PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1434, 20 September 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[By Telegraph.] [TEOiI THE SPECIAL REPORTER OF THE PRESS.] PUBLIC HO USES ON ELECTION DAYS. On chime 12G of the Electoral Bill, requiring that public houses shall bo do ed on election days, Mr Bar If p-otested against an attempt 1 j make men solar by Act of Parliament. The Attorney-General sa d that in countries where public houses were closed on election days the difference Avas most marked. What harm could he done by do ing the houses on an average once iu throe years f The public houses were closed on Sunday's. [Several Iron, members — “ No ; kept open.”] Well then they were open illcg lly, and to say that Avas casting a slur on the publicans, and they had no right to assume that they were not a respectable body. By closing public Ironses on election days they Avon Id elevate politics. Mr Moss thought if public houses Averc open on Sundays, they ought to keep churches open. They could not compel public houses to bo

closed. [Mr Barff —“ Side doors.”] The sense of manliness of the people would revolt at the idea < f being treat d like children who could not be trusted. He hat seen elections where public houses were open, and everything was most orderly. He would move that the clause bo stru-k out.

Mr Gi borne did not think the closing of public houses on election days would lead to sobriety. There would be only more drinking in private houses.

Mr Murray seid if the people wore worthy to exorcise the franchise, they ought at least to be able to abstain for one day. He would suggect an amendment allowing the houses to remain open,but prohibiting the sale of spirituous and formeate 1 liquors. MrPyke hoped the Attorney-General would withdraw the clause, and not allow his illustrious name to he handed down in connection with tyranny. [Mr Stout—“ I will.”] He was sorry to hear it. Such a clause was a mere premium to hypocrisy. The Attorney-General professed high respect for the publicans. The result would be that people would go in at this side and back doors, and would all become lodgers. The Attorney-General had no respect for public. Did ho mean to say that they all got drunk at elections.

Mr Stout—They get drunk both before and after election. [Great laughter, and cries of “ Question.”] Mr Saunders had s°en Presidential elections, and the order that reigned when the publichouses were closed. He felt sure that if the people of America were asked to return to the forner state of things, when men voted half drunk, they would decline. Mr Reeves said it was casting a slur on the whole people of New Zealand to say they got drunk on election days. Mr Murray moved that the clause he postponed. [Cries of “ No,” “ Question.”] He had knowm publicans use all possible influence in eLctions [An Hon. Member : “ And quite right too.”] The clause should bo postponed until the members were sober and in their right minds. Mr Barff desired to know whether these words were Parliamentary. Mr O’Rorke—l presume ho merely used them in a Scriptural sense. Mr Murray—Yes, in a Scriptural sense. Mr Rowe —He wants all to wear white waistcoats. ( This referred to Mr Murray’s get up for the Governor’s ball). Mr Turnbull said it would be absurd to stop business on election days Mr Barff said it would bo a hard thing for the Attorney-General and teetotallers if the public-houses were closed, because they would not be able to get a glass of lemonade on election days. Mr Swanson said it would he impossible to close the houses in Auckland on election days in tbe County of Eden, The voters would only have to go a short distance from one district to another.

Sir E. Douglas said many persons rode in to vote, and if the houses were closed, they would get nothing to cat. Mr Eowe said the clause would not abate the evil. It could not prevent drinking. There would bo rooms off committee rooms where liquor would be obtained. He denied the necessity. All attempts to improve men in this way would fail, and the law would he broken.

Dr. Hodgkinson suggested an alteration in the clause which would not prevent the public obtaining refreshment. The Attorney-General consented to an amendment by inserting the words “ by retail” after “ sale of fermented and spirituous liquors,” and this was agreed to. The House divided on the question that the clause as amended stand part of the Bill. f l ho result was—Ayc.s, 22 ; Noes, 31; and the clause was struck out. AYES. Messrs Baigent Messrs Murray (Telltr) Brown, J. C. Rees Bryce Saunders Sir R. Douglas (Teller) Messrs Feld wick Stout George Thomson Gibbs Wakefield Hobbs Wadis Hodgkinson Whitaker McLean Wood MoMiun Woolcock Montgomery NOES. Messrs Barff (Teller) Messrs Moss Barton Murray Aynsley Beetham Ormond Brown, J. B. Pyko Bunny Reeves (Teller) Curtis Rowe Piguau Seaton Gisborne) Seymour Hamlin Sharp Hursthouse, Sheehan Johnson Stevens Joyce Swanson Kelly Taiaroa Kenney T eschemaker Macandrew Turnbull RESULTS OE HIKURANGI MEETING.

Mr Sutton give notice to ask the Government what proposals were referred to in the native affairs statement as having' been made at Hikurangi meeting and accepted ; also whether the Government will table a statement of the result* of the meeting; alio of the amount paid or undertaken to be paid on account of the meeting. NATIVE LANDS DILL. Mr Sutton gave notice to ask the Government whether the statement that they wish to clear off arrears in the Land Courts before passing a Native Lauds Bill may be interpreted to mean that no amended Native Land Bill will be introduced this session. CUSTOMS REGULATIONS. Mr Macfarlane gave notice of the following for Tuesday next—to ask the Premier if the Government will substitute Customs regulations now successfully working in other colonies for those in force in this colony. These regulations allow an extended time for ships to discharge cargo and bonded warehouses to receive the same. The Custom-house officials are required to attend for a longer time every day. STANDING ORDERS. Before proceeding to the order of the day, Mr Barff drew the Speaker’s attention to an omission. It appears that though the old Standing Griers h ive been considerably amended, no reprint has been circulated, and members are constantly quoting orders which are obsolete. The Speaker promised to look into the matter. CLAIMS OF THE MIDDLE ISLAND NATIVES.

The petition of John lopia Patura to the House raises most important issues as to the Maori land claims in the Middle Island. The petition asks that the rights of the Ngatitota, INgatawa, and Ngatitane tribes to sell any portion of the islands extending from Kaiapoi on the oast, to the Eiver Grey on the west coast may be enquired into. This includes the whole provincial districts of Nelson and Marlborough, and the northern portion of Canterbury. The petition asserts that these tribes had no right to sell, the Ngatitua, Ngatimamoa, and Kangitaka being the proper owners. The purchases were made by the in .Z. Company. The petition asserts that the assumed right of these tribes to sell by virtue of conquest and occupation is untenable on the same grounds that Waikato objected to the sale of lauds in New Plymouth district by Ngatimanui.