GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 62, 11 August 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

{Jfer Anglo-Australian Tress Telegraph A geneg .) Wellington, August 10. In the House of Representatives, Mr Vogel gave notice that he would introduce three resolutions —(1.) That considering the altered circumstances of the colony, it is desirable that the provinces in the Horlh Island should be abolished. (2) That Wellington should be made the seat of Government. (3.) And that (he land revenue should be in ole i'i'ml revenue according to what is known as the compact of 18iKi, and that the Government shall during the recess consider how best to give effect to these resolutions. [Applause,] Wellington, August 11. Id the House of Representatives yesterday, ten days’ leave was granted to Mr Fyke. *Mr Tribe presented a petition to exempt the Ross firemen from serving on juries. Mr Fox presented petitions from Auckland, Christchurch, and Kaiapoi, in favor of the existing Licensing Act. Mr Von der Heyde took his oath and seat. Mr FOX, having moved that the petitions In favor of last year’s Act be read, made a vigorous speech in support of the prohibitive principle of the existing Act, and in denunciation of the liquor traffic generally, as the main cause of a great deal of clemoralisition, destitution, and decay in the colony. He maintained that the Government had no right to bring down the present Bill after the House giving in to the permissive principle, after resisting it for three years of fair and open fighting. Let the Government still introduce the prohibitory clause and he

would then support the Bill. He was afraid the Premier had not sufficiently studied this question, for he did not display the same statesmanlike grasp of the subject, noticeable in the many large measures he has introduced before in the House. The motto of the present measure seemed to be, “ Let those drink now, who never drank before, and those who drank, still drink the more.’’ In editing the “ Handbook of New Zealand, the Premier had said that colonising meant establishing homes ; yet the Bill before them meant the destruction of homes. With one hand ho was building up, with the other he was pulling down. The liquor trade was unlike the ordinary beneficial trades of society, and required to be hedged round with safeguards for the people ; and yet the Government evidenced the utmost reluctance to place its control in the hands of those most directly affected ; the Road Boards, municipal and other local legislation, were entrusted to them, why not this? The very speech of the Premier in Otago, when he declared himself the advocate of the little mill of female franchise, was diametrically opposed to this Bill. The Wellington petition was signed in a base and unmanly way. The question was essentially a woman’s one, yet only male were allowed to sign that petition. He was sorry to say that amongst those male signatures he saw the names of men whom you turned from in disgust, but who ought to be filling the highest places in the land.

The Premier defended the Bill as one which had caused immense trouble in its preparation, though intended mainly to remedy the defects of the Bill of last year, to cross its T’s, and dot its I’s; owing to the enthusiasm of the hon member for Rang!tikei, his usually logical acute mind was slightly warped, consequently ho could not accept his deductions. The Bill of last year was unwoikable, and satisfied neither one side nor the other, it simply amounted in practice to confiscation, and the invasion of houses by enthusiasts in the temperance cause. The Bill was proceeded with, nearly every clause meeting with considerable opposition, from various members, chiefly on the ground that, generally the provinces should have the control of the machinery of the Bill, and that licensing boards should be appointed by the people, in place of licensing benches nominated by Government. After a division on this point, the clause was retained by 42 against 20. Considerable discussion took place on the clause permitting two bars in one house, but it was carried. Strong opposition w T as also given to the facility for obtaining wdrolesale licenses, and to bottle licenses, but the objections were overruled. It was arranged that the provinces should have the control of the bottle licenses.

Mr Fox endeavored to report progress at clause 13, providing for quarterly license meetings. The Premier contested the ground inch by ’ inch, and the Bill progressed to clause 24, which was postponed.

The alterations made, being not being very important, after some discussion the House agreed at 1.30 that progress be reported. The House then adjourned.