THE LICENSING BILL IN COMMITTEE.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 46, 23 August 1893, Page 2

THE LICENSING BILL IN COMMITTEE.

The House met at 2 80. On a motion for adjournment of tbe ] House, Mr C. H. Mills referred at great length to the whole case of Louis Chemis, now confined in the Auckland gaol for the murder of Hawkins, near Wellington, some few years ago, and contended Chemis was wrongfully conyicted of the crime The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill was further considered in Committee, Mr Seddon moved, in the interpretation clause, That " Licensing Act, 1881 " be struck out and the words " this Act ' inserted. Sir Robert Stout said this amendment raited the whole question of increased size of licensing districts. He thought it would be better to keep the licensing districts as they were, and it would be a huge mistake to have the districts so large as indicated by this Bill. Mr Seddon urged it was necessary to increase tbe districts, and if this amendment were not agreed to, there was no chance of a Licensing Bill at all this session. Sir Robert Stout said if that were the Premier's opinion, let him drop the Bill altogether. Sir John Hall pointed out that although he did not want to keep districts absolutely as they were at present, still if they were undo as largo as electoral districts the Act in the country districts, at any rate, would be a dead letter. The clause was discussed at considerable length, after which Mr Seddon's amendment was carried by 53 to 13, and the words " This Act " inserted. The following is a division list on Mr Seddon's amendment : — Ayes (53). — Blake, Buchanan, Bucklank, Buick, Cadman, Carncross, Carroll, Dawson, Duncan, Duthie, Fish, Fisher, Fraser, Hall, Hall-Jones, Hogg, Houston, W. Hutchison, Kapa, J. Kelly, W. Kelly, Lnk., Lawry, M. J. S. Mackenzie, Mackintosh, McGuire, McGowan, J. McKenzie, McLean, Meredith, C. H. Mills, Moore, Newman, O'Connor, Parata, Pinkerton, Reeves, Rhodes, Russell, Richardson, Sandford, Seddon, Shera, W. C. Smith, K. M. Smith, Swan, Tanner, Taylor, R. Thompson, Valentine, Ward, Willis, Wright. Noes — Bruce, Earnshaw, Fergus, Hamlin, Harkness, JG. Hutchison, Joyce, J. Mills, Mitchelsou, Palmer, Stout, Taipua, Wilson. Clause 3, electoral districts of the colony constituted ordinary licensing districts, Sir Robert Stout moved, That the Boroughs and Counties should be licensing districts instead of electoral districts. Mr Seddon said he had given this matter very careful consideration. He pointed out that if Sir Robert Stout's motion were agreed to, there were five or six Boroughs in which they would have prohibition in one Borough, and wholesale selling in another Borough across the street. After a lengthy debate, Mr Seddon asked whether Sir Robert Stout, would use the burgesses roll of ratepayers for his proposal. Sir Robert Stout : Certainly not. Mr Seddon : Then what roll would the lion, gentlemen have ? He held there was nothing better suggested than the Eroposal in the present Bill which had een most carefully prepared, and be advised the House to stick to the present Bill. After further discussion Sir Robert Stout's amendment was rejected by 39 to 23. On the motion of Mr Seddon a further amendment was made in clause _ : " Provided a sudden increase of population in any district should not justify the issue of a publican's license, if the electors had previously determined no license be granted." Sir Robert Stout moved the words "or reduced " be added, but this was lost by 37 to 22. Mr Blake moved a further amend mont to the effect that the ratio af resi* dents necessary in a district before a license bo granted be 500 instead of 700 Mr Seddon accepted the amendment which was lost by 33 to 29. The clause as amended was added to the Bill. Clause 5, Who may be a member of a Licensing Committeo. Mr Fish moved, any duly registered" male elector be qualified as a member of a Licensing Oommittep, instead of duly qualified " elector " was lost on the voices. Mr Seddon then mored to insert the words " who is carrying on business as brewer." Sir Robert Stout objocted to that admission, and said it would open the door to all sorts of evasions of the law. Mr Fish protested against Mr Seddon's addition, and said the Government were perpetuating a gross injustice in preventing brewers, etc., trom sitting on a committee, whilst in another part of the Bill they allowed other persons, who were equally interested, to have seats on them. Mr Seddon's addition was rejected on tho voices. Mr Tanuer moyed a further amendment to tho effect that no person in the employment of a brewer, etc., be qualified to sit ou a Licensing Committee. Lost by 47 to 10, and the clause was added to the Bill. Clause 6. constitution of the Licensing Committee, was passed without mat' crial alteration. Progress was reported and the House rose at 2 p.m.