GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 1498, 16 July 1881, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Thursday, July 14. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; THE LICENSING BILL. The Committee on the Licensing Bill on Thursday last resumed on clause 106. The motion that .£4O license only be charged in boroughs of at least 1000 population, was negatived by 36 to 21. Motions to reduce the fee to £3O, and tp make it not exceeding £25, were negatived. A motion to reduce the fee outside of boroughs to £2O was lost by 37 to 18. Mr Reeves moved that progress be reported, Messrs Pyke, Weston, Levestara, and Wallis denounced the Bill as having been reduced to a perfect chaos through the indiscretion of the temperance section of the House, and intimated their determination to oppose it passing the third reading. Mr Reeves concurred. Fie said that he had from Ins boyhood been a consistent advocate of temperance, but lie denounced the shape to which the Bill had been reduced. All that they heard in the lobbies was that the Bill was a piece of confounded rot, and members said, “ Just let it go on, and when the proper time comas we will throw it out.” In its original state it was passable, but since then it bad come to he the child of many fathers, none of whom could recognise it. Mr Speight moved that the rest of the Bill should be passed as it stood, and that its opponents should rest their strength on the third reading. Hie Hon. Mr Fox hoped that after the disgraceful scenes of the last two nights, members would support his motion to abolish Bellamy’s when he next brought it forward. Dr, Wallis said that it was a private members’ night, and the Licensing Bill

had come on unexpectedly after many members had left. Ho denied that any members present were riot in a condition to temperately and fairly considei the Bill. Progress should be reported. Mr Weston indignantly repudiated the aspertions cast on members by Mr Fox. Thd Bill had bebonie a scandal, and should be thrown out. He, although a young member, would not submit to such aspersions as those the Hon. Mr Fox had thrown on the House. Mr Pyke also protested against the language used. Mr Reeves strongly Condemned the Hon. Mr Fox’s intemperate remarks, and the Premier’s evident loss of temper. The Hon. Mr Fox’s remarks were a disgrace to the House, and the Premier should be ashamed of himself. The motion for reporting progress was lost on a division of 33 to 18. An occasional correspondent of the Grey River Argus, telegraphing yesterday, says ;—“ The Licensing Bill is now in Committee. Members are heartily sick of it. Notwithstanding the contrary decision of a few days ago, barmaids are now allowed to remain in bars till 11 p.m.”