PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7295, 26 August 1893, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY.

(ifl ABLBGEAPH.) WELLINGTON. August 25. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.nu BILLS TABBED. The Customs Duties Bill, the Lyttelton Orphanage Lands Vesting Bill, passed their final stages. THE ELECTORAL BILL. Owing to the absence of the Chairman of Committees, the committal of the Electoral Bill was deferred till Tuesday. COMPANIES BILL. The Companies Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. LOCAL BILLS. Several Local Bills were advanced a stage. At 5 p.m. the Council adjourned till Tuesday. HOUSE of representatives. - The House met at 2.30 p*m., REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr Earnshaw, the Premier said that he had no information that gambling to a large extent was carried on in a newly established club in Wellington. Mr Fisher moved the adjournment of the House to protest against a question of this kind being placed on the Order Paper. A short debate followed, in which several members resented the slur which was oast on all clubs in the colony by this question. Replying to other questions, it was stated that the Government did not think that they would be warranted in appointing a Boyal Commission to enquire into the financial condition of Friendly Societies, but they had a large amount of information on the subject, and enquiry would be made into their posi* tion ; that it was the intention of the Government to increase the detective force in the colony. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. The Premier announced that he hoped to set apart Monday evening next for Labour legislation, and he proposed to take the taxation proposals on Tuesday. The Government would then be in a position to state wbat amount of revenue they would receive from these proposals. The Bill relating to the Justice Department, the Government Railways Act Amendment Bill, and the Mining Bill, would probably occupy the House till the end of the week, and he hoped in the following week to bring down the Public Works Statement. After that ho would bo able to say what Bills the Government pro posed to go on with this session. He might be in a position at the end of next week to mention the likely date of the Prorogation.

The House rose at 5.30 p,m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. THE liIQirOB Bill. The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill was further considered in Committee. Clause 17 was amended so as to allow local authorities to supplement the loss of revenue from license foes by an increase of general rates, notwithstanding that the maximum amount of general rates may thereby be exceeded. Clause 18— If licensed premises are closed by the electors, the licensee shall be relieved of his lease. The clause was struck out with the object of substituting a new clause. Clause 19, providing that all clubs shall be subject to all the provisions of the Licensing Acts, elicited a long discussion. Mr Fisher moved that this clause be struck out. Mr Earnshaw opposed the amendment, pointing out that if publichouses were closed i drink would be obtained at clubs, and therefore they should be under supervision. Mr Ifish opposed the clause as a further t interference with the liberty of the subject. The Premier defended the clause, and said that the Government laid great stress on it. They considered that club-men themselves would not object to the clause. Captain Bussell strongly opposed the clause, pointing out that clubs were frequented by men principally of mature age, who did not indulge in skylarking, and who did pot assemble in clubs for the purpose of drinking. Mr Bruce asked the Premier whether there was any special reason for this clause. The Premier said that from information at the disposal of the Government, which he did not feel justified in alluding to further, the Government were fully warranted in inserting this clause in the Bill. Mr Fisher would like to know what information the Premier had received about these clubs. Sir John Hall would support the clause, for if clubs were exempted altogether, a door would be opened to wholesale evasions of the Act. He [thought, however, that the regulations should be modified so that they would not be vexatious. After considerable discussion Mr Fisher withdrew his amendment to strike out the clause. Mr Buckland moved an amendment that the Parliamentary Bellamy’s should be included in the provisions of this clause. The amendment was carried by 30 to 29. The Premier regretted that there were thirty members in the House who thought it necessary to call in the police at Bellamy’s. The following is the division list Aybb— 3o. Buchanan Mitohelson Buckland Moore Buiok Newman Oarnotoss Beeves Fish Bhodes Fisher Sandford Hall-Jones Saunders Hutchison, W. Smith, W. 0. Kelly, W. Swan Lake Taipua Lawry Taylor Mackenzie,M. J.S, Thompson, B. McKenzie, T. Thompson, T. McLean Yalentine Meredith Wilson Nobs— 29. Allan Mills, 0. H. Blake Mills

Brace Parata Oddman Pinkerton Carroll Biohsrdson Duncan Bolleiton Duthi* Busstll Fergus Beddon Fraser ' Bhera Hall Smith, SI. M. Hogg Tanner Houston Ward Kapa Willis Kelly, J. Wright McGowan Paibs. Ayes. Hoes. Harkness Dawson Hamlyn Mackintosh Stout MoEenrie, J. Earnshaw Mills, 3, Mr McLean moved, in the subssotion providing that no new otn?tsr shall be issued to any club except upon the recommendation of the Licensing Committee of tbe district, that it must also be upon application of not less than 50 persons* The amendment was agreed to by 90 to 27. The Premier moved an amendment that if the poll is carried against the granting of any licenses, the charter shall be withdrawn by the Colonial Secretary from any olub in tbs district on the recommendation of the Licensing Committee. Mr Fish protested against the amendment on the ground that it would take away all power from tbe people. Captain Bussell said that this would be the first step towards total prohibition. After further discussion, the Premier asked leave to withdraw his amendment, but Isave was refused. The amendment was lost by 87 to 18. Clause 19 as amended was added to tbe bill by 42 to 14. Mr McLean moved a new clause that all ’contracts or agreements now in existence, compelling a licensee to deal exclusively with any person or company for any liquor which the licensee shall require to purchase shall, he void. The amendment was lost on the voices. Mr Mills moved a new clause, requiring three years* notice to be given before a license could be cancelled after the deter* mination of the electors to that effect. The clause was lost by 40 to 9. Mr Thomas McKenzie moved a new clause that no license to sell alcoholic liquors shall be granted to railway refreshment rooms except subject to tbe provisions of this Act. The clause was lost by 29 to 21. The Premier moved a new clause (in place of clause 18 which was struck out) providing that if the premises directed to be closed by the poll of electors are vaoated at tbe end of two months from the date of the poll, and all rent and other liabilities are paid, the lease or tenancy shall be deemed to be determined ae far as tbe leasee or tenant is concerned. Tbe clause was agreed to on tbe voices. A new clause, placing a sub-lessee in a similar position to a lessee or tenant, was added to the Bill.

Mr Wiils moved a new clause preventing any prohibited person from purchasing liquor within the district in which the prohibition order is in force against him, under a penalty not exceeding £lO, and in default of payment three months’ imprisonment. The clause was agreed to on the voices. Mr Buick moved, a new clause inflicting a penalty of not less than £6 not more than £2O on any person (not connected with the house) found on licensed premises fifteen minutes after the hour of closing* The clause was lost on the voices. The Premier said that be desired to in* corporate in the Bill Section 41 of the Electoral Bill, providing for the purging of the rolls. He thought that the Electoral Bill would pass, but in case of an accident, it would be as well to ensure this clause being included in the present Bill. The clause was under discussion when the telegraph office closed at 2 a.m. After the Telegraph Office] closed, the Premier’s clause with regard to purging the rolls was agreed to with some modifications* A new clause by Mr Earnshaw giving power to the Governor-in Council to subdivide licensing districts, was lost on the voices. The Premier remarked that the Bill woul o have to be recommitted to strike out the inclusion of Bellamys in the Club clause. The Bill was then reported and consideration of amendments being set down for Monday. The House rose at 2.16 a.tn.