BELLAMY'S CRITICISED

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 991, 5 December 1910, Page 4

BELLAMY'S CRITICISED

QUALITY OF WINES AND SPIRITS. DISCUSSION IN LEGISLATIVE ' COUNCIL. Tho quality of the wines and spirits supplied to members from Bellamy's was tlio subject of frank criticism by tho Hon. Captain. Daillio in the Lcgislativo Council on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Baillio moved "That the Government bo requested to take steps to obtain a supply of good and wholesome wines and spirits from, England for the comfort ' and use of members .of Parliament-." Tho reason for tabling this motion, said Captain Baillie, was that during tho past two or three years the wine supplied at various social gatherings in Bellamy's had been very inferior. Ho had had an analysis made of a certain quantity of port wine, and the report showed that this wine contained 84 per cent, of alcohol. He had referred to. the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" and found that port wines should contain 20 per cent, to 23 per cent of alcohol, ana other wines down to 9 per cent, of alcohol. Ho would recommend the Government to put all the wines on the Amokura • and send them out to sea. He would not put them, in the harbour, as thero would be a pestilence from the dead fish that would be thrown up on the beaches. (Laughter.) Mr. Luke: Hear, hear. Various mon, said Captain Baillie, had. also reported to him that the whisky and. other liquors at Bellamy's wero inferior. As Sir Joseph Ward was going to England soon, it would be a good opportunity to onhr a supply of good wines for members. . lliej should not be poisoned with the present supplies. -He thoroughly believed that the wines and spirits supplied were thorough trash. The Attorney-General thought this was a matter that could be safely left to the House Committee. It seemed a rather novel, suggestion to make to the Government of the day.

Tho Hon. J. Rigg: (Wellington) thought it was to bo regretted that tho time of tho Council should bo occupied with a trivial matter, like this., However, there could be no question that tho of liquor supplied- in Bellamy's was inferior. Tho whisky , consisted only of Scotch and Irish draught whisky. Until recently, tho Irish whisk}' was of sufficiently good quality to drink with safety, hut it had run out, and had been replaced by a raw whisky which, in his opinion, was injurious to health. Some change would, he predicted, have to be made before next session. The Hon. W. C. E. Carncrosg (Tara. naki) thought ifc was a little .humiliating that this branch . of Parliaments should be occupied in a discussion on the quality of the whisky. Tho Houso Committee should deal with such a matter as this. _ Tho Hon. T. K. Macdonald (Wellington), Chairman of the House Committee, said the wines, beers, etc., supplied at Bellamy's stood on a par" with the liquors supplied at any other institution of tho land. Everything waa conducted in good style, and, life added, Bellamy's now paid its way, a thins it did not do for many years. He did' not think the discussion was at all in keeping witli the dignity of Parliament. ' The Hon. W. W. M'Cardle (Auckland) pointed out that the fact that Bellamy's now paid its way did not .in--dicato that more liquor was drunk., The change was due to the management. It had, he said, been rumoured that for years some members neves t'M their scores. The Hon. T. !v. Macdonald: "It ig. not true." '• . Tho Hon. Captain Baillie said that having ventilated the matter, hewo'ulij' ask leave to withdraw his motion* Leave was givon accordingly.