Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 5 August 1893, Page 2

Parliament.

HOUSE OF BEPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, August 3. The Speaker took the chair at 2 30 p m. The following Bills were read a second time : — Referendum Bill ; Newmarket Hall Act 1874 Amendment Bill. Mr Carncross was appointed a member of the Industries and Manufactures Committee. Mr James Mills was appointtd a member of the Labour Bills Committee. Mr Taylor proposed a motion to the effect that the Government should bring in a State Bank Bill, embodying the principle of a State guarantee to depositors and others doing business with the bank. The discussion was interrupted by the 5.80 p.m. adjournment. When the first order of the day, the Licensing Act Amendment Bill

was called at 7.30 p.m., Mr Eucldand rose to a point of order, contending that the Bill was substantially the same as the Direct Veto Bill, introduced earlier in the session, and he submitted that two Bills to the same effect could not be introduced in the same session. The Speaker Baid that when two Bills proposed to effect the same object in different ways, they were virtually separate Bills. He ruled therefore that Sir Robt. Stout was in order. Sir Robert Stout then moved the second reading of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill. The N.Z. Times publishes the following report : — Sir Robert Stout said no apology was needed from him for bringing in such a measure, as the subject was exciting interest all over the world. The Bill was really a very slight alteration of the existing law, and proposed merely to submit three additional questions at licensing elections - namely, whether any licenses should be granted, whether the number of licenses should be reduced, and whether the number of licenses should be increased. The provision in clause 8, that a member of a licensing committee should not be disqualified by reason of any pledge to reduce the number of licenses, or to refuse all licenses, was thought to be law already by a large section of the community. The only other notable feature was that there should be one polling day for the whole Colony. The Bill was so slight, so small an alteration of the law that he really hoped the House would agree to the Bill without discussion or debate. (Laughter.) He. urged that this question should be removed from politics. Did hon. members wish this question to be the chief question at the general election, and everything else be ignored ? If they wished that, they would find that those who were anxious that no Licensing Bill was passed they would live to regret it. It was in the interests of good government that this burning question should be remitted to the people. He did not wish to say a word against those engaged in this traffic, many of them were good, kind and honest men, and it was unfair for the total abstainers to throw slurs upon them if they did not throw slurs upon the moderate drinker also. He wanted to ask the House to consider why this licensing question had so come to the front. It was one of the signs of the ago. They saw similar signs all over the world — the signs of the brotherhood of man. Humanity was not going to stand aside and see some of our best and brightest souls cast to the depths by indulgence in intoxicating liquor. Humanity was determined by education, agitation - and legislation to see if this blot l could not be removed. They wanted that kind of moral ty preached by one nearly two thousand years ago, * If meat vnaketh my biother to stumble, I shall eat no flesh for evermore , that 1 make not my brother to stumble.' This was the morality which would have to be more preached in the world, he submitted, than it had been in the past. Sir itnbert iStoufc spoke warmly of the evils of drinking, which he described I as the social curse ot the age. Mr Saunders hoped the Bill would be carried. : Colonel Fraser asserted that the friends of the Bill desired to shirk the principle of Direct Veto and secure it by a side wind. ■■.«-. The Premier said he believed that this question overshadowed that of women's franchise. If the , Govern* ment saw, after a fair debate, that it was the general desire of the House they would accept the responsibility, and deal with the Bill. He would vote for the second reading of the Bill. ■;■*■ Mr Bruce regretted that the Government were not prepared to give the House a lead in this matter, or to deal with the great question ;Of the liquor traffic. He was prepared, to vote for the second reading. .■■■ Mr W. Hutchison supported the Bill. - The Hon. W. P. Reeves would oppose the Bill. Mr Tay'or and Mr Willis supported the Bill. Mr Fish opposed it and spoke till 25 minutes to 3 a.m. when Mr Swan took up the running.

I Thursday, August 8. j Mr Buckland, who followed Mr Swan, spoke until 6 o'clock,' der nouncing the Bill. Mr Dawson, the next speaker, finished what he had to say at 7 o'clock, having spoken for an hour.) The galleries were then re-opened Sir Robert Stout thanked those who had stood by the Bill that night, and said tnat the Colony would thank them. The fact that Mr Fish was leading the opposition to the Bill was a guarantee for the success of the measure. The motion for the second reading was carried by 26 votes to 9. Mr Fisher's Bill prohibiting brewers from holding public houses was thrown out. Mr Buckland moved the second reading of the Fencing Aot Amendment Bill which was agreed to. The Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act Amendment Bill was

read a second time. Mr Palmer moved the second reading of the Bill legalising the marriage of a woman with her deceased husband. The motion was agreed to. On the motion that the Gum and Gumfields Bill be read a secon'l time, the Minister for Lands said that this Bill involved a considerable interest unon which he did not think the He I-.. * . iiliu upon to legislate at pitjacuu, uiiai they had the report of the Gnmfields Commission. He suggested that the debate on the subject should be adjourned for a fortnight. This suggestion was adopted. The following Bills were read a second time :— Wanganui Empowering Bill, Egmont County Bill, Rivdrton Harbour Board Empower ing Bill, Wellington City Empowering Bill, Wellington Suburbs Sanitation Bill, Kaiapoi Borough Council Vesting Bill, Auckland Hospital Reserve Exchange Bill, Taranaki Relief Fund Distribution Bill, Harbours Act 1878 Amendment Bill, Ocean Beach Public Domain Act Amendment Bill, Kiwitea County Bill, Garrison Hall Empowering Bill. The Supply of Intoxicating Liquors to Children Bill was passed through all its remaining stages. The Mining Act Amendment Bill waa introduced by Mr Seddon and was read a first time. The Corrupt Practices Prevention Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr Scobie Mackenzie, was committed, and the first clause having been passed, progress was reported. Tbe House adjourned at 11.40 p.m.