GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 516, 24 June 1881, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The Legislative Council sat for an hour and twenty minutes on Tuesday afternoon, when a number af bills were read the first time nnd ordered for tho second reading the fallowing day, The House of Representatives met on Tuesday afternoon. The Hon P. Dick presented a petition from the Otago Bible in Schools Society, requesting that provisions be made for the reading of the Scriptures in schools.. . In reply to a question the Hon J. Hall said it was not the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill compensating subjects of both races for losses suffered during past wars. He also replied to a question 0i reference to the Governor's title of High Commissioner of th. Western Pacific. Replying to the Hon E. Richard - son he said that arrangements would be made for the, fortnightly pay of all wages to railway workmen. The Chinese Immigration Bill was read a third time and pa sed, after amotion for its recommittal for the purpose of altering the tax on arrivals from £10 to £50. The motion for recommittal was rejected by 36 to 23. The House then went into Committee, and tbe Licensing Bill was further considered. A discussion arose on Mr Stewart's proposal that bottle licenses only be issued within the Provincial districts where they at present exist. The amendment was carried by 37 to 57. Mr Tole moved, as a further amendment the words "and no such licensee shall carry on any other business on the premises ." The Houso divided, with tho following result:— Ayes, 39; Noes, 28. Colonel Trimble thought they had now got into a very ridiculous position, and moved that progress be reported. The House divided on reporting progress which was negatived by 53 to 11. On. -the House resuming in the evening the Colonial Secretary consented to the bottle license being struck out which was agreed to. Ttie New Zealand Wine clause was passed as printed. Tho Billiard room clause was on the motion of Mr Moss struck ont. The Packet license clause was passed with tho addition of the words " during the passage" to prevent selling at the wharf on Sundays. Mr Andrews moved an amendment to the effect that a wholesale licensee should be authorised to sell one bottle. On a division the amendment was negatived by 38 to 23. Mr Lundon moved that wholesale licenses be restricted to towns and boroughs. This was lost on tbe division by 32 to 29. Clauses 36 to 40 were passed. Clause 40 was slightly amended. Clauses 41 to 46 were passed. The motion for reporting progress was ultimately withdrawn, and Sir W. Fox then moved thnt " from and after the commencement of the Act no publican's or other licence shall be {.Tinted until the ratepayers of the district shall have previously determined,'' etc. He objected to local option beiiifr confined to new licvn.ses. Mr Saunders said he had supported the Temperance party up to this stage, but further than this he could not go. They were now jeopardising the whole Bill. The amendment was negatived on the voices. An amendment was carried that all clubs in existence on Ist June should remain in operation until they had an opportunity of taking out a license on Ist January next. Clauses 47 to 62 were passed with verbal amendments. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 12.5. The Legislative Council met for an hour on Wednesday alternoon, but transacted no business of importance. The House of Representatives met on Wednesday afternoon and transacted a large amount of business. A number of new Bills were introduced. At the evening sitting, when the second reading of the Drainage Bill was taken, the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to bo committed in a fortnight. The Licensing Bill was then further considered in Committee, when clauses 63 to 71 were passed, clause 72 was postponed, and clauses 73 to 81 passed. The license fee in boroughs was fixed at £40, and outside boroughs at £25. After a large number of divisions, clauses up to 108 were considered, and the House adjourned at 12.30 a.m.