HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 144, 18 June 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Friday night,

On resuming, the Speaker reported , that his Exce'lency had been ple'ased'to receive the address, and he read the reply thanking 1 them for same. Sir W. Fox gave notice that he would move that a conference of both Houses be appointed to consider the advisability of abolishing the sale of spirituous liquor in the Parliamentary Buildings. Two weeks leave of absence was granted to Messrs Sheehan and Moorhouse. Replying to questions, it wa-s stated that the Government had under consideration what railway works should be gone on with, and that on arriving at a decision they would say whether or not it was their intention to proceed with the Windsor-Livingston line. That as regarded the unemp'oyed, said to be dependent on the resumption of such work, steps would be taken to distribute them over the Colony so as to afford, them an opportunity of getting work. The Gambling and Lotteries Bill of last session would be introduced, and if possible, passed this year. The Government had not handed over to Mr T. Russell, 1 or any person acting on his behalf, any portion of the Te Aroha block. EuqOiries would be made into the circumstances under which two men were committed at the Waituate R.M. Court for refusing to pay a fine of £55 G to Mr Michael Sfcudholuie for trespassing in pursuit of game. A reserve at Oamaru recently given to. the County Council was in lieu of another section previously promised. Mr Bryce as a personal matter drew attention to the despatch from the Governor to the Secretary of State,- referring to his resignation as Native Minister, and saying that ah extra from the New Zealand Herald enclosed, was supposed to give Mr Bryce's own version of his reasons for retiring. He desired to say that he had made it a point of honor to, fulfil his promise given to his colleagues, not to make to anyone a statement of his reasons for retiring. He had not done so, and was astonished at the Governor's statement. Were he to characterise His Excellency's action, he would use precisely the same terms as those used by the High Commissioner in reference to the conduct of the Intercolonial Conference in acting on newspap( r statements. He asked the Government to give equal publicity to his real reasons with that given to the erroneous statement. The Hon. Mr Hall said that Ministers knew nothing of the despatch till long after it had been sent. They would endeavor to comply with Mr Bryce's request. The House went into Committee on the Chinese Bill, which was eventually returned with amendments. A proposal to raise the poll tax from £10 to £50 was rejected by 24 to 23. . The House adjourned at 5.30. On the House resuming at 7*30 p.m. a moiion was made to go into Committee on the Licensing Bill. Dr Wallis addressed the House at considerable length-, criticising the Bill and urging* claims for compensation if licenses were; abolished by Local Option. Sir W. Fox replied to Dr Wallis. Mr Jones thought that the question of licensing, like others, might be dealt with under a scheme of Local Government. The House then Went into. Committee, and the first eleven clauses were passed without amendment. On Clause 12 an amendment" was proposed by Sir W. Fox, and carried by; 3-i to 19, providing for the election of LicensingCommissioners by the ratepayers. : Several clauses were postponed. ; Clause 26, providing that no pub' i tans shall hold, or be interested in, more licenses than one, was passed. Clause 28 was passed. This provides as follows :—-" A publican's license shall authorise the. licensee to sell and dispose of any liquor, in any quantity, on the premisestherein specified, between the hours of six in the morning and ten at night." Clause 29, relating to fam'ly hotel licenses, Mr Bastings moved, he struck out, which was done on a division of 27 to 10. On Clause 30, relating to Clubs, Mr Leveatam moved an amendment to restrict the aale of liquor in them to betwaon the hours of c a.m. and 12 p m. which was agreed to. Progress was reported and the House rose at 12 35 a.m.