POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6028, 16 November 1897, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

" i. ~ "• [From Our Correspondent.! AVELLINGTON, Nov." 15. ANOTHER ALL-NI3HT SITTING. The Premier is not at all satisfied with the progress made on the Estimates, and considers that the discussion has far exceeded legitimate limits. Out. of twentyfour classes only twelve have so far been passed, although the. House .has .now sat sixty-five hours considering them. Hr Seddon Jims, therefore, decided ,to pass the remaining eleven .classes before the House rises after resuming on -Tuesday evening. This probably means a record sitting, for the Opposition.and Left Wing are determined to discuss certain votes very fully. The Government Party will give Ministers hearty support in urging on the business of the session, all being anxious to get to their homes as soon after the middle of December as possible. PRIVATE ASSIGNMENTS. The Hon' S. E. Shrimski has given notice to move in the Legislative Council on Wednesday — " That in the opinion of the Council (1) no deed of assignment for the benefit of creditors should be valid unless the Official Assignee is a trustee under the deed ; (2) the official liquidator :■ of , every . ; company i: compulsorily woundup should be the Official Assignee in bankruptcy; (3) that legislation be introduced to give effect to these resolutions." THE BALCLUTHA LICENSING TROUBLE. A deputation representing the hotelkeepers of Balclutha, and including, also, a number of members of Parliament, waited upon the Premier yesterday and asked for an amendment of the licensing law to enable a direct vote to be taken in the Clutha electorate on the licensing question. It was pointed out that the fact of the inclusion of, one small hotel in the Clutha electorate during the recent rearrangement of the electoral boundaries had prevented a vote being taken upon the directissue as to the restoration of hotels in the district. Under the Act it was only possible to take a poll under the schedule, which provided the three, issues— (l) Continuance;; (2) Eeduction ; (3) No license. Had not the alteration in boundaries occurred they would have been able to take a ; vqte upon" -the,- direct question of whether prohibition " sho'uld i be departed from and •hotels restored, deputation also asked .for a. Royal Commission to inquire into the working, of -local .option in the Clutha district. The Premier, in reply, ;said that they must be aware that what the deputation and members asked could only be done by an amendment of the licensing laws. He understood that there was a desire on the part of members to get home at least before March next — (Laughter) — but if a Licensing Bill was introduced there would be no chance of confining it to the particular question that had been brought before him, for there was certain to be a. desire on the part of the House to discuss the whole: licensing question. He could not understand the conduct of the Representation Commissioners in including the small locality in which the licensed house was within the prohibition district of Clutha. It seemed to him that in doing so they had done wrong. He could not promise any legislation this session, and'as to the question of a Royal Commission, that would have tq be; considered by the Cabinet. He expressed every sympathy with the deputation, and admitted that there was injustice and that it was a very hard case. He was sorry, however, to hear from the deputation that the present system only created a clisregai'4 for the law and that it brought the law into-con-tempt. He agreed with the suggestion that prohibited persous obtaining drink and also those who connived fit a breach of Sunday trading- should be equally liable with the publicans, but that, of course, would necessitate a change of the law. This was the, first opportunity he had had of expressing an opinion.regarding 1 the Representation',Commissioners. Thev should have endeavoured to have left the district as it was, without including the hotel within its boundaries. He deprecated frequent changes in electoral districts, as it often led to the inclusion of localities with which members were not in touch. No legislation could be introduced this session. It might bo done next session, when the whole question of licensing might come under review.