THURSDAY, JULY 20.

Otago Witness, Issue 2369, 27 July 1899, Page 28

THURSDAY, JULY 20.

In the Legislative Council on Thursday, the Canterbury Agricultural College Indemnity Bill was read a second time. A long time jwas taken up over the election of the Chairman of Committees, the Hon. Mr Baillie being finally re-elected after some lively discussions. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. The Council spent the rest of the afternoon In the election of Chairman of Committees. The MINISTER FOR EDUCATION proposed the Hon. W. C. Smith for the position, the Hon. Mr JONES moving an amendment that the election should be by ballot. This resolved itself into a trial of strength between the Hon. Mr Smith's supporters and their opponents. On a division the amendment ■was agreed to by 21 votes to 18. After the division, The Hon. W. C. SMITH accused the Minister of having secretly canvassed against him. This was denied by the Minister, and was the signal for a long and acrimonious discussion, personal explanations being frequent. Eventually Captain Baillie was re-elected on the voices for the twentieth time. In the House of Representatives on Thursday the business of private members took precedence. The Christchurch Borrowing Bill iwas debated at some length, but. finally passed its second reading stage, as also did the Roads Obstruction Prevention Bill. In the evening the Mortgages and Statutes Consolidation and Prevention^ Bills were read n, second time and referred to a committee. Mr Lawry's Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Bill again passed its second reading. Then another Liquor Bill came on, its object being to permit of a straight-out vote for or against restoration of licenses being taken in the Clutha district. After a debate whioh became acrimonious the question of the second reading was adjourned. OBSTRUCTIONS ON ROADS. The Ronds Obstruction Prevention Bill (the Hon. Mr Steward) was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Waste Lands Committee. MORTGAGES. Mr MHjLS moved the second reading of Sales by Mortgagees Bill.—Carried, and the bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. A MARRIAGE BILL. Mr LAWRY moved, without a speech, the ■econd reading of the Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Bill. On a division the motion was carried by 29 to 23. ANOTHER LIQUOR BILL. Mr GDZiFEbDER moved tho second reading of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill.' He explained that by the act of 1895 after prohibition was carried in a district and the electoral boundaries of the district were subsequently altered, it miglu. happen that a hotel would be included in the altered district. The bill proposed to do away, with such an anomaly. The PREMIER seconded the motion. Those who were in favour of temperance reform could not, he said, refuse to vote for the bill. It was crass stupidity of the Representation Commissioners in so altering the Clutha district as to include within its boundaries a publichouse after a no license vote had been carried. He also wanted to give the community who voted for prohibition some opportunity of carrying re-inslatement. Mr J. W THOMSON was sure the temperance people would agree that it was only fair that people should have the rightto vote lor re-instatement as well as prohibition. Mr MORRISON blamed the commissioners toy tacking a hotel on to a prohibition disIrict. In the interests of morality lie said the Booner licenses were restored to Balclutha tha better. There had been so much lying, hypocrisy, and perjury created in Balclutha.

since prohibition had been enrried-tnat the sooner the law was altered TJie better. He asked the prohibition members, if they felt so sure of their position, to support the bill and let the electors of Clutha decide whether they wished prohibition to cSntinue or licenses re-instated. Mr PIRANI said in the face of the result of the local option poll last taken in Clutha, which was largely in favour of prohibition, it was absurd of the last speaker to say that a large majority was in favour of licenses. If the people of Clutha were suffering from disabilities, why did they not petition Parliament to remove these disabilities. The reason was that they were quite 'satisfied with the law as it stood at present. Ho deprecated the language used by the Premier with regard to the Representation Commissioners. The trouble with regard to Clutha district had arisen through the prohibitionists insisting upon the yote being taken over an area, the boundaries of which were coterminous with the electoral districts. Special districts should have been declared for taking the local option vote. Mr TAYLOR contended that no decent man could get liquor in Balclutha, and he challenged the member for Caversham. to give the name of the man who imported liquor into the district in a kerosene tin. Ho refuted the charge made that sly grog-selling was rampant in the district, and gave evidence showing the great benefit that had resulted from prohibition in the district he referred to. Mr GUINNESS moved that the bill be read \ that day six months. He supported the aminadversion cast upon ±he commissioners for the manner in which they fixed the boundaries of electoral districts. If the bill got into -tfom- , mittee no one could say when it would come out. ; Mr STBEiD supported the motion for adjournment. ; Mr TAYLOR again spoke against the mo- . tion. : MrSEDDON said that the House had been listening to a speech that was a disgrace to the Legislature. The attitude lie took up was to place Clutha in exactly the same position, as far as prohibition was concerned, as it was before the boundaries of the electoral dis- , trict were altered. If members would approach the subject in a calm and dispassionate manner, free from personalities, they could frame a measure that would be workable, and prove of benefit to the colony. The debate was adjourned. LOCAL BORROWING. During a discussion to-day on the Christchurch City Empowering Bill, Mr Seddon i said he believed the time was not far distant 1 when an attempt would be made to consoli- ■ date all local loans, and to get them guaranteed by the colony. The local bodies should not be encouraged to embark on a borrowing i and squandering policy. He did not object to spending money on necessary works, but the House should take care lest the day should come when Parliament would have to take over these loans. "