POLITICAL NOTES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 151, 1 August 1914, Page 12

POLITICAL NOTES.

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION BILL. ■ [From our own Parliamentary Reporter,] WELLINGTON, July 31. MISTAKE ABOUT A PAIR. There was some confusion in the House on Thursday night when the division on the Proportional Representation and Fair Voting Bill (Mr W. A. Veitch) was taken, and it >was not surprising that one or two explanations had to be made yesterday. As soon as the House met, Mr J. Vigor Brown (Napier) took the opportunity of explaining that he had made arrangements to pair with Mr J. H. Bradney (Auckland West) although the latter's name appeared in the list of Noes. Mr Bradney acknowledged the pair and expressed regret that at. the division he forgot all about it. ~|/ While the subject was forward, JSfr'J. A. Young (Waikato) asked whether a member was compelled, to vote onfji division in the same way as he gave His voice, and of course the Speaker tg< plied in the affirmative. The division referred to was forced' on the Government by the Opposition side, Mr P. C. Webb (Grey) having to vote against his convictions in order to secure it.'

It will thus be seen that Mr Veitch had very hard luck in having his Bill defeated on the second reading. The voting was:—Ayes, 27; Noes, 28. Had Mr Bradney not voted, and Mr Webb been allowed to exercise his vote according to his convictions, there would have been a majority in favour of the Bill of two—the true feeling of the House. A MAGNANIMOUS BREWER. Speaking on the Licensing Bill this evening, Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) expressed the opinion that nearly all the antagonism to the liquor traffic in the Dominion arose from the actions of brewers. Some of things which some of the brewers; did were almost enough to make any man vote for Prohibition, even if he did not believe in the principle, but just as there were publicans and publicans, so were there brewers and brewers. One instance of magnanimous action on the part of a brewer had come under his own notice. A man had gone into a hotel giving, a mortgage for £2500 to a brewer. A year later he lost his license through an alteration in the boundary of his district. The brewer had freed him from every penny of his liability, losing a clear £ISOO. Hon. W. H. Herries: If you refer to Wairongomai Hotel I can substantiate that statement. The Wairongomai Hotel, it may be explained, lost its license through being transferred from the Tauranga electorate to Ohinemuri, a "dry" district. An lion, member: Who was the brewer 1 Mr C. K. Wilson him put iu the museum. (Laughter.) All brewers, Mr Wilford continued, were not the same as this particular one, and it was the actions of others which made so many people vote for Prohibition. Mr H. Harris (Waitemata) said that little credit was due to the brewer for his action. He had probably lost nothing. He had had the profits of tne licensee's trade for a year. Mr Wilford: Probably they did not amount to £SO. Hou. W. H. Herries: The profits did not amount to much, I know. that. GOODS STATION FOR SUTIIERLANDS. Mr T. Buxton (Temuka) is asking the Minister of Railways whether he will provide for a goods shed at Sutherlaiuls (Fairlie branch) on this year's list of new buildings to be erected. He explains that this building has been promised Tor early*considcration for the last live years. Goods traffic sent from this station has increased very considerably during the last few years, and this building is now urgently required. A THREAT OF TROUBLE. When the House went into Committee on the Licensing Bill this evening

the Leader of the Opposition (Sir J. G. Ward) asked the Premier, whether he intended to go on with any other business after the Licensing Bill was dealt with. He would like to know, as the Government's decision might influence him as to the number of times he would speak on the various amendments to be brought down. There was a Bill lower down on the Order Paper which he intended to fight tooth and nail. He would do everything in his power to keep it off the Statute Book, and he was prepared to start at the first word of the Bill and move an amendment to every word in it. The Prime Minister: I would advise the right hon. gentleman that it is not wise to threaten. Sir Joseph Ward: I am not threatening.. I am simply stating my absolute intention. The Premier: Well, I may say,that I do not intend to sit late to-night. I am not in too good form myself, and many hon. members wish to get away early. But I want the Licensing Bill to go through the Committee stage. \ I can assure the right hon. gentleman-that the Defamation Bill will not trouble him to-night. (Laughter.) Sir ..Joseph ' Ward then recollected that he had come to a private arrangement with the Attorney-General, whereby the Defamation Bill would not be brought on till next Friday evening, and the incident closed amidst general hilarity. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—Eltham Drainage Board Bill (Mr C. A. Wilkinson), Dunediri District Drainage and Sewerage Acts Amendment Bill (Hon. Mr Allen), Onehunga Cemetery Bill (Hon. Mr Lang), and the Tukkitoto and Kaitangata Lakes Bill (Hon. Mr Allen). NEW BILLS. Notice was given to ask leave to introduce the following Bills: —Riccarton Bush Trustees (Mr T. H. Davey), and the Southland Land Drainage Bill (Sir Joseph Ward). HOKONUI COUNTY BILL. On behalf of the Local Bills Committee Mr G. V. Pearce (chairman) reported that the Committee had heard evidence with regard to the Hokonui County Bill, and as a "result recommended that the Bill be not allowed to proceed. The Bill, which was introduced at the beginnig of the session by Mr G. J. Anderson (Mataura) proposes to divide the Southland County —the largest in the Dominion —into two, the

northern section to be known as the Hokonui County. The effect of the recommendation of the Committee is practically to preclude all chances of tho Bill becoming law. Mr Anderson desired to speak on tho report, saying that the question was a very important one, but Opposition members objected, and he was not allowed to proceed.