PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4175, 14 July 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[Bt TELSaiUPH.I Wellington, July 18. In the House of Representatives yesterday, at 2.30 p.m., Mr Wason gave notice that he would move for leave to introduce a Bill to regulate the sale of waste lands in Canterbury.

Mr D. Reid asked if there was a clause in the contract for the conveyance of immigrants, making it imperative that vessels should be fitted with Clifford’s Boat-lower-ing Apparatus; and Jf so, to ask if the Government will be prepared to alter the conditions in future, so that vessels fitted with boat-lowering apparatus known as Douglas’s patent may be used to carry immigrants under Government contract. He explained that Douglas’s invention- was far superior to any yet invented for lowering boats, and was gottingjinto general ttse rapidly. He thought the inventor ought to be allowed a fair field. If he was eorrectly informed, ,snch was not the case, for he was led to believe some of the immigrant vessels leaving Home for this Colony, and that were htted up-. with Douglas's patent, had to have them removed and replaced by Clifford’s. The Hon. Major Atkinson was not aware of ahy case of the kind referred to. The Government had full power to ask for the fitting up of any apparatus they liked. There was no paragraph in the contract fixing what apparatus they should use, but there was in the charter party. He would, however, undertake to have inquiries made, to see what could bsMdone in the matter. Mr Reynolds asked whether the Government intend instituting an official inquiry as to the allegations stated to have oeen made by the Captain of tbe Oily of San Francisco, that that steamer touched ground on entering and leaving Port Chalmers ? ’ v Mr G. M'Lean said there was no reason whatever for supposing the steamer touched' in going out of the harbor. He had the authority of the Harbor Master and others for stating the vessel did not touch. The hon gentleman intimated, however, that. he would cause an inquiry to be made into the allegation. The first reading took place of the County Councils Bill (which is to be distributed this evening), and the Harbor Board Bill for the Bluff. The House went into Committee on the Local Elections Bill, for the purpose of reconsidering cliuses 3, 9, and 34. In the third clause, Mr Whitaker moved the insertion of the words, “on the written req nest of at least two thirds of the members of local body in the district.” Objection was taken to this on the ground that it would practically render the Bill inoperative, audthere was consequently no need for the Bill at all. A great many of the local bodies in Auckland and Otago would not come under the Act at all if the matter was left in their hands. Messrs Lusk and Gibbs defended the amendment.

Mr Bryce objected to the term two-thirds. Why not allow them to decide by a majority, as in all other questions. The amendment was agreed to. Clause nine was amended by giving longer notice of ordinary elections. 'Clause thirty-four (candidates having most votes to be declared to be elected) was amended so as to allow the Returning Officer to give a casting vote in the case of a tie, but not otherwise to vote at elections.

The Bill was then passed. ' The Naseby. Water Works Empowering Bill was passed. The second reading of the Local Option Licensing Bill was moved by Mr Stout, who briefly explained the scope of the measure. The principal object of tne Bill was to destroy what he might call the personal element. It would no longer be a mere question' of whether A or B should be granted a license. Applications would in future be decided by a direct vote of the people instead ' of leaving it to an irresponsible nominee. It might be said that it interfered with vested rights, but it should be remembered that the . only vested rights enjoyed by licensed victuallers was their year’s license, and a renewal might: be refused by the Licensing.. Bench without any reason, and without any rights having been infringed. Surely twothirds of the people should have the same power without infringing individual rights. He would like to bring under the notice of the House that if all the money that had been spent npon intoxicating liquors sinde the passing of the Public Works Act had been carefully put awry, we need not have gone to London to spend one shilling. There ' had been as much money spent on alcoholic liquors as would have gone a long way to clear off our national debt. All he urged for his measure was shat it would go a great way towards reducing crime and all tuose evils against which that House had to legislate. Ifc t these repressive measures did not achieve alii. that was expected of them, though they did not produce a Millenium, either m Main or Canada, yet they worked a great amount of ' good by lessening crime, and improving the; position and tone of people; for it waspretty- • generally admitted that by far the amount of crime and general degradation , was due to the undue consumption of intoxieating liquors. When there, waa free trade in the sale of liquor in Liverpool, there was ’ also 50 per cent, of an increase in crime. ” Mr Murray-Aynaley opposed the Bill. If the Bill was carried, it would be liable to; ; work great evil to the general public by - closing up well-appointed hotels, with every comfort and convenience, for the travelling, public, and upon which large sums of money j, had been expended, and from which a re- , turn was naturally expected. When they .; 1 closed the. breweries, their owners were' compensated.:. Would they be prepared to ■ ; compensate publicans in like manner? If. ■ this Bill was passed this session, another one would have to be brought up next session, reversing the whole system. He would, move that the Bill be read a second tame. that day six months. ! ,

Mr Fisher said that prohibitory legislation would do nothing to ’check intemperance. Education and example wete the only things *to depend upon. He opposed' the Bill.

Mr Russell, while not agreeing with the Bill altogether, still felt that until they did y something in this direction they would have a great deal more drunkenness thai was good for the Colony. The arguments about having good houses for the travelling public were worth nothing, because there were fifty wyetched shanties for one respectably conducted and comfortable hotel. He did nob go the length of saying that legislation would make people sober, but yet some- ; ’ thing very like it was brought about in Oo- • penfcagen. r . Mr Wason was strongly of opinion that, while our licensing laws required amendment, he must oppose the Bill. It was an uu ortnnate reference to cite Copenhagen or Denmark as instances of what was achieved by prohibition, as it was well known that - all kinds of vice stalked rampant through their streets. * - ; • Mr Larnach -suggested that the Bill should be postponed for ten days. Mr Woolcock supported the Bill. If it was a good thing to have plenty of publichouses, then they could have them with this . Bill. If they were a bad thing, then it was , left in the hauds*|| the people to have as . little as they likWTof what was bad. Mr Ballance said that the member for Dunedin should have posted himself up; *

better with regard to the Maine Liquor Law, because he (Mr Ballance) could quote the highest and latest authorities to show that a complete revulsion of feeling had taken plaoe regarding the prohibitive sale of liquor. The non, gentleman quoted the words of the Governors of Maine and Michigan, to show that injurious elieets of an alarming character had sprung eut of the American system of prohibition. The hon. member pointed out that there was hope for tho sobriety of the Colony, and England herself, but from a very different canse to what the member for Dunedin advocated. He then instanced the extreme prevalence of drunkenness that prevailed amongst the wealthy classes of England in the beginning of the present century, as well as among a large portion of the German population. And what was tho spectacle aow ? In Germany drunkenness was rarely seen, nor was it at all common amongst the cultivated classes in England. The cultivation of refined tastes had been tbe cause of the changes ; and as he had often observed that tbe rising generation of New Zealand manifested very little desire for intoxicating liqu ir, he thought we were in a fair way towards sobriety as a Colony. Mr De Lautour strongly supported the Bill, and argued that legislation always originated from public feeling. In the same way that legislation abolished cock-fighting ana bull-baiting, no doubt the time would come when pigeon-shooting would be abolished, and when permissive legislation would prevail. It was only fair that twotbirds of the people be allowed to say whether the public-houses are a benefit or aot.

The Hon. Mr Bowen felt sympathy with the hon. member in acting on his convictions by bringing down a most unpopular Bill. One great objection te the Bill was that it would lead to a great deal of spasmodic legislation, owing to those unaccountable waves of public feeling that from time to time swept ovor communities. There would he too many public-honses in one place and too few in another, just as the circumstances of one community differed from another. It appeared to him that the best way he had seen proposed to reduce intemperance was that which would only license a certain number of houses to a given population. A more appropriate time should be chosen to deal with the licensing laws—not when they had such an amount of important legislation before them.

Mr Boras supported the Bill, on the grounds that it brought home to the people a matter in which they were : most interested.

Mr Lumsden opposed the Bill as a tyranny of the majority, who would prevent the minority from obtaining alcoholic refreshments. What he would like to see provided against was the growing monopoly by brewers of public-houses. Mr Hodgkinson supported the Bill. Vice and crime were promoted by the present system, and a great loss was inflicted upon the community. There were twice as many public-houses as there ought to be. Mr Button thought this Bill to be fully as important as the Local (Government Bill. It appeared to him .that drunkenness should he regarded as a serious offence—a sort of selfslaughter of man’s nobility. This question concerned the inward life of the people, and upon that their future welfare depended much more than upon anything which affected the outward fabric of society. It was clearly the duty of the community to do all it c«uld to reduce a custom that was confessedly pernicious in its results, whether looked at individually or collectively. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 5. SO. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m., taking up the debate on Mr Stout’s Local Option Licensing Bill. Mr Swanson announced that be would vote for the second reading though he had no sympathy with the Bill. Mr J, E, Brown said he would support the second reading so as to he able to proJoae an amendment in committee in clause 3 to make the Bill apply only to new applicants for licenses.

Mr Murray strongly supported' the Bill, saying the people of England drank enough in five years to pay off the national debt, and if there was prohibition to some extent in the Colony, it would effect large improvement in the condition of the people and the revenue of the Colony. Mr Macandrew moved the adjournment of debate, so that they might learn what the publicans had. to say against the Bill in the petitions. Mr Wakefield opposed a postponement, and said they had better decide upon the principle of the Bill at once. Mr Hunter seconded the adjournment. A division was taken, and the amendment lost by 49 against 24. Mr Murray- amendment, that the Bill be considered that day six months, Was then put. Mr Lusk then made a strong 'appeal in defence of the Bill, urging that it was puly carrying out a principle sanctioned by the House m 1873, but which through not having given the machinery to cany that principle into effect was nothing but a fraud upon the public at large.. Mr Wood opposed the Bill. _ The Premier then read a telegram' given him by Captain. Holt,- informing him of the death of Dr. Peatherston, and said he was sure he would only be consulting the feelings of the House in moving an adjournment. Mr Stout not objecting, the House adjourned accordingly.

■ ABOUT THE LOBBIES. {From our Speci.nl Correspondent.) _ , Wellington, July 14. I bear that Mr V, Pyke is to be the second magistrate for Dunedin. It is calculated that the session has already cost L 12,900. The Wi revenue of the North Island in J; 64 - 6 ? 15 the South Island L.;°6,5d/ The chargee on the North ref°r - Rd V cafcion only amount to There is charged also for interest on If ads, railways, and works in progress, prooably L 200,000. The balance is to be pajd from the consolidated revenue, of winch Canterbury and Otago contribute five eighths. The ‘Argus’ says Mr Stafford disclaims all sympathy with the Can torbnry-i! tarn movement. ° This morning Messrs Pyke, Mandtrs, rustings; and Da Lautour waited upon the Hon. Mr Richardson re the sludge channel at Tinkers, for which L6OO had been voted by the Provincial Council, but the GovernRiont had omitted to place it in their frabimates sent up hero, though the amount appears on the Supplementary Estimates not yet receded. Mr Richardson replied that if the Deputy-Superintendent issues a warrant or writes recommending the amount it will be immediately sanctioned. Mr Bastings will inquire why licenses Lave not been issued to holders of deferred payment sections in Heriot Hundred notwithstanding a resolution having been passed by the Land Board ordering the issue of the same.

The Juries Bill is to be amended so as to provide that it shall lie unnecessary for the wnr.le of a jury to concur in case of bein'c/ unable to agree, hut that intimation shall be made by the foreman on behalf of such part of the jury as are entitled to retqrp a verdict.

The names of Sir J. Vogel, Mr Stafford, and Mr Macandrew were freely mentioned in the lobbies last night in connection with the Agent-Generalship, Mr Stafford goes Home in a couple of months, but his intimate friends say be will not accept the position. The general impression is that Six J. Vogel will be appointed after the end of the session, and Mr Ormond’s name is mentioned as likely to join the Ministry in that event. Tho * N. Z. Times ’ says Dr. Feat hers ton refused a proffered knighthood more than once.

I have heard it said, on what appears to be good authority, that when the illness of Dr Feafcherston was known in the Colony, Sir J. Vogel was sounded as to his taking tho Agent-Generalship, but declined. The Hon. Mr Hall’s name is now mentioned. Sir J. Vogel has announced that pastoral properties will be rateable to the extent of half their actual annual value. The Government propose not to interfere with the (•■tago runs beyond conferring on the Land Board powers now existing in Superintendents, and of deciding whether leases shall be renewed or runs cat up. The Counties Bill will be circulated this afternoon, ido Jate to be of service. The boundaries are pretiy nearly defined already. Their proper names ard i Otago, which extends from the Horse-Shod JSange on the north to the Taieri on the south f Clutha, extending from the Taieri to Gatlin’s bn the south, taking in the whole block ; the Tapanni Districts; Southland, extending from the other bank of Catliu’s Liver; Wallace is the next division; tVaitaki is bounded on the south by tbe Horseshoe Range and the Waitaki River on the north ; Clyde includes the whole of the present Mount Ida and Dunstan electorates; Wakatip extends as before, down to tbe sea coast on the west. The second schedule provides for a nintli county, embracing the south-west and west coast of the Province not included in Wakatip. Auckland offers Otago separation and the right to fix the boundaries of counties as we choose as tbe mice of coalition.

A proposal will be brought forward to give LS,(X)O to Dr Featherston’s family. I nave authority for stating that the Cabinet have not yet considered the appointment of his successor, nor is it likely they will do so for some time.