PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 83, 29 July 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [Peb Pbkbs Association.] Wellington, July 28. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Dominion Trust Company of New Zealand Dili was read a second time and referred to the committee. COUNCIL PEL OHM. ! On the motion to go into committee upon the Legislative Council Dill, the Hons. Wigram, Jones, George, Baillie and Louisson spoke, suggesting amendments.

In committee, a new clase was added, providing for restrictions on the Council dealing with moiley clauses, to except revenue, ' taxation and loans dealt with by local bodies. At clause 12, making provision for four electorates, Hon. Barr moved that the number of electorates be eight instead of four. Hon. Bell said it was the policy of the Government to have the Senate elected upon proportional representation, and that the elections should not be upon small personal

issues. After debate, the Council divided upon the motion for amendment, which was defeated by 14 to 10. The Council rose at 4.50 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SESSION

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Massey said the Financial Statement would be delivered next week. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were read a first time :—Fire Inquests (Mr Sidey), Presbyterian Social Service Association Vesting Bill (Mr Clark), Rukapuka County Bill (Mr Nosworthy). Amendments made in committee in the Fruit Preserving Amendment Bill were agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. On the third reading of the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill, Sir Joseph Ward drew attention to the fact that numbering ballot papers in sequence endangered secrecy of the ballot. Mr Ell put in a plea for the extension of polling hours til! 7 p.m. Mr Fisher, in reply, admitted the force of Sir Joseph Ward’s criticism, and said ho would go into the matter with the electoral officer and see what could be done. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The Harbor Amendment Bill was read a third time add passed. The amendments made in the Victoria College Amendment Bill were agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time and passed, without debate. FINANCE. Mr Alien moved tire second reading of the New Zealand Loans Amendment Bill. He explained that at the / present time the Dominion was very much at the mercy of the Bank of England in the matter of inscription of stock. The Bill proposed to give the country poiver to inscribe our stock elsewdiere, if so desired. He did not propose to make any immediate change. All he wanted was the power to make the change if it were considered expedient to do so. Sir Joseph Ward said he did not agree with the proposal made in the Bill. The Bank of England was a very powerful institution, and it required grave consideration before we departed from the system which had been in operation since wo started raising loans.

l Mr Massey said the whole purpose of the Bill was economy.

Mr Allen, in reply, contended that all lie desired was that he might he free to inscribe the Dominion’s stock where he thought fit. At present we were tied to the Bank of England. He readily admitted that the Bank of England could he of assistance to the Dominion, but they were paid for all they did, and his impression was that we were paying too much.

The Bill was read a recond time and referred to the Public Accounts* Committee.

BANKING AMENDMENT

Mr Allen moved the second reading of the Banking Amendment Bill, making the notes of banks legal tender by Order-in-Couucil. —The Bill was read a second time on the voices. LICENSING BILL. On the House resuming at 7.30 p.m., the Licensing Bill was taken in committee. Mr Payne intimated his intention to move an amendment to the Bill providing for compulsory voting.

Mr Wilford declared that no-license did not prohibit, and it engendered a state of things which the no-licenso people themselves did not want. Ho proposed to move that there bo no local licensing poll taken at next election, but the vote on national nolicense be decided upon a 55 per cent, majority. .•

Mr G. W. Russell said the Bill was to all intents and purposes a Government measure. The Premier was assuming the responsibility of placing the country under national prohibition.

Mr Atmore contended that they must have a stable majority; 55 per cent, was not sufficient. Mr Coats said the question of revenue had to be considered. More taxation could not he placed upon the fa rmer.

Mr Webb said the question of State ownership shouhtTTc placed before the people. Mr R. McKenzie scouted the idea that the Government would make up any loss of revenue by land taxation.

The money would be made up out of Customs. f : Mr McComb said the House was n 6 called upon, to decide the liconsiugj question, but to say whether or nol the people should decide the question* Mr Isitt attacked the argument that bad economic conditions brought about drinking. Mr Russell held that there must bo some very strong reason to jusify the Premier in reversing his vote of 1910, and lowering the majority to 55 per cent. Mr Massey said there was no use in him repeating his arguments, and no use in talking, as every member had made up his mind as to how he intended to vote. If 55 per cent, of the people were prepared to vote for Dominion no-licenso he was prepared to give it to them. He would not agree that the question should bo decided by a bare majority. No one could say the Government was doing wiong in giving members an opportunity to express their opinion. Mr Payne moved that in clause 2 and in sub-section 2 of that clause,

“55 per cent.” be struck out, and the words “a majority of the electors” be inserted in lieu thereof. The amendment was lost by 63 to 4, the “noes” being Messrs Payne, Miller, Te Hangibiroa and Glover.

55 PER CENT. LOST,

On the question that the clause stand as part of tho Bill, the voting was: Ayes 31, noes 33. The clause was struck out.

Ayes, 31 —Anderson, Buxton, Colvin, Craigie, Davey, Ell, Escott, Fisher, Guthrie, Harris, liindraarsh, Hiue, Isitt, Lee, McCombs, Marnier, Massey, Dr. Newman, Ngata, Nosworthy, Okey, Pearce, Poland, Sykes, G. M. Thomson, Veitch, Ward, Webb, Wilkinson, Wilson, Young.

Noes, 33—Allen, Atmore, R. F.Bollard, Bradney, Brown, Buchanan, Buick, Campbell, Carroll, Coates, Dickie, Dickson, Fraser, Glover, Herdman, Hunter, MacDonald, McKenzie, Millar,, Myers, Parata, Payne, Pomare, Rangihiroa, Heed, Russell, Scott, Sidey, F. H. Smith, Statham, J. C. Thompson, Wilford, Witty.

Pairs.—R. H. Rhodes and McCallum; Hanan and J. Bollard; Bell and Homes,; Buddo and Forbes; Clark and R. W. Smith.

Clause 3, relating to barmaids, was struck out, on the motion of the premier, and the remaining clauses passed unamended.

i Mr Massey moved a lengthy amendment, providing that wine shall not be manufactured for sale, except under the authority of a wine makers’ license, granted under conditions hereinafter provided. y i Messrs Wilford, Isitt, and Hindmarsh pleaded for delay. The Premier asked the House to agree to the clause. If, later on, it was found to be imperfect, he would move to re-commit the Bill to have it s(mended.

This course was agreed to, and the clause passed, and progress was reported. The House rose at 11.47 p.m.