HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 28, 1 August 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Houso met at 2.30. NF/W MEMBER. Mr T. Thompson, the newly elected member for Auckland, was sworn in amidst applause. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated that an amendment would probably be introduced iv the Shops and Shop Assistants Act, to allow harvesting machinery agents to keep open on the statute half- holiday for tho sale of harvesting , machinery only. ' Mr Sauuders would vote for Mr McNab's Bill, and also the Government Bill, with the hope of amending them in Committee. Mr Montgomery wanted to see some Temperance measure passed this session and would vote for the second reading of both Mr McNab's au<3 the Govern, meut Bill. Dr Newman said the Premier, iv his Bill was vrry cleverly dividing the Temperance Party into Reductionists and Prohibitionists. The Hon W. P. Eeeves, speaking as a Private member, said he would not vote for the second reading of the Bili. The Governmenthad brought down their Bill in all sincerity and would do their best to pass it. He was still in favour of a three-fifths majority. Mr McNab moved the second reading of the Licensing Acts Amendment Bill. He said the licensing laws of the colony had been a fruitful source of legislation for years, and so far as he could see they were a long way off finality in this respect. His Bill bad been fully discussed cluriug the recess, and at the Alliance Convention in March last an opinion favorable to the great bulk of the Bill was expressed. He explained the various provisions of the Bill at some length. It proposed to strike out bottle licenses and New Zealand wine liceuses altogether, and also abolish licenses for railway refreshment rooms. Clnbs were to be put on the same footing with respect to the Prohibition vote as licensed premises. The Premier congratulated Mr McNab on the moderate tone of bis speech. This was a question, he contended, that should be dealt with by the Government of the clay, and the Government now bad a Licensing Bill before the House. He bad come to the conclusion that if the Licensing Elections were held on any other clay than that of the General Parliamentary Electious, a very poor representation of the voice of the country would be obtained. It would be injurious to have a bare majority on the question of Prohibition, for if any great reform were to stand there roust be more than a bare majority in its favor. He believed there was a majority in the House and the country for three-fifths. It was right to have a bare majority as regards reduction, but not on such a great question as total prohibition. Sir R. Stout pointed out that the Government Bill of last session was not brought clown till the House was near its prorogation. He strongly supported Mr McNab's Bill. Mr La wry said Mr McNab's Bill was full of humbug and hypocrisy. J. G. Smith supported Mr McNab's Licensing Bill. E. M. Smith and Collins opposed it, and at 12.30 a motion by Mr Harris for the adjournment of the debate was lost by 32 to 21. Mr Fraser said he preferred the Government Bill. Mr McNab did not exercise his right to reply. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. The Bill was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The House rose at 12 30.