PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1251, 2 August 1872, Page 2

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, August 1. In the House of Representatives, to-day, MrCreighton moved the second reading of the Licensing Permissive Bill. Mr Richardson presented a petition from the Primate of New Zealand, the Dean of Christchurch, and a number of clergymen and laity iv favor of the Bill. . Mr Clarke seconded Mr Creighton's motion. Keteni urged the forbidding of the introduction of all spirits to the Colony, or making the trade free to all. Mr Gisborne opposed the Permissive clauses, and urged compensation to those affected by them. Mr Johnston opposed the Bill, as opposed to the real interests of sobriety and morality. Mr Gillies supported the Bill. Though not a teetotaler, he believed the Bill would make innkeepers keep better houses and better liquors. Mr Seymour urged that licensiug would be best dealt with by Provincial Councils. Messrs Andrew, Bunny, M'Glashan, Tribe, Buckland, Jackson, and Collins spoke against the Bill. Mr Steward would support it if it were largely modified. Mr Yogel believed that the persistent agitation of a few had invested the question with a fictitious importance. In his opinion, its advocates greatly lacked charity, and the Bill itself proposed an immoral policy of confiscation. It might iv some places be used to shut up legitimate public-houses with the view of starting sly grog-shops. Those who signed the document, for shutting up houses should, as a test of their sincerity, whose property was injured.' He believed more strictness should be exercised in granting licenses. ~ Messrs Bathgate, Richardson, Murray, O'Conor, M'Gillivray, Pearce, and Hunter supported the second reading. Mr Swanson said the bill was a wanton interference with the powers of provincial legislatures. Messrs Reynolds and Macandrew opposed the bill on similar grounds ; and Mr Macandrew moved that it be read a second time this day six months. ■ Mr White opposed the bill. Mr Sheehan also opposed, but offered to support a measure to prevent the introduction of any liquor into, or its manufacture in, the Colony. Mr Fox made a very long eloquent speech in favor" of the bill. On a division, the second reading was carried by 28 to 26, several of those who spoke against the permissive clause voting for the second reading of the bill, with the view of excising those clauses in committee. [ 8 p.m. . In reply to Mr Harrison to-day, Mr Yogel stated that the Government did not intend to provide for paying a portion of the salaries of Resident Magistrates in the County of Westland, and on the Nelson South- West Gold Fields out of the Consolidated Funds. Last session the Government had given to the Provinces and the County, in shape of capitation, all the money that could be spared from the Colonial revenue, and they did not : intend to disturb the balance by any new arrangement on the subject this year. Mr Harrison has given notice of a resolution to the effect that these salaries should be voted by the House, and that the officers should be directly responsible to the General Government. Mr White obtained an order for the production of all correspondence in reference to the General Government having recently impounded a large amount of the Gold Fields revenue of Westland. The debate on Mr SheehanV motion to

make the Attorney-Generalship a political office was resumed. ' ; " Mr Fox announced that, on further consideration, the Ministry could not support the proposal. Individually his opinion in favor of the proposal remained unchanged, but he would abstain from voting on it. Messrs Gillies and Brandon supported the motion. MessrsJohnstonandStafford opposed it. The motion was negatived on the voices. Mr Gillies has given notice of a motion that no bills of merely local, and not colonial importance, be considered by the House, and that Provincial Legislatures have authority conferred on them to deal exhaustively with all such subjects.