GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3469, 22 July 1899, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

j LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. I Wellington, July 10. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. FIRST READINGS. Several minor Bills were read a first time. July 20. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. CANTERBURY COLLEGE. The Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Indemnity Bill was read a second time. THERMAL SPRINGS. The Minister of Education told Mr Jennings that the Government would take into consideration the question of making the Thermal Springs of more benefit to necessitous sufferers. CHAIRMAN OI? COMMITTEES. The Council spent the rest of the afternoon in the election of a Chairman of Committees. Mr W. C. Smith was proposed for the position, but eveutually Captain Bailey was re-elected for the twentieth time. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, July 19. The House met at 2.30 p.m. PETITION. Mr Duthie preseuted a petition in favour of Bible-reading in schools. NOTICES. Mr Flatniau gave notice to ask the Premier if he was aware of the amount of overtime worked by bank clerks and clerks in mercantile offices, and if he would introduce legislation to prevent the same. Mr Hogg gave uotice to ask if steps will be taken to prevent the tick disease from being introduced from Australia. MR HONE JIEKE. On the motion of Mr Massey, Mr Hone Heke was granted a week's leave of absence. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. In reply to Mr Eolleston the Premier said that he was not surprised at the question when the Financial Statement would be brought down. Personally he was working 18 hours a o'ay, and at present was not in a position to state exactly when the Statement would be tabled. When the Cabinet had decided upon the finance the Estimates, which were now complete, would be brought down. THE VOLUNTEERS AND PARLIAMENTARY OFFICIALS BILL. The Bill was introduced by the Premier, who, in repiy to a question, said the Bill would be general in its application, and was intended to remove the disability under which some volunteer and militia officers laboured in regarding to taking a ' seat in another place. SLY GROa-SELLINQ IN CLUTHA. In reply to Mr J. W. Thompson, who ' asked in view of the fact that in the case ' of a person fined .£3O for the first offence ri sly-grog selling, only ,£lO for a second, and .£ls for a third at Balclutha, would the Government take steps to have the law more equitably administered, the Premier " said that he always understood that it was '• inadvisable for the Government to interfere • with the administration of justice. Any ? one aggrieved at tho decision of the Court had a" legal remedy. He had every confi- " dence in the independence and integrity of ■■ the Magistrate who had given the judgment in question. B REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions Ministers said that they believed that the Act had been abused by some local bodies in giving permission to people to erect swing gates on roads, and ' efforts would be made to restrict such abuse. That the question of the removal of rocks in the Molyneaux river would be considered, and assistance rendered the River Board in that direction without instituting legislation. That similar privileges would be granted to members of the Permanent Artillery as are now given_ to police officers in the matter of accumulation of annual holidays for two or three years. j That the Government had had no indication > what direction legislation should take to extend the powers of school committees, and suggested that the matter should be referred to the Education Conference which was now sitting. That the Government thought that agricultural and pastoral 1 industries were already fairly represented j in the Legislative Council. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT ABOLITION BILL. The Premier gave notice to introduce the i Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill. ) The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. REMOVAL OF WOMEN** DISABILITIES BILL. Mr Taylor moved the second reading of the Removal of Women's Disabilities Bill, 1 designed to enable women to take a seat in 1 the House. This was carried by 28 to 18. The Bill willl be committed on August 10. COLONIAL OPTION AND BARE MAJORITY. Mr Taylor moved the second reading of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill (No. 2). The mover explained that the Bill aimed at a colonial poll being taken, and was intended to enable electors to say whether liquors be imported, manufactured, or sold in the colony. As far as voting was concerned ho contended that a bare majority was the most logical position to take up. He ad- ' mitted that the details of the Bill were capable of revision, but urged that the measure should be allowed to go into committee, where the question of majority could be decided. Having granted local option, to be consistent, the House could not refuse to give the greater power of saying whether liquor should be sold or manufactured in the colony. Mr Fisher opposed the Bill, as lie objected to the colony being again thrown into a turmoil over th« question. tr Mr Gilfedder said he had all along ad- " vooated colonial option and a bare majority. Mr R. Mackenzie spoke in favour of a bare majority. Mr Monk said a bare majority would defeat the object aimed at, as it would excite antagonism on the part of the moderates. Mr Carncross would support the second reading on the ground that if he supported colonial option it would only be on condition that local option be abolished. He e opposed a bare majority, and did not think it possible to carry out prohibition. Mr Rolle*ston did not believe in a bare majority, and said that a three-fifths majority would give a stability to the settlement of the question that a bare majority would not. No doubt there had been great reform in the control of the liquor traffic, a result due in a great measure to the efforts of Mr Taylor in connection with the police enquiry. He regretted that the liquor question had been made one : of politics, and would be glad to see committee of both Houses set up to enquire into i * the best means of dealing with it, not on the basis of prohibition, but in the interests 1 of all concerned. r Mr Symes opposed local option and condemned tied houses and club licenses, s Mr Rawlins said prohibition, as carried a out at Clutha, was a sham, as liquor was freely sold there. Mr Mills believed in a judicious control of the liquor traffic, but opposed prohibition. Mr Lewis said he would vote against the " second reading. There was no hope of the ,bill passing this year. Mr Carson said he would support the people deciding the question, but he advacated a three-fifths majority. Mr Lawry objected strongly to a bare majority to anyone dictating to another ' what he should eat, drink, or wherewithal 1 he clothed. Mr Pirani said if prohibition were carried on a bare majority a large number of moderate, law-abiding people would support i the law being carried out. Mr Brown believed in the principle of the Bill being referred to the electors to , decide, but personally was in favour of a three-fifthß majority. Mr McGowan took up a neutral position in the matter, but unless the prohibitionists could advance better reasons than they had done for the Bill he would oppose it. Mr Mooro objected to a bare majority on 1 the ground that it would give no finality to the question. Mr McGuire would support the second reading, but reserve the right to make amendments in committee.

Mr Matman condemned the tied-house system. The Bill was not aimed at publicans, but against the breweries. He felt confident that it'too large a majority was insisted upon it would delay the decision on the subject for years. Mr E. G. Allen said he was in favour of colonial option with a three-fifths majority. If the trade was an evil, we had no right to license people to do evil; if it was not an evil, we had no right to charge a heavy license to carry on the trade. Mr Wilson and Mr Massey said that they were elected to support colonial option on the three-filths majority, Mr J. W. Thompson quoted evidence to shoiv that under prohibition Balclutha had greatly increased in prosperity, and despite the loss of license fees the borough council finances had improved, while the police prosecutions were reduced in a large degree. Mr Bollard moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr Taylor pointed out that the effect of the motion would be to prevent a decision on the Bill. A decision was called for, the result being that the adjournment was carried by 2S to 22. The House rose at 12.30. a.m. July 20. The nouse met at 2 30 p.m. TlllC CUSTOMS TALUl'l''. Mr Fisher pave notices of moving an amendment to the Customs Tariff. IMPRISONMENT FOR DUBT ABOLITION BILL. The Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill was by tbe Premier and read a first time. CIIRISTCHUUCII LOAN BILL. Mr Lewis moved the second reading of Christchurch City Borrowing Bill. It was similar, be sai'% to tbe Bill pnssed for Dutiedin City Corporation, anil empowered the Christchurch City Council to borrow £85,000, partly for the purpose of paying off a bank overdraft and to relieving the burden of interest pwyme.nt, as tbe mousy could be borrowed at a lower rate of interest than was puid for the overdraft. The renainder of tbe money to be borrowed was for public works, including the purchase of a central yard and the erection of certain buildings and bridges. He wum willing to accept au amendment as to taking a poll of the ratepayers on the subject before the loan was raised. After considerable debate the second reading was carried ou the voices. A SANITARY BILL. Mr Tanner moved the second reading of the Heathcote Road District Sanitation Bil.i which provides that tbe Heathcote Road Board may appoint places for the deposit of rubbisu refuse, aud nightsoil. The motion was agTeed to on tue voices!, alter a brief debate. GATISS ON ROADS. The Roads Obstruction Prevention Till (Major Steward's) was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Wa*te Lands Committee. The House rose at 5 30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. SECOND RHAJDINGS. Mr Mills moved the second reading ol (he Sales by Mortgage Bill.—Carried, anu the Bill referred to the Statutes Revision Comtnittte. Major Steward moved the second reading of the Statutes Consolidation and Printing Bill. —Agreed to, and the Bill referred to tbe Statutes Revision Committee. Mr Liwry moved, without a speech, the second reading of the Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage Bill.— Agreed to on a division by 2!) to 23. Mr Gilfedder moved tbe second reading of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill. He explained that by the Act of 1895 after prohibition wae carried Jin a district, and the electoral boundaries of the district subsequently altered, it might happen that a hotel would be included in the amended district. Tbe Bill proposed to do away with tuuh an anomaly. Tbe Premier seconded the motion. A long and acrimonious debate followed. Messrs Smith, Taylor, and Pirani strongly opposed the motion. Mr Guiuness moved that the Bill be read that day eix months. In a spsech just before tbe adiournment the Premier said that tbe attitude he took up was to place Clutha in exactly the same position as far as probibibion was concerned as it was before the boundaries of the electoral district were altered. _ If members would approach the subject in a calm and dispassionate manner, free from personalities, they could frame a measure that would be workable aud prove of benefit to the colony. The debate was adjourned.