POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8120, 20 September 1904, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, September 20. THE LICENSING BILL. The Liquor Bill will be further considered to-day, but there is little likelihood of the measure pa-ssing tlirough the committee stage before to-morrow night,- Mr M'Lachlan proposes to further amend clause 11 by permitting alcohol to be dispensed in medicinal quantities in no-license districts upon a prescription signed by a registered medical practitioner. There is some talk of the introduction of a compensation clause, towards which hotelkeep^ ers* wili have to subscribe. As this would mean an increase of license fees such a clause could only be introduced by Governor's message. TRADE MONOPOLIES BILL. - The Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, writing to the Premier with reference to the Trade Monopolies Prevention Bill, suggests that the clause setting up a Court comprising the Chief Justice and two other Judges to investigate .trade monopolies would mean an additional burderij to he thrown upon the Judges, whose duties are now sufficiently heavy. Clause 13, which enables tlie Court to call upon any person tb produce his books, papers, etc., ie objected to on the ground that its effect might be to.: convict an accused person on his own evidence. It is also urged by the Counail that the duties of officers appointed under the Act should be defined by statute, that all evidence should be strictly legal, and that the right of appeal to the Privy Council should be preserved.