Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 26 August 1893, Page 2

Parliament.

HOUSE OF REPBESENTATIVES. Wednesday, August 28. The Speaker took the chair at 2 30 p m. The following Bills were read a first time : — Otago University Bill ; Kyngdon Land Grant Bill ; Gimmerbnrn Forest Bill, Land Act Amendment Bill ; the Land for Settlements Act Amendment Bill ; Banks and Bankers Act Amendment Bill ; Public Trust Office Acts Amendment Bill and Tobacco Acts Amendment BillThe Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill was further discussed in committee. Clauses 8, 9, and 10 were passed and the Premier then moved that the following proviso should be added to the subsection : — Nothing in this provision shall apply to any married or unmarried woman who at the time of the commencement of this Act is the holder of a publican's license ; but every such married or unmarried woman may continue to hold the said liceuse and have the said license renewed from time to time, and may at any time make a la w'ful transfer of such license as if this section of this Act had not been passed. This was agreed to. (Subsection 5 of clause 10 was struck out. All the clauses up to and including 15 were passed when Sir Robert . Stout moved that the chairman should leave the chair. This clause having been carried, the Bill voiild not be a settlement of the question at all, and he urged that therefore the matter should be held over till the geueral election. Let the Bill bs withdrawn until then. It was a concession to the liquor ti"affic which would not have been dreamed of by those engaged in the traffic a year ago. The Premier was not surprised at what Sir Robert Stout said. He had fought this Bill fairly, and called for divisions with a persistency which would have been resented had it been shown by any other member. The extreme Temprance Party were in a minority, but wanted to dictate to the majority. They could not leave this to be settled by the extremists on both sides. Sir 11. Stout maintained that, the Temprance Party had been grossly deceived. This Bill was not a local option without compensation. The motion that the chairman should leave the chair was lost. Clause 16 was made non retrospective in regard to the reduction of licenses for breaches of the, law. The selling of liquors at prohibited hours, other than Sundays, was removed from the list of offences liable to cause lo3s of license under the conditions of the clause. An amendment providing thit any conviction endorsed on a license should apply when future licensees took over the premises, was carried, but checladse is to be re-committed. Clause 16 was passed, and progress was reported. ; The House adjourned at 3.45 a.m. Thursday, August 24. The Speaker took the chair at 2.80 p.m. Mr Thompson read the report on the Old Soldiers' claims, and after a long discussion the debate was adjourned, r: Mr Eamshaw related his differences with the Government, and one of the Whips and Mr Reeves" endeavoured to make the matter look a little brigher. ! .. The second reading of the Aliens \ct Amendment Bill was partially considered and then collapsed, a count-out having taken place at 9 p.m.