the third reading set down for next day. The Hon Mr Bigg gave notice to move for the recommittal of the Bill in order to provide that no poll shall be valid unless one-half the roll vote. BILLS. An Imprest Supply Bill for £155,500 passed all stages. The Stock Amendment Bill, Public School Teachers Incorporation and Court of Appeal Bill, and Foreign Insurance Companies Deposits Bill were read a second time. HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. RATING ACT. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Eating Act Amendment Bill the chief provisions of which were to make native lands vested in the Public Trustee ratable property and to impose only half rates on buildings which were unoccupied for six months. After a short debate the second reading was agreed to on the voices. UNCLASSIFIED SOCIETIES. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Unclassified Societies Eegistration Bill to incorporate unclassified societies principally athletic bodies and allow them to sue and be sued. The motion was agreed to on the voices without discussion. FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Foreign Insurance Companies Deposits Amendment Bill to enable the Public Trustee to issue certificates to Foreign Insurance Companies, also to give power to the Governor inCouncil to vary the rate of interest on these deposits.--Agreed to on the voices. COAL MINES. Mr Cadman moved the second reading of the Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill, a technical measure which had already passed the Legislative Council. Agreed to on the voices. IN COMMITTEE, The House went into Committee on the Unclassified Societies Registration Bill. The Bill was passed through Committee with unimportant amendment. SECURITIES BILL. Mr Ward gave notice to introduce the Public securities Bill, which, it was explained, would deal with appointment of custodians in London, for colonial trust securities.

FINAL STAGES, The Classification Societies Registration Bill was passed through its final stages. IN COMMITTEE. The House went into Committee on the Designation of Districts Act Amendment Bill. Mr Pirani immediately moved that the Chairman leave the chair on the bill. The amendment was carried, without discussion, and the bill thus killed. CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DUTIES ACT. This bill was brought down by Governor’s message. Among the amendments were the admission of mining machinery free of duty and tbe placing of dairying machinery under 6 per cent class. Tbe amendments were ordered to be considered next day. EECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. The Hon Mr Reeves moved tbe second reading of the Manual and Technical Elementary Instruction Bill for the promotion of elementary and technical instruction, He said there bad been a feeling throughout the colony for some time that these branches of education should be taught in our public schools, and the Bill provided that manual instruction should be part of a public school’s course. The Bill had been asked for by a majority of Education Boards in the colony, and he hoped it would prove acceptable to the House. The second reading was agreed to. NEW BILLS. Eleven new Bills were introduced and read a first time. Captain Russell asked the Premier to give tbe House some indication as to when tbe Government intended to close the session. Mr Seddon said he had been working night and day, in order to get work in a forward state. He thought the session ought to close, at the latest, about the 29th October. BEET ROOT SUGAR. On the motion for the introduction of the Beet Root Sugar Bill, Captain Russell and several other members opposed this course, and objected to succeeding Governments being bound down for 15 years to pay a bonus of £d per lb on local-grown sugar. Wr Ward said it had been introduced at the written request of 81 members of the House, some of whom were now opposing the action of the Government. He would tell the House the Government would be careful how they treated such requisitions in future. There was every reason to believe that beet could be successfully grown in New Zealand, and the sugar industry would open up a large avenue of employment. IMPREST SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply Bill for £155,600 was introduced and passed its final stages.