PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9802, 23 July 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. TIED HOUSES. Tied houses formed the principal sub-, ject ,of the debate m the Legislative Council yesterday. The matter was introduced by the Hon. J. Bigg, who sub: mitted for consideration a measure on somewhat similar lines to that which failed to pass a second reading m the same Chamber last session, and, provides that brewers, cordial manufacturers, or spirit merchants shall not own licensed premises, and shall not, lend money to licensed persons^ He used like argument^ respecting the evil of the tied house to those previously adduced. It looked as'- though '-'the Bill was going to a division without debate, when the Hon. C. Louisson, a brewer, filled , the breach. He contended that the Bill was absolutely unworkable, and wanted to know- whether, in' view of such a proposal; we were living m a civilised country. It was proposed to take from certain persons property and rights they had , legally acquired, but there was nothing" to show what was to become of the ■ houses and laed. Hotelkeepers must deal with brewers and cordial manufacturers i and get accommodation' from them. The Hons. S. T. George, Feldwick , (who moved that the Bill be read a second time six months hence£ Pinkerton, Beehan, T. Thompson^ and R. H. Q. Reeves were of opinion that legislation of this character should originate m the elective Chamber, and that the reform proposed could not be brought about by confiscatory methods; A protest was entered by the Attor-ney-General against the contention that the Bill should not have 'originated m tlie Council. He admitted that the brew^ ars had found means to evade the 1895 Act, but the present Bill was altogether too drastic. He pointed ' out . that when, the Premier expressed to a recent deputation his willingness . to make it illegal to have liquor, m private houses m prohibited districts, the cry was raised by members of that deputation that this would be an interference with the liberty of. the subject,' but the Bill proposed would be a greater interference with the rights of others. He would be sorry to vote for so drastic a measure. At this stage the debate was adjourned till this afternoon, but the fate of the Bill is a foregone conclusion. ■ FIRE INSURANCE. Air Kirkbride moved the second reading of the Mutual Fire Insurance Bill. He said that owing to the very high rates now .charged on, country properties by fire insurance companies not half of the property owners m the country had cover against loss by fire, and the Bill proposed to allow these people to form co-operative fire insurance associations. Sir Joseph Ward, expressed sympathy with the objects of the Bill, but suggested that it should be sent to a committee for revision. In his opinion these associations' would not militate against large insurance companies doing business m the colony,, and there was room for both systems. After a long debate the second reading was carried by 62 to 2. PROVINCIAL OFFICERS. .. The House practically affirmed yester--1 day that the general Government had no right to be saddled with compensa- , turn for servants taken oyer at the time of the abolition of the provinces. The matter arose hi connection with the recommendation of the Public, Petitions Committee that Captain Leechj late harbormaster at Westport, should be paid a retiring allowance of £190. , On the motion that the report should be referred to the favorable consideration of the Government, Mr- Colvin moved to add the words : "that the Government be requested , to give effect to the recommendation of- the Committee." He said that for six years a favorable report regarding Captain Leech had been made by the .Committee without effect being given to it. . . ; The Premier said that if the principle was admitted that provincial Government officers who came into the service of the central Government were entitled to com- . pens at ion. It would involve the Government m an expenditure of £30,000 or £40,000. -.; After discussion Mr Colvin's amendment was negatived by '38 to 30. Mr Millar wants to know whether the Postmaster-General will take immediate steps, to reduce the rates of postage on parcels, weighing under 51b. The desirability of appointing specialists m voice culture ana elocution m the public schools is urged by Mr Hanari. ■ "What are the degrees, diplomas, or other qualifications which entitle Dr. MacGregor, Inspector-General of Asy* lums, to use the word JDr.' before his name?"— Pointed query tabled by Mr Fisher. , v The Minister of Justice is being invited by Mr Moss to amend the law so as to (five a boardinghouse keeper ..the same ien on the baggage of his boarder that a hotelkeeper has. ' The following Bills were read a second, time m the House : -^Fencing Act Amendment. (Mr Lethbridge), Impounding Act Amendment (Sir W. J. Steward), Mining Act Amendmenb (Mr R. McKenzie). and District Court (Mr Hogg). The House rose at 12.15 a.m.) : Replying to a. deputation of nine members who this morning asked that the railway superannuation scheme should be made to apply to the whole time of service, instead of service being continuous, Sir Joseph Ward said he could not recognise broken time. To comply with the request would mean adding twelve thousand pounds annually to the fund, which would probably collapse. He-. pointed out that telegraph servants lost pensions and compensations through temi pbrary retirements! If broken time was allowed the contributions of all classes of . railway servants would have •to be increased. The case of men affected by. the maritime strike of 1890 was somewhat , different, and he would bring their, grievanoe" before the Cabinet. .