HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 30, 3 August 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

QUESTIONS. In answer to Mr Carnell, the Minister for Labor said he did not intend to legislate for a half -holiday for servant girls. In answer to Mr Pirani, the Minister of Marine said he intended to introduce legislation enforcing the licensing of compass examiners, and to make regulations to prevent the overloading of timber on vessels' decks. The Premier, in answer to Mr Pirani, said that, considering Government had given a reserve -worth j£lsoo to the Palmerston Borough Council, it was not asking too much for them to make the street opposite the Courthouse. A COMPENSATION QUESTION. Replying to Mr Stevens, the Minister of Lands said Government would not grant compensation to Messrs Casselberg and Donaldson for the accidental burning of their store at Mangaweka, supposed to have been caused through a lire from the Government bush. Mr Stevens moved the adjournment of the House, and condemned the action of the Minister in strong terms. Mr McKenzie replied very warmly, and denied that any semblance of liability rested on the Government. ANIMALS PROTECTION BILL. Considerable time was occupied "with the Animals Protection Bill in Committee, f which is designed to prevent the importation of noxious animals. Mr Houston got a clause inserted preventing native pigeons being shot next year and every sixth year thereafter. LICENSING BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill. The present Bill provided for four issues, namely, whether the number of licenses in the district is to continue, whether they are to be reduced, whether there are to be licenses, or no licenses. It might be said that this would complicate the question, but this would be a reflection on the men and women of the colony. He firmly believed that if the country were polled to-mor-row it would be in favor of a substantial majority for local or colonial option. They were told over and over again by the Prohibitionists that they wanted a straight issue on local or national prohibition, and that was provided for in the Bill. A good deal had been said about the police not doing their duty in enforcing the licensing laws ; bnt in every case where it was proved constables had not done their duty he had discharged them. He intended to issue a circular to police inspectors, stating that if a constable was found in a hotel while on duty it should mean discharge unless he could prove that he was on the premises on business. The circular would also apply to the permanent artillery men. He praised the police force as a whole, but said a few exceptions were taken to reflect on the whole body* The same thing applied to hotelkeepers, and because a few of them did not obey the law that was no reason why the whole class should be condemned. Sir Robert Stout congratulated the Premier on having made a considerable advance in the temperance cause since 1893. The great blot in Mr Seddon's speech was that he had no enthusiasm for social reform at all, and he looked on this licensing question as an awkward subject which would be disposed of with as little friction to his snpporters and the publicans as possible. The main kernel of the Bill was whether there should be three-fifths or a bare majority. Mr Lawry said he never felt more disgusted with the Premier and the Government than he did over this Bill. He believed there was an overwhelming majority in the colony in favor of leaving things as they stood at present. MrDuthie thought there was great need for liquor reform, but any attempt to force Prohibition on the colony must result in defeat. The present Bill, however, was an unsatisfactory one, and would not deal with the matter at all thoroughly. On the second reading of the Government Licensing Bill, after further debate, in which Dr Newman, Willis, Hono Eeke, G. W. Russell, supported the Bill, and Duthie and Lawry opposed it, the second reading was carried on the voices. The House rose at 1 a.m.