HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 64, 12 September 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Per Press Association). Wellington, September 10. Tbe House met at 2.30. The Hon. Mr McKenzie gave notice to introduce the Pastoral Tenants Belief Bill. Mr Duthie gave notice to ask whether Government intended to set up an Assets Board to realise the properties acquired by foreclosure by tbe Government Insurance Department and other Government Departments. In reply to questions it was stated — Tbat it was not desirable to amend the law to exempt charitable bequests from stamp duty. That a scheme for putting the unemployed to work on the goldfields of the colony would be submitted to tbe Goldfields and Mines Committee. The motion by the Hon. Mr Seddon, That for the remainder of the session the House should sit at 7.30 p.m. on Mondays, was carried by 27 to 25. The Reprint of Statutes Bill, for compiling an edition of the enactments in force in New Zealand of a public and general nature, and the Poisons Importation and Carriage Bill (both of wbich had pasthe Legislative Council) were read a second time without discussion. Mr Beeves moved tbe second reading of the Lunatics Act Amendment BUI, to confer on the Public Trustee fnrther and larger powers in administrating the estates of lunatics. The motion was agreed to on tbe voices. The Alcoholic Liquor Sale Control Act amendment Bill was further considered in committee. In clause 31, dealing with an amendment of the principal act, Dr Newman ' proposed an addition that hereafter no license could be transfered from one home to another. > Hon Seddon opposed the amendment . wbich was lost by 30 to 29. > Hon Seddon 6aid that seeing tbe feeling •• of tbe House was pretty even on this point be should move that tbe distance for transfer of a license should not exceed a mile (instead of five miles as provided in the i bill). i This was also rejected by 84 to 26. Mr Thos McKenzie then moved that 1 the distance should not exceed a quarter of a mile, which was carried by 31 to 29. • Mr Meredith moved an amendment in , clause 31 to prevent selling liquor in l hotels on Sundays. Mr Seddon said the amendment would not effect the object Mr Meredith bad in view. Amendment lost on the voices. On the motion of Mr G. W. Russell a i clause was added to provide that any person falsely describing himself as a lodger or traveller shall be liable on conviction to a penalty not exeeding £10. Mr W. Kelly moved to alter the clause tby making. the definition of " traveller " li one who had travelled three miles from • his previous night's lodgings instead of . five miles. I The amendment was lost by 28 to 21, i and the sub-clause added to the Bill. Subsection oi clause 31, which gave a • landlord power to remove ap unsuitable tenant, who has had his license endorsed 1 for breach of the law, was struck ont, ' Mr Seddon stating he would move an- ■ other clause in its place. Later on the whole clause as amended was agreed to. , Clause 83, which prevents the snpply i of liquor to any male Maori who is in a i state of intoxication, or to any Maori women, caused considerable discussion. > Several members urged that the gup. > ply of liquor should also be forbidden to - all European women, • Mr Seddon said under the clause Native women were treated as children and his experience showed that this was > a desirable step. ' A large section of members spoke in ■ favor of the clause as it stood. > Sir Robert Stout pointed ont the ■ clause as framed would conflict with the main Act, and Mr Seddon promised to consult the Crown law office on tne point. The amendment by Mr T. McKenzie, to prevent the supply of liquor to any ; male Maori under any circumstances, was lost by 40 ro 4. Mr Seddon moved to add a provision ' to the clause to the effect that this section shall not apply to any female Maori being tbe wife of a European. Carried by 27 to 22. Clause 33, as printed with Mr Seddon's proviso, was then put and carried by 28 to 22. In clause 34, Mr Carnell moved an amendment that if a prohibited person is found on licensed premises during the currency of the prohibition order' he shall be liable a penalty not exceeding; £5, and any licensed person who knowingly permits a prohibited person to re., main on his licensed premises shall be liable to a penalty not less than £5 and not exceeding £10. This was agreed to. The remaining clauses passed without material amendment. After|a lengthy discussion a new clause was added tp provide the licensing poll shall be taken on the second Wednesday in April, 1897. Mr Seddon said he should move for the recommittal of the Bill to finally decide whether or not the licensing poll should be held on the same day as the general election. Mr Button moved a new clause *^o make " tied " houses illegal. Mr Seddon said i. this' clause was inserted it was bound to be thrown ont in the Upper House, and in fact would jeopardise the whole Bill. Sir Robert Stout strongly supported the new clause. On division the clause was added to the Bill by 37 to 19. A clause added on Mr Button's motion, to make it apply only to contracts, entered into after tbe passing of this Ac., and to preserve all existing contracts. Mr W7 Hutchison moyed anew clause to prevent the employment of barmaids in hotels. Lost by 30 to 19. Mr W, Huthison moved a clause tbat no woman be supplied with liquor. Lost by 35 to 12. Sir R. Stout moved a new clause making hotel bars bo far as selling alcoholic liquors to any but lodgers in the hotel and bona fide travellers, subject to | the provisions of tbe Shops and Shop Assistants Acts. Although strongly op, posed by the premier, this was carried by 23 to" 20. ! * ..»'M Mr Seddon then moved to report pro-

cress, as it was not fair to goon with Se BUI when so many were absent. Tbis was aereed to, and the further consideration of tbe Bill sec down for Tuesday next. The House rose at 2 30 a.m.