GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2545, 22 August 1893, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday.

Sir Patrick Buckley moved the second reading of the Electoral Bill, which-he remarked was similar to a Bill on the s tine subject which he had introduced in the Council in previous years. As on a prior occasion, he was still opposed personally to the clause conferring the franchise on women, but as Parliament and the country were undoubtedly in favor of it, he should regard himself as an exceedingly stubborn man if he presented any obstacle to what evidently was the will of the country. Sir George Whitmore opposed the Bill, partly because shearers and harvesters were sought to be deprived of the privilege of voting when absent from home, whilst the same concession was sought to be conferred upon commercial travellers.’ He utterly opposed the enfranchisement of women, chiefly as not being required by women and also as calculated to uusex women. He also feared that women being more impressionable than men would be dominated by the clergy in the direction of giving their votes. Mr McCullough gave unqualified support to the Bill. Mr W. C. Walker supported the Bill. He had opposed, and still did oppose the clause for the enfranchisement of women, and considered that most men regarded the proposition as a huge joke. The Government were divided on the question and so also were the Liberal party. If women were deemed capable exercising the franchise they were equally capable of occupying seats in Parliament. Mr Scotland opposed the Bill. Mr Jenkinson remarked that there were several blots on the Bill; but as a whole it was acceptable. Ho should like to see the polls kept open to 7 o’clock to enable working men to record their votes. Mr Bowen opposed the clause relating to the enfranchisement of women. He feared that if the clause was agreed to respectable women would become unsexed and only vote on special subjects, leaving the polls on general subjects to women of the abandoned class. He sincerely hoped that the Council would pause ere they passed a Bill which, if passed, would have the effect of causing incalculable misery in family circles. He moved the adjournment of the debate to Tuesday. The motion was agreed to, and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. , The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. COLONEL Eox’s REPORT. Replying to Captain Russel 1 , the Premier said that ho proposed to give the House an early opportunity of discussing Colonel Fox’s report, probably next week, and he should bring down some resolutions on the subject. THE GOVERNMENT LIQUOR BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill, to give the people greater control over the granting and refusing of licenses under the Licensing Act, 1881. Although the Bill had only been circulated yesterday it must be remembered that the liquor question had been before the 'sHouae nearly the whole session in one form or another, and he did not think that the House had been taken by surprise in bringing on the second reading so soon. All good colonists would be only too glad to see this great question settled before the next appeal ta the people. If this were not so, they would find large measures of policy subordinated to that of the liquor question, and that being the case it was only right for the Government to give the House an early opportunity of dealing with it. There wore extremists on each side of this question, and it would be impossible to legislate to the entire satisfaction of both sections. It was the duty of the Government and Parliament, however, to place the liquor trade under control, and give the people the opportunity of controlling it. One of the chief causes for the introduction of this Bill was the agitation that had been going on in Sydenham over the matter. He defended the action of the Government in bringing in the present Bill, and said that if they had not done so they would probably have had a Bill passed which would not do justice to the colony. Notwithstanding that that Bill had been introduced by a private member with large experience, the Government must lead iu this matter, and would not be led. There were already as many licenses in the colony as was good for the country, and the Government had therefore provided iu this Bill that no new licenses be issued for the in ext three years. As to tho reduction of (licenses, he thought that the generally 'expressed opinion was that there were grounds for reducing the number in some parts of the qolony. With regard to the direct veto the Government thought that they should do nothing hastily, and that some safeguards should be provided. The principle of the Bill was moderation, reduction, regulation, or complete control. He explained the details of the Bill. He justified the extension of licensing districts as a means of securing the of representative men oil Committees, Tho Government had done its best to secure good committees by disqualifying owners of houses, etc., from holding seats on committees. The provisions preventing single women holding licenses, and closing all houses at II o’clock, would, he felt sure, meet with the approval of the House, If, after the expiration of three years, during which no new licenses could be granted, it was found there was an increase of 25 per cent, in the population, and after a poll being taken, subject to the controlling, power of the Licensing Committee, he thought it reasonable that one license should be granted fp,r every 75.9 of such increased population. Referring to the three-fifths majority contained in the Bill, ho said tfiat pressure b a .4 boon brought to bear qu the Government to alter this to two»thirds of the total votes on the roll, and a bare majority of the votes polled, but the Government could not agree to that. He asked the extremists in the house to be moderate and not attempt too rave*;. The Government would nq doubt fcp taken to task for placing clubs on the same footing as licensed houses, as being an invasion of the rights of members of tho clubs. Tie had never been able to see why clubs should have so many privileges that war., denied to the general public, aud 1 e thought that it was tfino that these clubs were brought under review in the same way as hotels. The Bill also provided that no new club licenses should be granted unless by a recommendation of the Licensing Committee for the district. Ho claimed that the Government had done their best in introducing this Bill for the public interest, and he submitted it for tho approval of the House.

Sir John Hall declined to discuss the Bill, because there had never in his experience, been a case in which so large and important a question had been thrust on the House at such short notice. Mr Thomas Mackenzie took the same stand as Sir John Hall.

Mr Fish thought that plenty of time had been given for consideration of the pro-

visions of the Bill, and spoke until the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. On resuming at 7.30 Mr Fish continued his remarks and said that he recognised the great ability displayed by the Cabinet in framing this measure

Sir R. Stout said that the real point of the Bill was the 15th clause, which states the majorities required to carry the wish of the electors. If this was a matter for local control people must govern by majority. Any Liberal who voted for the three-fifths majority could not claim the title of Liberal. He warned the House that if clause 15 were left in the Bill as it now stood, the principle contained in it would be a burning question at the next election, and would overshadow anything else, Mr Fergus thought that the Bill was unnecessary, and that if the present law were vigorously enforced it would meet all cases. '

Mr Duthie heartily supported the Bill. Mr McGowan thought the Government deserved great credit for the measure. Mr Blake, Mr Taylor, and Mr Buckland also spoke. Captain Russell held that if the law were properly enforced there would be no necessity for this Bill. It seemed to him that the crime of adulteration was at the bottom of all drunkenness. Dr Newman held that if clause 15 were passed as it stood, the Bill would be a discredit to legislation and would not be worth the paper it was printed on. Mr Reeves said that no objection had been raised to the principle of the Bill, and it had been generally admitted that the Government had done its best to make it a good measure. As to the provision that oue-half o f the voters must vote, it should be remembered that the elections would take place immediately after the purging of the rolls, and therefore all votes would be effective. It had been said that the publicans would induce all their friends to abstain from voting. How could that be done by a handful of publicans in large electoral districts. If publicans were mad enough to do it, they would wake up the morning after the election to find that prohibition had been carried by a bare majority. With regard to Sis Robert Stout’s remarks, he (Mr Reeves) claimed that the direct veto by a bare majority was not true Liberalism. He denied also that this Bill would be a mockery unless it contained the principle of direct veto by a bare majority. The majority of the people did not want prohibition ; they wanted a reduction in the number of publichouses and more effectual control of the liquor trade. Would anyone say that this Bill did not provide for these two principles I Mr Fisher believed if the pressenl law were more efficiently carried out, this Bill would not be required.

Mr Harkuess and Mr O’Connor also spoke. In the course of his reply the Premier expressed his pleasure at the kindly manner in which the Bill had been received by the House, and said that he had no idea it would give such general satisfaction.

The second reading was agreed to on the voices.

On the suggestion of the Premier it was agreed to go into Committee on the Bill at once in order to advance it a stage. This was done and the short title was adopted. Progress was reported, leave being given to sit again on Tuesday next.

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then went into Committee of Supply

The votes for the Lunacy Department. £42,591, and Charitable Aid, £624, were passed without alteration. Votes for the Rotorua Sanatarium, 1161, and the Department of Labour, £2755, were passed without alteration. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 2.10 a.m.