PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 60, 8 September 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

{vf.r press association). Legislative Council. Wellington. September 7. The Council met at '2 30. The Electoral Bill was further considered in Committee. Mr McLean moved a new clause giving women voters an electors right. Mr Stewart said the amendment, if carried, meant the sacrifice of the Bill. Mr Reynolds supported the new clause. Mr Rigg said he intended to vote against the amendment, notwithstanding the motives he had expressed for objecting to the granting of the franchise to women. Mr Stevens said he was the author of these electoral rights and he would vote for the amendment without any consideration of the uso that might be made of it in another place, After a discussion lasting the whole of the afternoon, the new clause was rejected by 20 to 19. The Bill was reported, the third reading being fixed for next day. The Alcoholic Liquor Sale and Control Bill was considered in committee On clause 6, " Constitution of licensing committees," Mr McLean moved to strike out the first two lines of the clause in order to test the question whether they should not return to the old system of Resident Magistrates forming Licensing Benches. The amendment was carried on a division by 17 to 15. Sir Patrick Ruckley said this was the most important question of the Bill. In fact it was the principle of the measure, and ho wished his hon. friend joy of the amendment. He would have to consider his position, and would therefore move that progress be reported, with leave to sit again. The Council rose at 9.80 p.m. House ok Representatives. The House met at 2.30. Mr Shera gave notice to move, on going into Committee of Supply, that a committee be appointed to inquire into the native land transactions in Hawke's Bay between Messrs Cadman and Smith, the committee to consist of Messrs Reeves, Ward, Rolleston, Richardson, Pinkerton, Saunders, Wright, Duthie, Earnshaw and Meredith. The District of Palmerston North Charitable Aid Board Empowering Bill was put through its final stages. The Shops and Shop Assistants Bill was further considered in committee. Clause 2, interpretation. Mr W Hutchison moved to insert in the clause the words " Includes bars of hotels licensed under the Licensing Act, 1881." He said he did not propose to include the whole of an hotel, only the bar. Mr Reeves hoped the committee would not accept the amendment. If it produced the effect intended, namely, to give a half holiday to certain employes of an hotel, he should support it, but it would do nothing of the kind. Sir Robert Stout could not see why a man should be prevented from buying an orange in a fruiterer's shop if he were thirsty, and yet be allowed to go into a hotel to buy whisky. Mr R. Thompson said if the Bill became law, it would ruin hundreds of small tradespeople. Mr Hutchison's amendment was lost by 39 to 19. Clause 3, all shops to close on Saturdays at 1 o'clock, fruiterers and fish* mongers exeniDted, was carried. An amendment was inserted providing for a half holiday being given to persons employed in hotel bars. The period of notice required for an alteration of the day for the half holiday was reduced to seven days. The House rose at 9 a.m.