PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7061, 22 August 1894, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(From ora Shcial Rktortvb,) Willijiotow, last night. I»1W LJCIXSINO BILL. The Licensing Bill to be introduced by the Government proposes to abolish the election of committees and vent in a board composed of the Stipendary Magistrate and Chairmen of the local bodies in the district. The local option poll is to be abolished as regards Prohibition, and a vote for the whole colony is to be taken. If three-fifths of the electors for the whole colony are io favor of Prohibition, than no more liquor shall be manufactured or imported. Fhe polling to take place annually, on the same day as the general Parliamentary election. If a bare majority is in favor of reduction, then the licenses in the district shall be reduced by a maximum of one- fourth of the toul in existence. Bottle, New Zealand wine, and railway refreshment room licenses are altogether abolished, and no new club charters are to be granted. The Act is not te come into force till 1897.

The new Licensing Bill wu introduced in<l read a first time this afternoon. A Licensing Bill introduced some days ago tv withdrawn. The new measure consolidates and considerably amends the exist ing law. The roost important alteration is abolishing the present elect ire committees, and sabstitating for them a committee in the electoral district consisting of the Mayor of Boroughs, County Cbainnao, Chairman of FWd Boards, Chairman of Harbor Boards, Chairman of Education Board, Chairman of Charitable Aid Board, and Chairman of Hospital and Benevolent Trustees, with Stipendiary Magistrate as chairman of the committee, three to form a quernm. Such a committee, though not directly elective, is, it will be contended, comprised of representative men. The questions to be submitted to the electors are simplified, and are only two is number : (1) Reduction, or (2) no licenses. The national and local option for the non-granting ef the license poll is to be taken on the day ef every general election, and in the> same manner, and every elector ©a going to record his vote for a member of Parliament is to receive a coloured voting P*P* r in connection with the licensing poll. Separate ballot papers are to be prepared, and issued to ea«h voter, containing the questions : " Do you vote for a reduction in the number of licensee V «• Yet " or " No." "Do you vote for granting any licenses !" " Yes "or " No." In case the majority of votes are for a redaction of licenses in the district, then that carries a reduction, and will be an instruction to the committee to reduce the licenses by a number not exceeding one fourth in the district, while a three-fifths majority ef votes recorded carries prohibition. The total Dumber of votes) recorded for prohibition throughout tbe colony are to be totalled and •eat to the Colonial Secretary, and if threefiftbi of the people vote for prohibition, then no more liquor is to be manufactured or imported. If there is not a majority in any district for a reduction, then no liosnses are to be granted till next poll. The Act does not come into force till IW7, and the polls are to be taken trien&ially at every general election. Refreshment booths at railway stations are only to be licensed till the end of existing contracts. All expenses of the elections are to be borne by the colony, the lecal bodies only being responsible. Conditional liosnses most be signed by the chairman and two members of tbe Committee. Bottle and New Zealand wine lioenses are to be abolished, bat tbe Commissioners may renew them np to the next poll, bnt no longer. Photographs of prohibited persons are to be supplied to all hotelkeepera in the district where the order is In force.

Clause 21 ef the new Licensing Bill contains a provision that no liquor shall be sold at any club or any hotel when liqoor may not be sold on any premises in respect whereof a publican 'slicense has been granted. The Bill also provides that if when counting the votes, the Registrar finds the number of votes recorded does not amount to onefourth in number of the toul number of electors on the roll, he shall declare the poll void, and the number of licenses in the district shall continue as they are.

The Premier explained that it was necessary to take this form of introduction, on account ef the new Bill having in it clauses affecting the public revenue. He said he was sure tbe Bill, when it was read, would support the statements he bad made that it would give general satisfaction and that it would meet tbe desires of the extremists on both sides ef the House.

Mr Graham remarked subsequently that he would not be surprised if, when the Bill was circulated it was found instead of pleasing the extremist* on both tides, it satisfied nobody.

To-day. — Considerable surprise is expreeeed at the length the Government have gone in the direction of placating the ternperanoe people. The Rev. Mr Walker, Secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, says that the Bill is decidedly in advance of the Act of last year, and that though there are some features that the temperance people would like to ace modified, they will receive it favorably in other retpecte. The claase giving prohibition for the whole colony on a three-fifths vote is, he thinks, an immense concession. Sir Robert Stout says there is nothing very much in the bill to make a foas about. The only step in advance is the provision for national prohibition. The three fifth* provision remains the same, bat the method of taking the poll is simplified. He thinks it is still oambroas. Sir Robert agrees with the proposal to take the poll on election days, and says that it is a change he has already advocated. The representatives of the liquor trade like the change in the personnel of the committee and manner in which the BUI regards the interests of hotel proprietors, bat do not like many of the provisions in the Bill, and will make a bigfight in committee to get throe altered. They think the Government made a bid to outgeneral Sir Robert BtoaU Memben are to be gj r *n a free band in the discussion of the Bill, and party eooatderaUons will be entirely eschewed. Till MtDLAVD SAO. WAT. Dismtiefied with the Premier's method ot answering questions of his rt the Midland Railway, Mr Roderick McKenue moved the adjournment of the Bewee y ester day snoraing on the Rirerton Harbor Bill He accused the Premier with being the one chief offender in stonewalling the measure whilst appearing to be friendly to it. The history of the Midland Railway, be averred, was a roost unbearable series of blunders from beginning to end, and the people of the colony were getting much dissatisfied that the Government did not attempt to crappJ* with the question. Mr McLachlan also spoke hie mind freely, stating that be did not know what would happen to tbe Government in Canterbury if they delayed Uking action. Tbe Premier replied, complaining that members were wasting time, and declaring that tbe important policy measures of tae Government could not be hung up for the Midland Railway. Tbe remark of Mr MoLaohlan as to what might happen to in* Government in Canterbury did not influftnoe them a Jot. Mr G. Russell (Riooarton) said there was a strong feeling in Canterbury that tbe Premier bad not fulfilled his pledget to bring the negelistirms to an issue. If the Government wished to keep a bold of tbe Canterbury members they most do Canterbury justice. The vast areas of land locked up by tbe Company most be brought back into the hands of tbe people. Mr Meredilh^notber Canterbury member, was most empßaUe. There should be no farther concessions to tbe Company. Mr Roderick McKcnne, in replying. having applied tbe term " adventurers "to the directors of tbe Company, Mr Beddon exprc—nil regret that such remarks had been made. Tm« TABirr. Tbe other day the Tariff and Industrial Committee presented to the Hooee a minute to tbe effect that uatil there la a reciprocal tariff agreed upoo between tbe Australasian colonies, or any number of them, tbe Custom* duties on Imports into this colony similar to those levied severally by toe other ooleniee ■hull be imposed. Mr W. Hatcbison asked the Government if they could see their way to five effect to this resolution, bat the Gelonial Treasurer said that the Imperial law prohibited retaliatory UrUb uatveen tbe colonies. There was no doubt that in consequence of the tariff of the other eoloniea, New Zealand settlers wet* being subjected to most unfair competition. Tbe Oovenunnsi were oV