PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2641, 7 September 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Sept G, Silt J. VOGEL'S LETTKK. On the resumption of the debate on the motion to keep Sir Julius Vogel’s letter out of “ Hansard,” the previous question was moved by Mr Reynolds, and carried. TIMAKU 11AUUOK BOAItD ENDOWMENT BILL. • The Timaru Harbor Board Endowment Bill was further considered in Committee, and reported with an amendment, the third reading being deferred for a week. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NOTICE OF NEW BILL. Mr Sheehan gave notice that lie would introduce a Bill further extending and securing the liberties of the Press. A DENIAL. Mr Sheehan ..took exseption to .the statement made- the previous night by Mr Hutchison to the eifect that he had been permitted a license of debate refused to others. In justice to himself and the Speaker and the Chairman, he gave the assertion an emphatic denial. TDK SUTX’KES.SED LETTEK. Replying to Major Harris, Mr Hall said the letter published in the “New Zealand Times” of the 29th ultimo was he had no doubt, a correct copy of Sir Julius Vogel's rejected letter. Ho could not promptly point out the objectionable passages. The whole tone of the letter, as a political manifesto, was studiously offensive, and many of the statements were manifestly incorrect, or at all events based on the wrong assumptions. It was in view of these facts the letter was rejected. LICENSING HILL. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Licensing Bill were considered. Mr Diek said he was not disposed to object to these amendments as a whole. The Council had amended clause 229 so to read that a charter shall be granted to Clubs, on the Colonial Secretary being satisfied that the conditions relative to that class of licenses have been provided for, and that a charter should in all time enable them to carry on unless it should appear to the Colonial Secretary at any time that these conditions had been changed. He would suggest as an addition to that clause that the license bo £2O per annum, and that the charter or license be nut granted any year until it had been shown to the Colonial Secretary

that all the conditions had been complied with, and the annual license be paid to the body entitled to receive it. Mr Speight said the amendments were of a most ridiculous character, which, if agreed to, would destroy the fruits of all their labors on the Bill.

Mr Andrews said the Bill was entirely a publicans’ one. The teetotallers wiped their hands of it,and there was no use wasting further time over it.

After some discussion, it was determined to go through the amendments singly,and a number were agreed to. On the first amendment relating to clubs, Sir William Fox objected altogether to the changes made regarding these institutions. The amendment was agfeed to, as were all up to clause 29. Striking out New Zealand wine license —This was agreed to on a division of 34 to 29. Clause 31—The question of the New Zealand wine license came up again. On the motion for agreeing to the amendment by the Council for striking out this clause, Mr Sheehan objected, contending that its effect would be to destroy the prospects of a promising industry, which the climate and soil of the North Island were well adapted for promoting. The House divided —Ayes, 26 ; Noes 32. The clause was retained. The Speaker pointed out that this decision exactly reversed that just previously arrived at. On resuming, sub section 3, of clause 29, which had before been struck out was restored. The remainder of the Bill as altered was concurred in, except clauses 46, 68, and 229, which were disagreed to. Sir William Fox, Messrs Wakefield, Russell, and Dick were appointed Managers for a Conference with the Upper House on the clauses objected to. SECOND READINGS. The Timaru Harbor Board Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, as also the Dogs Registration Act Amendment Bill, and the Rabbit Nuisance Act Amendment Bill. The House adjourned at 12.30 p.ra.