Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 10 September 1895, Page 2

Parliament.

HOUSE OF BEPEESENTATIVES. Friday, Siptember 6. The Speaker took the chair at 7.30 p.m. The afternoon was mainly lakeo up in answering question. The House at 5.80 adjourned until 7.80. The Alcoholic Liquors Sales Control Act Amendment Bill (Govern* menb measure) was taken in committee. At clause 2, at the part of the clause providing that licensing electiona shall take place on the day of the general election, an amendment was moved by Mr Halls Jones to test the question of whether the elections should be held on that day or not. Mr Hall-Jones urged that the election should not be held on the day of the general election. The Premier pointed out that separate polling booths and separate officers could be used even if the elections were held on the same day. All he wanted to do was to take a straight-out vote to Bee when the House wanted the election to be held. He wished the House to understand that this, and all the ques tions that might arise in connection with the Bill, would be treated apart from party - they would not be made party questions. On division a tie resulted, 31 voting each way. The chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the clause remaining as at present, which means that the licensing election will be held on the same day as the general election. At clause 2, providing that the ballot paper shall include four questions, viz. : — (1) Whether the number of licenses existing in the district is to*continue ; (2) whether the number of licenses existing in the district is to be reduced ; (3) whether no licenses are to be granted in the district ; (4) whether no licenses are to be granted in the Colony- -Mr G. W. Eussell moved to strike out the first issue as being unnecessary. The Premier opposfid this. The electors had as much right to say whether things should remain as at present or not as they had to answer any of the other questions. The motion was lost by 42 to 25. Mr Millar then moved to strike out the second of the issues to be submitted, viz., that providing for reduction. This was lost by 59 to 8, and the clause passed without amendment. At clause 4, which as well as clause 2 dealt with the day of the election, Mr T. Thompson called for another division on the question of when the election should take place. On this occesun the House decided by 31 to 30 against the election -;

taking place oil the day of the gene* ral election, and the clause was struck out. This leaves the date open. At clause 6, providing that each Voter shall be entitled to vote on two of the four issues submitted, such i votes not to be cumulative, Mr Earnshaw moved to alter this so as to give each voter three votes. The Premier opposed this, contending that two votes to each voter gave ample opportunity for a fair expression of opinion. Sir Robert Stout said this was the crux of the whole Bill. If the Bill was carried without amendment, it would be woi^e than the existing law. Uuder it majorities could not rule — it was all against Prohibition and reduction. After a warm discussion, Mr Earnshaw's amendment was put and carried by 40 to 20. In clause 8, Mr Lawry moved to make a three fifths instead of an absolute majority necessary to carrj reduction. . ■ ;. This was lost on the voices. Mr Montgomery moved that in case of reduction being carried at least 15 per cent, instead of 5 per cent* of the total number of publichottges id the district shall be closed. The word five was struck out, the voting being 25 to 31. Ten instead of 15 was then substituted for the word struck out. An additional amendment was made by consent of the Premier, providing that where reduction is carried the number of licenses-shall be reduced by at least one. This was to meet cases where the minimum of 10 per cent, would not act. A proposal by Mr G. J. Smith that " no license " shall be carried by a three-filths majority was lost by 81 to 22. On the motion of the Premier, an addition was made to clause 11 providing that the tabulated results of all the licensing elections in the Colony shall be published in the Gazette. Shortly afterwards Mr Duthie moved to report progress. The Premier 9aid that if consider-, ation of the Bill was now postponed it could not come before the House again for at least a week. The motion was carried by 81 to 20, and the House rose at 1.25 a.m.