PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 177, 24 July 1873, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, July 23. On a motion for leave of absenee for three weeks, yesterday, to a member, Mr Buckland contended that the time was too long. It would virtually disfranchise the constituency. Mr Eeeves suggested some provision relative to members who were also members of Provincial Councils beiog absent attending the Councils. Mr Fitzherbert suggested thatthesession of Provincial Councils should be restricted to the recess. Mr Fox asked the Government whether in response to petitions, the Government intended to introduce a measure amending tbe Licensing Bill. The Premier replied, referring lo Mr Fox's exertions in connection with the total abstinence cause, and went on strongly to condemn drunkenness. He criticised tbe Permissive Bill, which would jeopardise tbe property and rights of licensed victuallers. It would not improve houses already licensed, but by jeopardising the value of property, render the character of th'! houses worse. The Government favourt 1 the improvement of the existing licr. :- ing laws. It would prefer to prevent .&, V alteration of drink nnd sale of absolute poisons, and render more difficult the obtaining of licenses for nev/ houseG. The Government recognised lhat the present system of granting licenses by unpaid Justices does not work well. The power of granting licensea should be taken out of the power of Justices. Commissioners should be appointed to watch over and inspect licensed bouses; to watch over improvements, and instruct the owners to make necessary improvements; if such are not made in sufficient time, to bave tbe power to suspend licenses for misconduct, and only graut fresh licenses where really necessary; to inspect houses before granting licenses; to prescribe the conditions upon which bars should be conducted; to grant encouragement to working men's clubs. They should stringently suppress adulteration and impose heavy penalties. Any deficiency in revenue under the new system to be made up by increasing the cost of licenses. The Government were not able to give any definite promise upon the subjects raised by Mr Fox, but would consider the question duriDg the recess. In reply to Mr Rolleston, Mr M'Lean promised to produce the despatches from the late Governor lo the Secretary-of-Stafce relative to the native meeting r at Ngaruawahia, and tbe change of Ministry; also the despatch from tbe Acting Governor, relative to the Luna's visit to Kawhia. Mr Eichardson promised a return of the amount paid to the owners of private property for land takeu for railway purposes. Tbe Juvenile Offenders Bill, The Bills disqualifying holders of Publicans Licenses and Justices of the peace, the Marine Surveyors and Native Eeserves Bills, were read a first time, The Joint Stock Companies ond the Canterbury Water Supply Bills passed the second reading. The Wellington College Bill was read a first time. The Prisons Bill passed the second reading. Mr Bathgate explained it was a simple Consolidation Bill, except clause ten, which empowers the Governor to appoint a place for a penal establishment. Mr Stewart asked the Native Minister for information relative to Mr Colenso's Maori Lexicon. Mr M'Lean said £1,180 had been expended on the work, which was not completed. Mr Colenso alleged that illness bad prevented tbe completion oi the work. Nothing had been paid since 1870. There was a large amount of matter which was now in Mr Colenso's hands. In tbe Upper House yesterday Mr Waterhouse, iu moving the appointment of a Select Committee to report upon the reconstruction of the Council, said that the Lower House had no power to abolish Council, as it was a matter settled by the Constitution Act. The second Chamber was highly necessary for good government. The existence of one Chamber, wherever it had been tried, had proved a failure. The reviewing measures from the Lower Houso was not. eo important a function as preventing one claßs from domineering over the other. He showed the difference between tbe House of Lords at bome and ihe Council here. The nomination of its members here was dependent upon the exigencies of party, and the Council could not offer resistance to popular pres-; sure, aud could not maintain itself against the elective body. He was in favor of an i elective Chamber, which should reeemble , the United States Senate. The qualifica-

tion should be the same for both Houses, the duration of tbe Council being ten or twelve years. After Bome further discussion the motion was adjourned.