N.Z. PARLIAMENT

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8365, 28 September 1895, Page 2

N.Z. PARLIAMENT

[Per Unhe3 Pssbs Abbooiaton.] WBLWSQTON, September 27. COUNCIL. The Council met at 2-30. The Customs and Excise Duties Bill was received from the House and read a first ' time. .-> I Sir Patrick Buckley, in moving the Becond reading of the Census Act Amendment Bill, explained that its objeot was to defer the , taking of the census, which, according to the present law, would have to be taken next year, until 1901. The second reading was agreed to on th« voices. j In moving the Becond reading of the Uni classified Sooieties Registration Bill, Sir P. j Buckley stated that its object was to prevent i certain clubs, principally athletic olnbs, to incorporate themselves. The second reading was agreed to on the voices." The Counoil roßfl at 3.45. HOUSE. The House met at 2.30 p m. Mr Larnach brought up the report of the Public Accounts Committee with r xaferenca to. the sending of trust securities to London. The report waa to the foUowujg effect;—

V The Committee, after enquiring into the cirouxristahoes of the sending to London oi the securities held by the Post Office, the Publio Trust Office, and the Government Life Insurance Department, find that it wae not contrary to law for the custodians in the Colony to send the securities to custodians in London, assuming that the law allowed the appointment of custodians outside of the Colony. As to this, however, there is a doubt, and such being the case, looking ai the necessity from time to time of having tc send securities to London for conversion purposes, it is desirable that the law should be amended flo- as to permit of custodian* In London being appointed as well as in the Colony, proper safeguards being provided meanwhile in respect to all securities during transit -to JLondoo. The Committee therefore recommend that legislation be immediately introduced to place the securities referred to in an undoubtedly safe position." Mt Seddon stated that the Government bad bfed a Bill prepared for some time to give fcffeoi to tba recommendations of the Committee, and the Bill would be, introduced forthwith. Mr Seddon said the Government did not propose to answer questions th«t afternoon, -as it wai-deeired tc prooeed with the Liquor BiU at onoe> Que&tiongwpald be taken ron Monday night,, The Colonial Treasurer wae not very well, and if questions were answered to-day, those affecting his departments- would have to be postponed owing to bis absence. Mr Mills gave notioe to ask the Premier if to avoid late night sittings, the Government would during recess take into oonsideration the deiirabiity of altering the Standing Orders to admit of .the House meeting each sitting day at 10.30 and one day during each week to be set apart entirely for Committee Work.,. - : " Th» Aloobolio Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee, On the motion beiog put that Sir Robert Stout's new clause, to bring hotels under .the Shops and Shop Assistants Aot, 1894 (whioh had been previously been read a second time), be added to the Bill, The Premier appealed to the Committee to reject it, on the ground that its insertion would jepordise the safe passage i f the Bill in another place. The olausa was lost by 32 to 16. Mr G. J. .Smith moved a new clause, to provide that every general eleotion day shall be deemed to be a Sunday within the meanIng of the Licensing Act. This was tart by 29 to 24. Mr Segdjon moved, a new clause, to provide that every, day on whioh ibe election of Lioensing Qommlttee, and the eleotion for the local and national poll takes plao , shall be a publio holiday. After some discussion, Mr Seddon agreed to alter his motion, making the day, a half, holiday,.. ; This was carried on the voices, en 1 the licensing eleotion day is to be deemed a holiday after, mid-day. Mr Seddon then moved that the licensing eleotion day sbal^be deemed a Sunday from. mid-day to 7 p.m. This was carried by 46 to 1 1. Mr T> -M'Kenzie moved to allow eleotors who were unable to personally attend the polling booth to record their votes, the machinery for which be would indicate if the otauie was carried. Mr Seddon- objected to this innovation, aa it was an attempt to interfere with the principle of the ballot boz. The clause was rejeoted by 25 to 14. Mrßuiok moved a new clause rendering any persons found on licensed premises during prohibited hours, liable to a penalty, unless his presence it not in contravention of the Aot. Several members objeoted to the clause as being of to6<trastio a obaraoier. Mr Buiok said th.4Co.mmisßio.per of Police, in his report : of 1892, mentioned that. some legislation auoh as this was required. Mr Seddon reoognieed that something should be done ia this matter, and this was provided lor in the Bill. It should be seen whether, this was satisfactory before any more drastic provision was inserted. The House rose at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m la Committee on the Alooholio Liquors Bill, Mr Buick's new clause was negatived by 28 to 18. Mr Buddo moved a new olause to the sff eot that a licensee shall have only one bar on his licensed premises. Lost by 31 to 25. Mr Bttddo moved $ new olause to the effect that a constable may demand the name and address of any person found on licensed premises: during prohibited hour?, and if the constable has reason to suppose the information given is false, he may apprehend suoh person without warrant. ' Loßt on the voices. A new clause was inserted on Mr Hone Heke's motion, relating to the issue of probi bition orders againßt Maoris. No. material alterations were made in the echedutoa of the Bill, which was then reported with amendments, whioh were agreed to. . .11 A notion by Mr Graham, that the Bill be recommitted in order to reconsider the question of bottle licenses, in class 28, was lost by 81 to 19. Mr Seddon; moved to recommit the clause, in order to deoiddjwhethar oc-npt the Looal Option poll ehonld be, taken pn,ihe same day as the General Election. He" said, the House was so evenly divided- on this question- when it was .last before it that he thought it only right, to give hon«i members another, opportunity of considering matter. .. . _ Carried after a long debate by 31 to 24. A motion by <Mr Hftll-Jonea to recommit olause 8 with a view to reconsidering the three«fiith* majority provision, was lost- by 3itol8:~ Oh the motion of Mr Seddon, the Standing Orders were suspended, co that the BiU oould be put through its final stages at this sitting. The Bill was then recommitted, Mr Joyoe being temporarily in the chair. Captain Bussell moved that progress be reported, as a protest against the continual abseno&rf rom the House of the Chairman of Committees. v-, , m . Mr Seddon defended the Chairman of Committees, and said the reason he was absent from the House that 'afternoon was because -he was not aware that the Government did not intend to reply to questions, but he waß present in the buildings at the time*. The Chairman oculd not always be in his plaoe. He also explained that Mr Guinness had not been in very good health. After a short discussion, Captain Russell's motion was lost on the voice*. Amendments were made in several of the clauses to provide that the licensing poll be taken on the same day as the General Election, in ae«ordanoe with the Premier's motion. - •