HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 63, 11 September 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Per Press Association). I Wellington, September 10. I The House met at 7,30. The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee. Clause 20, which proved that in the first session of each new Parliament a poll of members of both Houses should decide whether or not liquor should be Bold at Bellamy's during the term of thai Parliament, created considerable sionSir R. Stout objected to the clause altogether, and would vote against it. The clause was amended on the Hon. Mr Seddon 'a motion to make the continuance of Bellamy's subject to the district or national option poll. On tbe whole clause being pnt it was retained in the Bill by 40 to 9, the noes being Messrs Carnell, W. Hutchison, Newman, Button, Bell, Saunders, G. W. Smith, Earnshaw and Stout. Clauses 21, 22 and 23, which make club charters subject to the results of the licensing poll, prevent the sale of liquor in clubs at hours when liquor cannot be sold on licensed premises, were agreed to without discussion. Clause 25, providing that the cost of licensing elections and administration shall be paid by the local authorities, was discussed at considerable length. Mr Houston moved an amendment providing that in case no license fees were received by the local body in any licensing district such authority shall not be compelled to pay anything towards the cost of licensing elections. Hon Seddon opposed the amendment, wbich was rejected by 33 to 21, and the clause was added to the Bill by 32 to 21. Clause 27 giving a committee power to increase the number of licenses when the population has increased in a district by 10 per cent since last census, was strncK out on the voices. On clauses 28 "no new bottle or wine licenses to be granted after commence, ment of Act," Mr Mills moved an amendment so that bottle licenses shall be pnt before the electors as well as other questions. Mr Mill's amendment was lost on the voices. An amendment by Mr Willis to provide tbat all holders of wine licenses in tha colony at present shall remain holders of them without being subject to renewal by a licensing committee, was negatived 42 to 12. On the whole clause being put it was retained in the bill by 30 to 23. Clause 29 was altered to provide that a licensing committee shall consist of the Stipendiary Magistarte and 5 other persons in thedisirict. I On reaching clause 31 Mr Montgomery moved to report progress which was carried by 26 to 25. The House rose at 1.10. am.