PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4742, 6 September 1893, Page 1

PARLIAMENT.

[P£B PJBESS ASSOCIATION. J LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, Sept. 5. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30. THE FENCING BILL. The Joint Agricultural Committee to whom was referred the Fencing Bill recommended that the JBill be allowed to proceed with amendments. CHEVIOT. The Cheviot Estate Disposition Bill was read a first time. LOCAL BILLS. The Mangatu No. 1 Empowering Bill (Dr Pollen) was rtad a third time and passed. The Local Bills Committee recommended that tho Dunedin Garrison Hall Truatees Empowering Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY. The Hon J. E. Jenkinson moved that it be a recommendation from fchiß Council to the Library Committee that arrangements be made whereby students attending technical schools may be allowed the privilege of using the Parliamentary Library daring the recess for reference purposes only. The Hon B. Olives thought the best thing Mr Jenkinson could do if he were desircus of attaining his object would be to make it a recommendation to the Library Committee that students should have access to the library during the recess. This view was also expressed by Messrs Keynolda and Bowen, and after discusaioa the motion was withdrawn by Mr Jenkin3on, who expressed the opinion that the discussion would have the effect of attaining the object he had in view. BANKS AND BANKERS. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Banks and Bankers Acb Amendment Bill, which came from the House of Bepresantatives, and which was agreed to without debate. ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Alcoholic Liquors ! Sale and Control Bill, and in explaining ! its objects remarked that the Government waß desirous of avoiding ths extreme views of the prohibitionists, and of those who were engaged in a business opposed to the convictions of the temperance party, whilst at the same time it hoped that no hardship would be imposed by the passage of the Bill. The Hon W. D. Stewart moved that the debate ba adjourned, in order that the Council might have more time to consider ' the provisions of the Bill. Sir G. S. Whitmore and the Hon G. M'Lean expressed the hope that the amendment for adjournment would not be acceded to. The Council divided, with the result that the voting -was— ayes 19, noes 19, and the Speaker gave his casting vote in favour of the noes, and declared the amendment lost. The Hon Dr Pollen, in resuming the debate, said that whilst the Bill pretended to do justice to both potties, it really conferred punishment upon many undeserving parties. The Bill involved the complications of four successive Licensing Acts since the Act of 1881 was passed, and he defied any rational person to disentangle those Acts. He hoped that the Bill would be thrown out by the Council, in order I that the electorates might, at the ensuing elections, give imperative voice as to whether the public desired such a Bill. He failed to see why justice should not be done to persons who had embarked in the business of hotel-keeping, and he intended to apply the direct veto, co far as he was concerned, to the Bill, and therefore he would move that the Bill be rep.d a second time that day cix months. He j took this step because he sincerely believed ! that the Bill, even if it passed, would not prove decisive. The Hon W. D. Stewart again expressed the hope that the debate would be adjourned, because he for one had not had sufficient time in which to consider the measure. The Hon G. M'Lean hoped that the second reading would be allowed to proceed. Whilst he did not agive with Dr Pollen that compensation should be allowed to retrenched publicans, still he considered that they should be justly dealt with j but beyond this he thought that the present Licensing Committees should be abolished and the Chairmen of such benches should be Resident Magistrates! He expressed the hope that the Bill would be threshed out in the Council, as he considered that the matter should not be left with or to a Committee of the Whoie, or to the constituents, who already knew all about the matter. The Hon R. Oliver, whilst confessing that he had not perfectly Btudied the Bill, considered that if the direct veto . clause was passed it was possible that a Bmall minority would rule the majority. He Bhould vote for the amendment. He moved the adjournment of the debate. He took this step as he desired that such an important Bill should not go to a division without undergoing more mature consideration. Sir G. S. Whitmore hoped that a division would be taken that night. The Colonial Secretaey, speaking to the adjournment, said he hoped the debate would proceed. The Government laid great stress upon the Bill, and desired to see it placed without delay upon the Statute Book. After discussion tho motion for the •adjournment cf the debate was agreed to by 22 to 17. The debate was adjourned till next day. ELECTORAL BILL. The Electoral Bill was further considered in Committee. Clause 61, voting by seamen and others. The Hon W. C. Walker said he failed to see that bnshfellerß should not enjoy the same privileges as were eought to be conferred upon. Beamen and commercial travellers for electoral right 3. He moved the addition of the word " bush fellers " to the clause. This was lost by 22 fco 16. The Hon L. Walker, as a further amendment to the same clause, moved the insertion of the words "monthly nurseß " after commercial travellers. The Chairman inled the amendment out of order. In the seine clause the Hon W. Swaneon moved the insertion of " gumdiggers." This was lost by 22 to 15. Tho Hon J. Eigg moved the inclusion oi the words " men engaged on co-operative works." The Hon J. Kep.r supported the amend ment, and expressod the hopo that tin Government would not reject the Bil because of the numorou3 conscientious amendments that were made by members Sir G. S. Whitmoke followed in th< same stra : n. The Colonial Secretary intimatec that his Bole deoire was to carry the Bil through with mo9t advantage to th< people. He feared neither threat no: promise of favour. The amendment vi&i lost by 21 to 15. Tho Hon S. E. Snuursja moved a furthei amendment giving electoral right 3t( lighthouao lrocper.3 and their families. H< hoped that, tho doors wero locked, as h( desired to withdraw his amendment, biv was refused permission. The amendment vna lost by 31 to 7. Tho ekjiso w aa still under dinrussior whss ths Council took the dinner adjourn went.

EVENING SITTING. The Committee resumed at 7.30 on Clause 61. The Hon S. E. Shrimski moved the insertion of the word " iabbiters " after " commercial travellers." £ This wasloßt on the voices. The Hon E. Wahawaha moved the insertion of " surveyors and their assistants." This was lost by 16 to 12. The Hon H. Feldwick, in the absence of the Hon Sir G. S. Whithore, moved the amendment of the latter— That Clause 61 should be postponed. This was lost by 18 to 13, and the clause was added to the Bill without alteration. The Hon G. M'Lean, on Clause 64, Subsection 3, which provides that seamen and commercial travellers shall prepare a blank ballot paper, moved that the sub-section should be struck out. He thought the sect icn a peculiar one. The Hon W. C. Walbeb characterised the sub- section as a monstrous and abeurd one, and the amendment was withdrawn in favor of a printed amendment by the Hon G. M'Lean that the clause be postponed. This was lost by 18 to 12, and the clause agreed to. The Hon J. Eigg, in Clause 85, moved as an amendment, that ballot papers shall be bound in a book aad numbered consecutively. Negatived by 18 to 13. The Hon J. E. Jenkinson moved a further amendment, the effect baing to close the poll at 7 p.m. instead of 6 as proposed. This was lost by 19 to 12, and the clause as printed agreed to. The Hon L. Walker moved the excision of Clause 163, "wagers oa the result of elections." He failed to see why a harmless half-crown should not be wagered on candidates. The amendment wa3 withdrawn. Clause 18 — "Absence from district not to be deemed removal" was further considered. The Hon S. E. Shrimski moved to strike out the words " six days," referring to the residential sub-6ection, with a view to insert the words " thirty days." Negatived by 19 to 8, and the clause agreed to as printed. The Hon G. M'Lean moved— "That progress be reported, with leave to sit again." He t jok this course as he thought it better nob to proceed with his new clauses that evening. This was agreed to, and the Council adjourned at nine o'clock.