July, 6. LICENSING BILL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 383, 10 July 1889, Page 4

July, 6. LICENSING BILL.

Mr Steward's Triennial Licensing Bill passed its second reading last nighb upon the voices, the temperance party in the House feeling satisfied that he would carry it by a large majority. The object of the Bill is to make the election of licensing committees triennial instead of annual. The temperance members of the House feel that a vciy great deal can be said in its favour, and as there was no great principle at stake their opposition was of a very formal character. Mr U oldie, in the absence of Mr Fulton, who so successfully killed a similar Bill last session in Committee by the insertion of a clause giving ladies the light to vote, led oft in opposition, urging the folly of the (Jovernment allowing private members to introduce Bills of this character. He showed that the Act of 1881 was a consolidating measure, causing the repeal of some hftyone Licensing Acts, and urged that it was unwise and improper to allow pri vate members to destroy such a measure by piecemeal legislation. Mr Hobbs was the only other temperance champion. He condemned the apathy of the temperance people in not taking more interest in the elections, instead of allowing Committees to become, in too many cases, nomineeb of the publican and biewer. From what I can gather, there will be no concerted opposition to the measure in Committee, as Mr Fulton refuses to move such an amendment as he moved last year, so that it is more than probable it will run the gantlet of the Lower House successfully.

OUR POSTAL SERVICE.

Mr R. Reeves wanted the Government to increase our minimum letter weight to loz, as is the case in "Victoria, and also to make newspapers free. The Premier showed that at present the public got full value for their money, and if fche hon. gentleman's propopals were carried out the revenue would lose .C20,C00 each year.