PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 13, 2 September 1914, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [Pas Peksi Amooiation.) Wellington, September 1. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Whangarei Harbor Bill was read a first time. Hon. H. D. Bell moved the third reading of the Master and Apprentice Bill, which was read a third time and passed. The Council went into committee upon the Public Bodies Leases Bill, which was reported without amendment. th e licensing bill. The Council went into committee upon the Licensing Bill. Speaking upon the question of the 20 per cent, limit fixed for the strength of wine, Hon. H. D. Bell pointed out that so Tar from the standard being too high, he found from investigations that the standard was not high enough. He hoped to have the data ready to place before the Council to-morrow, and therefore asked for the postponement of the clause. A new clause (4) was inserted providing for the amendment of the principal Act by prohibiting the sale of liquor for consumption off the premises to any person under the age of 21 years. Sub-section 2of clause 7, which provided for the delivery of liquor in no-license districts upon the same day on which it is taken into such district, was struck out. The Minister pointed out that such a provision would be unworkable in some districts.

A new clause was added by Hon. Maginnity, providing for a chairman of a licensing committee alone to sign temporary transfers of licenses.

Hon. Barr moved a new clause, providing that no person under the age of 21 should be employed in or about a bar in any capacity. The clause was iagreed to on a division by 12 to 11. Later, the words, “or about” were deleted, by 12 to 11.

Progress was then reported, and the Council rose at 5.15 p.m.

VOTES FOR OUR SOLDIERS.

Wellington, September 1

In the House of Representatives to-night, the Expeditionary Force Voting Bill was introduced by Governor’s Message.

Hon. F. M. .B. Fisher explained that the Bill was intended to give the members of the Expeditionary Forces the full rights of citizenship under the Legislature Act. It was reasonable to suppose that our second force would be on English soil when the elections take place. A roll would be prepared on the voyage, and the names of candidates would be cabled to England, and the results would be cabled back on the day on which the election was held here. He was not certain what the position in Samoa would be a few months hence, but it might be necessary to send an electoral officer to hold an election there.

Sir Joseph Ward said his impression, after listening to the speech of the Minister, was that the Bill would defeat the object of those who wished to cast their votes. The election should be held here, before the men left, allowing each man to vote for his party. Mr Russell said the broad question which the people would have to decide at next election was whether the present Government was to remain in office or not, and surely a simple way of giving men an opportunity of expressing their opinion on that question could be devised. The election ought to be held before the men left. Mr Hanan contended that nothing should be done to destroy the spirit of unity amongst our men. Let the House take ground, and show that the first consideration was not party advantage but the good of the Empire.

Mr Bradney contended that there was no object in postponing the election, except to save the cost of the election.

Mr Myers said that if an election was not hold before the contingent left New Zealand it would be better that it be not held at all.

Mr G. V. Pearce thought the proposal in the Bill was impracticable. The men should vote by proxy before they loft.

Mr Buick said the Bill was the most absurd proposal ever heard of. Eventually, the Bill was referred l to a select committee, on the motion of the Hon. Mr Fisher. THt GENERAL ELECTION. Sir Joseph Ward asked the Premier if he could say when the general election would take place. He pointed out that the year was creeping on, and the people had a right to know whether an election would be held this year or not. His personal opinion was that it ought to be put off till next year. The Opposition wanted to keep party out of the present crisis, but there was an impression abroad that the Government had not followed the good example set by his side. The Premier, in reply, said that under the constitution an election must be hold this year before Parliament died by effluxion of time. The Government wanted to do the right thing ? and would do it. The difficulty was that no one could tell what the condition of European affairs would be in three months’ time, and if matters calmed down he saw no reason why the elections should not be held as usual. He would make a statement to the House as to the date of the election not later than ' the 14th September.