PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 47, 24 August 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Legislative Council. (per press association). Wellington, August 33. The Council met nt 2 30. Mr Macgregor resumed the debate oh the second rending of the Electoral Bill. He said a considerable number of women, if not the majority, were desirous of exercising the franchise. Mr Montgomery also spoke in favor of : the clause. Morally, socially, and intellectually, they had proved that they ever had the best interests of humanity at heart. If women took part in politics, elections would be conducted more orderly and the atmosphere of Parliament would prove to be purer. Mr Hart, as ono who recently visited the London County Council's proceedings, in which women occupied seats, supported the clause for enfranchisement of women. On the motion of Mr Stewart the debate was adjourned till next day, and the Council rose. llovse ok Representatives. The House met at 2.30. Mr Seddon said he hoped to be able to bring down the Public Works Statement very shortly, and he expected on Friday to be in a position to state what Bills Government proposed to go on with this session. The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill was further considered in Committee. Clause 8, providing that all costs and expenses of elections and taking polls ahull be paid by the local authorities, provoked a lengthy discussion. Mr Moore moved that all words after the iir.it word of the clause be struck out as instructions to Government that tho House disapprove of tho proposal to saddle local bodies with the cost of these elections. Mr Seddon opposed the amendment, and said if it were carried it would make tho Act a dead letter and would necessitate special appropriation being made for it. He wouid be willing, if it were found that the expense was more thnn local bodies could bear, to put a vote on the estimates so as to give the House an opportunity of dealing with it. After further discussion Mr Moore's amendment was lost by 36 to 61, arid the clause was added to the Bill. In clause 9, providing that the opinion of a member of the Licensing Committee shall not disqualify him from sitting on the committee. Mr Fish moved that this clause be struck out. He conleuded that it was only ft matter of justice and fairness, that if brewers were prevented from sitting on Licensing Committees, prohibitionists should also be prevented. Mr Seddon hoped the committee would pass the clause as it stood. After discussion, tho clause was passed as printed. CiatiEe 10, alterations of licensing law. Mr Geo. Hutchison moved that first subsection be struck out. This sub-section provides that any widow find any wife who has obtained a protection order may hold a license under the Licensing Acts ; but, save as aforesaid, no woman, whether married or unmarried) shall hold a license. The amendment was reacted by 40 to 25, and the sub section was retained. Mr Seddon moved to add a proviso to the effect that nothing in this provision shall apply to any married or unmarried woman, who at the time of the commencement of this Act, is the holder of n publican's license. This was agreed to. Mr Geo. Hutchison moved to strike out snb-aection 5, which provided that all windows of public bars are to be left unscreened during illegal hour«, so as to expose the whole of the interior to the public view. Th* amendment was carried by 32 to 30, and the sub section struck out. Sir Robert Stout moved an amendment, the effect of which would be to allow the committee to refuse a license under subsection 5 of section 81 of the present Licensing Act on ground that the license was not required or was likely to b« injurious to the peaco of the neighbourhood. Lost by 53 to 11. Mr Seddon characterised Sir Robert Stout's last amendment as a cunning move to enable the Committee to cancel licenses notwithstanding the yote of the people. Sir Robert Stout expressed the opinion that the whole Bill, as it stood, was entirely in favor of licensed victuallers and the liquor traffic. Clause 10, aa amended, was added to tho Bill by 4U to 13. Clause 11 was amended, on Mr Meredith's motion, so that the total number of votes recorded must be not less than one-half (instead of one-fourth) of electors on the roll. The clause, as amended, wag then added to the Bill. Clause I' 2, new licenses to be granted subject to a vote of tho olectors. On the motion of Mr Seddon, a portion of the clause granting licenses for N.Z. wines was struck out. Tho clause was agreed to with this amendment. Clause 13, the Returning Officer to appoint a day for taking the poll. Sir Robert Stout moved an amendment the Governor should fix the day, instead of tho Returning Officer of the Licensing District, Lost by 37 to 24. Sir Robert Stout then moved the Returning Officer may appoint the day of tho general election for taking the poll. Mr Seddon opposed the amendment and said they would have to reconstruct tho whole of it if it was carried. The amendment was lost by 51 to 10. Mr Seddon moved to alter the time for taking tho licensing poll from February, to tho first 10 days in March in every third year. Agreed to, and the clause added to the Bill. Clau.sc 15, declaration of result of poll. Sir Robert Stout moved to alter the majority of tlireo»iifths to hare a ma< jority. Mr Seddon said thrre«fifths was a compromise, and with the increased power they were giving under the Bill they must hare a Mnfeguiird. After considerable discussion, Sir 11. Stout's amendment was rejected bj 48 to 10 Mr Sand ford moved (in portion of tho clause providing if Returning Officer finds the number of rotes recorded at the poll does not amount to one half of the total number of electors on the roll ho shall declare the poll to bo roid) au auocuduieut that oue-half should bo altered to two^iiftus.— Lost by 36 to 20 Clause 15, as an amendment added to the Bill, Sir Robert Stout then moved that tUe Chairman leave the chair. He said after the clause just passed, the Bill, as a settlement of the question, was simply a delusion. Tho Bill was entirely in the interests of the liquor traffic. Mr Seddon said he was not surprised at Sir Robert Stout's remarks. Sir R. Stout declared the temperance party had been grossly deceired orer this matter. The motion was lost on the voices. Mr Fißh niorctl the quirt sale of liquor after prohibited hours bo a cause for endorsement on tho license, with the possible subsequent forfeiture of the license—Carried by 32 to 10. Mr Seddon accepted an addition by Mr Tanner that whenever a licensee has an endorsement on the license such conviction slinll be endorsed on any license afterwards issued to »uch premises, ?uch license to bo absolutely cancelled on a third endorsement. Clause 17 was passed, aud progress was reported. Tlit) H^Usti rue© at J JO a,zu,