HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 60, 7 September 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE NEW LICENSING BILL. (Per Press Association). Wellington, September 6. Tke House met at 2.30. Replying to questions it was stated— That a Bill would be brought in by Government to remit the sheep tax and allow a remission of rates in cases where runholders had lost severely by the severity of the winter, and the heavy fall of snow in the South Island, but the measure would not have a general application. That Government had under consideration a proposal that all cattle and sheep slaughtered for export should be inspected before being shipped. The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 2 —lnterpretation. A long discussion took place on the proposal that the licensing poll should be taken on the same day as the general election. Mr Seddon said he should be prepared, although it would add to the cost of the elections, to amend the bill by having separate polling booths and separate officers. He wished to get the voice of the whole of the people on the licensing question, as he felt they never would have rest till this important question was decided. He hoped the House would give a straight out vote as to whether or not the licensing poll should taken on the same day as the general election. In Clause 3, which provides that the granting of licenses is subject to the vote of the electors and sets out four questions on which the vote is to be taken. Mr G. W. Russell moved the excision of the first subsection inviting the electors to determine whether the number of licenses in the district is to continue. Mr Seddon could not accept the amendment, as the electors had as much right to have this issue submitted to them as much as any other. Sir R. Stout saw no reason why the i amendment should not be accepted, as | it would not effect the BUI. After a short discussion Mr Russell's amendment was lost by 42 to 21. Mr Millar proposed to strike out the second subsection, which makes the question whether the number of licenses existing in the district is to be reduced, one of the sections to be decided by the electors. The amendment was lost by 59 to 3, and the clauses passed unaltered. Mr T. Thompson proposed to strike out clause 4, which provided that the poll should be taken on the day of the election. He said the question was of such great importance that another vote should be taken on it, especially as the last vote had resulted in a tie. On division, Mr Thompson's amendment was carried by 31 to 30, and the clause struck out. Clause 6, which provided that each voter shall be entitled to a vote on any one or two of the proposals but on not more than two, and the voting shaft not be cumulative, was discussed at great length. Mr Earnshaw moved an amendment that each voter shall be entitled to a vote for one, two or three of the proposals instead of one or two. Mr Seddon hoped the House would stick to the Bill as it stood. Sir R. Stout supported the amendment, and said if the cumulative vote were not allowed he would ask all -those who supported temperance to vote.for killing the Bill on a motion that the Chairman leave the chair. If the Bill were passed as it stood it would be en* tirely in favor of the liquor party. Mr Seddon said this was democracy, that the temperance members would support the Bill as Ion" as they got what they wanted. (Sir K. Stout —certainly). Then Sir R. Stout would find that the majority would not vote for the Chairman leaving the chair. He considered two votes were sufficient. Voters could vote for local prohibition and national prohibition, or reduction and licenses to remain as they were. Mr G. J. Smith said the Bill as at present drawn was infinitely worse than the present law. Mr Bell said the Bill was a brewers' Bill. Mr Seddon resented Mr Bell's statement that this was a brewers' and publicans' Bill, and declared on the contrary it gave more to temperance reformers than any measure introduced in any legislature in the world. Captain Russell suggested the first thing to be done was to take a straight vote of the people for prohibition or no prohibition. They could then take a vote for reduction of licenses. The two shonld not be mixed up together as it would only lead to confusion. Eventually Mr Earnshaw's amendment was carried by 40 so 20. Mr Seddon said he shonld loyally accept the verdict of the committee just given. Wellington, This Day. In Committee on the Liquor Bill clause 8 was altered to provide that the Committee at its first meeting after the licensing poll shall reduce licenses by 10 per cent instead of 5 per cent if the poll is in favor of a reduction. G. S. Smith moved that in the portion of clause 8 providing for " no licenses " it should be a bare majority for prohibition instead of three fifths. Sir R. Stout moved the three fifths majority for colonial prohibition be struck out in favor of a bare majority. Lost by 30 to 21. The clause was then agreed as amended. A motion to report progress was carried by 31 to 20. The House rose at 1.25.