HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 205, 30 August 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

tu tt Wellington, Wednesday. : The House met at 2.30 this afternoon. | ]

Replying to questions, the Government said instructions had been given to search for the missing sailing vessel Hinemoa. The Government would endeavor to mako arrangements to avoid the trouble and expense of reciting the Governor's full titles in all official documents and notices. The Harbors and Navigation Bill was intioduced. Mr Sheehan moved that the House go into Committee to consider Mr Barton's petition for the removal of the Judces, to examine into the truth of its complaints, and to decide on the same. He read a letter from Mr Barton, asking that this couse be taken. He had presented the petition simply as a matter of duty and in justice to a gentleman in Mr Barton's position who felfc he had a substantial grievance demanding au enquiry. Mr Whitaker said that, according to precedent, it was the duty of the Ministry, on such a petition, to advise Parliament if they thought any further enquiry or action necessary. Ministers had done this. The petition conveyed full infaimation as to the grounds of complaint, and the Government considered the charges it made were neither serious nor specific enough to justify the removal of the Judges, even if all were proved true. It was undesirable, therefore, for the House to lake any further action, in accdrdance with precedent. Undarthese circumstances, he would move that tho order for receiving the petition be discharged. He read a letter from the Chief Justice, replying 'to tha petition. He thought Mr Barton was {ully justified in bringing any grievance he had before the House and public opinion, but nothing had been proved to render further, investigation or action necessary or desirable. Messrs Gisborne, Macandrew, Thomson, Travers, and Murray objected to the House refusing to receive any properly worded petition asking for the redress of grievances. Mr Hunter thought nothing had been shown for the Judges to answer. Mr Sheehan said the statements in the petitiou were very grievous, and the House should take evidence as)to whether they were true or not. After some discussion, in which Messrs Button, Rees, Barff, Harper, Rollestou, and Stout took part, Mr Sheehan's original motion was negatived on the voices. Mr Whitaker's haviug become a substantive motion, Mr Thomson moved as an amendment, that a select Committee be appoiuted to take evidence and report whether the evidence is likely to justify the House in removing the Judges. The House divided, and Mr Thomson's amendment was negatived by 37 to 29. The House then rose for dinner. Thursday. The debate on Mr Barton's petition waa adjourned, and •Mr Fox then moved the Local Option Bill into Committee, and in doing so spoke for an hour and a quarter, replying to what had been said during the second reading debate. He accused Dr. Wallis of having broken his election pledges in coming forward like a high priest of Bacchus in defence of the publicans. Dr. Wallis explained that he had broken no pledges. Mr Fox continued and defended the principle of the Bill. He denied that its provisions were arbitrary, and cared very little for statistics regarding drunkenness being on the- increase or decrease, while the fact remained that we were drinking too much. He totally denied the existence of any claim for compensation, aud would rather lose the Bill thau admit it. Remedial not merely palliative measures were demanded by the urgency of the evil. No regulations for the couduct of houses, or the punishment of the drinker or the sailer of drinks would be efficacious, for no punishment could be inflicted ou the drunkard greater than those following his vice. As to any understanding about the right to the renewal of licenses, there could be none. The licenses were only annual, and by Sunday trading, by adulteration, and by other breaches of the law, the publicans had forfeited all claim to consideration. Instead of being too strongly spoken of they had been too lightly let off. He gave a sketch of the fearful state in which he found the hotels in Hawke's Bay. The local option principle was accepted seven years ago but the claim to compensation was quite new and he would resist to the last the taking of working men's money to bribe the liquor dealers to remove their bloodstained hands from the people's throats. He had drafted new clauses to meet the objections regarding the boundaries of licensing districts. Mr Rees condemned Mr Fox's telegram to Auckland about Dr. Wallis, and also the abuse he had heaped upon the publicans, as a good cause suffered thereby. He would support abolishing all bar traffic without compensation, and would also make the Licensing Commissioners elective. Mr Gisborne said if liceuseswereabolished on the grounds of public policy compensation would undoubtedly be due. Dr Wallis condemned Mr Fox's intemperate language, and defended himself. Fairness and justice, he considered, necessitated compensation. Messrs Ballance and Joyce replied warmly to the remarks made by Mr Fox regarding their former speeches. Mr Swanson complaiued that Mr Fox was arrogatiug all the credit to himself, while he and the Auckland Provincial Council had carried a far better bill long before Mr Fox took the subject up. He felt humiliated at the manner iv which Mr Fox talked of the publicans, and referred to many he knew in Auckland of the highest character. It was disgraceful that a whole class should be dragged through the mire. He would like to lpnow whether politicians were so pure sis to justify their abusing publicans as a class. There was a want of thoroughness about the Bill which would leave Bellamy's and clubs alone. Compensation would be due in some but not in many cases. He was willing to do anything that was fair to reduce intemperance, but _>c djS-M'proved of Mr Fox's tone and style. The Bill then went into Committee, aud progress was reported on clause 2 after a long discussion, and •"- twenty " altered to 'f fifty "in the clause. A variety of other amendments were proposed, aud the House adjourned at 11.30 p.m.