GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2850, 3 August 1895, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tho Council met at 2 30 p.m. on Wednesday. SECOND READING. The Hamilton Gasworks Bill was read a second time. BILLS PASSED. The third reading of Mr McGregor’s Divorce Bill was carried by 10 to 15, and iho Bill passed. Tho Adoption of Children’s Bill was put through its final stages after a short debate. BILL THROWN OUT. The Coroners Inquests Bill (which had passed the Lower House in charge of Major Steward), was thrown out on the second reading by 21 to 12. BILLS ADVANCED. The Commissioners’ Powers Bill passed through Committee without uuy material amendment. The Mining Companies Act Amendment Bill, and Cemeteries Act Amendment (cremation) Bill were read a second lime. Tho Council rose at 3 40 p.m. The Council met at 2 30 p.m. on 1 hursday. INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISTS BILL. The New Zealand Institute of Journalists Bill was received from tho Labour Bill Committee without amoudtueut, aud its c immittal set down for next day. BILLS PASSED. The Commissioners Bowers Bill and the Cemeteries Act Amendment (Cremation) Bill wore put through their final stages. ADULTERATION PREVENTION BILL. The new clauses inserted by tho Council in tho Adulteration Prevention Act Amendment Bill relating to margarine, and objected to by the House, were struck out. Tho Attorney-General stated that a new Bill would be introduced shortly to embody the clauses. THROUGH COMMITTEE. The Native Townships Bill and the Property Law Consolidation Act Amendment Bill passed through committee without material alteration. Tho Council rose at 3.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2,30 p.m. on Wednesday. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Questions it was stated that the ngricultural Department had under consideration the advisability of otiering a bonus f-r encouraging the production of European flax in the colony ■; that an amendment would probably be introduced in the Shops and Shop Assistants Act to allow ironmongers shops to keep open on the statute half-holiday for the sale of harvesting machinery only ; that the Law Olficers would be consulted to see whether the New Zealand creditors of Miles & Company, Christchurch, could bo protected from loss sustained on their wool on the ground that the firm were domiciled in Loudon. The adjournment of tho House was moved, and a discussion embracing the various subjects con tained in the questions, occupied the House till 5.30 p.m. House resumed c-t. 7-30-NEW MEMBER. Mr Tholtijs Thompson, tho n?'Gyelected member' iov Auckland, took the oath and his seat. LICENSING AMENDMENT. Mr McNab moved the second reading of the Licensing Acts Amendment Bill. Tho licensing law of tho colony had been a fruitful source of legislation for years, and so far as ho could see they were a long way off finality. He referred to the Government Bill of last session and tho circumstances that led to its being dropped, which resulted in the House separating without passing any legislation at all on the subject. Throughout the whole of tho recess this matter had occupied a groat deal of attention, and ho felt convinced that either his Bill or a Government measure would have to bo passed by tho House this session. His Bill had boon fully discussed during the recess, and at the Alliance Convention in March last there was an expression of opinion favorable to tho great bulk of tho Bill. Ho was perfectly prepared to accept reasonable amendments in tho Bill, such as whether they should have reduction of licenses or not. Tliero was no provision in the Bill for reduction, but if a majority of tho House desired a provision of that kind it could bo worked into the Bill. Ho explained tho various provisions of tho Bill at some length. It was proposed to strike out bottle licenses and New Zealand wino licenses. Railway refreshment rooms and c'nbs were to be put. on the .‘-aoej footing with respect to the prohibition vote as tho licensed, pi ood-as. The day on which I he local option poll f.hoiild take place -ii.iiil! bo i the second Wednesday in April, I H!>7, and t heveivft'. on the second Wcdnc-day in April in ?vcy thud year. ( danse 13 brought the real issue of prohibition bof iro tlm electors. Tin.; colonial option poll was to he taken on the same day as tho election for members of the House. The i render congratulated Mr McNab on tho moderate tone of his speech This was a q :cslio;i which should be dealt with by tin; Government of tin; day, and t lie Government now Inn! a Liceur ing Bill before the House. The Government had not given any cause to suppose that they wore not sincere in their desire

to pass their Dill, and had not departed from the views ho expressed last session on this question. After the experience they had had during the recess, and the attacks made on him and his colleagues as to thoir insincerity in the matter, he had this session brought down a Bill with a few amending clauses, leaving the consolidation part of the measure till another time, lie felt that they should pass a Bill of this kind this session, as next year they would bo nearer a general election, and they would then probably have extreme views on both sides preparatory to facing the people. The work done by the Government and Liberal party ;u this cause had never |boen properly acknowledged. The Government was the first that had placed |the liquor traffic under the direct control of the people. He was glad to find that Mr McNab and his friends were at last compelled to admit that a clause relating to reduction of licenses should be inserted in the Bill, and that proved that they were in favor of the Government Bill. Ho had come to the conclusion that if the licensing elections were held on any other day than that of the General Elections a very poor representation of the voice of the country would be obtained It would be injurious to have a bare majority on the question of prohibition, for if any groat reform were to stand there must be more than a bare majority in its favor. He believed that there was a majority in the House and country for three-fifths. It was right to have a bare majority as regards reduction, but not on such a great question as total prohibition. It was for Mr McNab to consider whether he would proceed with his Bill after the Government Bill was before them, as it was not possible for him to get the Bill through committee before the Government Bill was read a second time. He (the Premier) was not going to take any extreme course in regard to this Bill, although, had he desired, he could have raised a very important constitutional objection to it. He wanted this vexed question settled, for a time at least. Sir Robert Stout pointed out that the Government Bill of last sesdou was not brought down till the House was near its prorogation. lie strongly supported Mr McNab’s Bill, and ho contended that it contained a proposal for reduction, although in another form. The reduction question must be settled by someone, and it rested with the committee which would be elected by the people to say whether there should be a reduction. Ample opportunity was given to the people to vote for license or no license, or to vote for reduction or no reduction. There were only three questions to be considered : First, shall there be, a bare majority or a three-fifths majority; secondly, when the vote is to be taken ; and, thirdly, whether there shall be a straight out vote license or no licence, reduction or no reduction. He agreed with the Premier that the poll should be taken on the general election day. Mr Lawry said he would oppose both Mr McNab’s Bill and the Government Bill.

Mr Saunders, Mr Moutgomary, and Dr Newman, having spoken in support of the second reading, Mr Reeves, speaking as a private member, said that ho would not vote for the second reading of ibis Bill. If it had been ’.he only Licensing Bill before the House, however, ho would have voted for it. Ho defended the police from the charges made against them, and pointed out the cunning devices that were employed in order to successfully evade the law. It was infinitely more difficult to prevent the licensing law being broken than to prevent the evasion of the labor laws ; and the labor faws were constantly being broken. He suggested that a special branch of the public service should be charged with the administration of the licensing laws, and that paid inspectors should bo employed, with the police as sub-inspectors. The Government had brought down the’.r Bill in all sincerity, and would do their beat to pass He was still in favor of a three-fifths majority. Mr G. j. Smith supported the Bill, and Mr E, M.' Smith and Mr Collins opposed it. At 12.50 a motion tor adjournment of the debate was lost by 32 to 21. Mr Fraser said that he preferred the Government Bill. Mr McNab did not exorcise his right of reply. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. Tho Bill was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The House rose at 11.30 The House met at 2.30 p.ip. on Thursday. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The Premier informed the House that, in acc irdanco with an agreement made wiph the leader of the Opposition, the debate on the f'n.anpial Statement would be commenced on Tuesday pejt. LOCAL BILLS. The whole of the afternoon was doyoted to the consideration of local Bilibi The House rose at f).3(J pm . and resumed at 7.30. BILL PASSED. The Threshing Machine Owners Bill passed its final stages. CRIMINAL CODE, The Criminal Code Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 2—Louis Chemis to have the right to apply to the Court of Appeal for a now trial. Sir Robert Stout strongly objected to this Bill, and said that if Chemis was allowed a new trial it should apply to all. He moved that the chairman leave the chair. Mr Bell took a similar view. Tho Premier said that tho Bill would create an dangerous precedent, and ho should vote against it. After a lengthy discussion Sir Robert Stout’s motion was lost by 10 to 13. Mr G. J. Smith moved an amendment that tho Bill should apply to any prisoner convicted of any crime before tho passing of tho s dd Act. This was lost by -12 to 12, and tho clause passed without alteration. IN COMMITTEE. '■ ho Unclaimed Moneys Bill was committed. Mr Ward wished to propose several amendments it this Bill, and lie asked Mr Joyce to report progress on it, in which case ho (Mr Ward) would lake charge of tho Bill and pass it through Committee. Mr Joyce agreed to tho suggestion and progress was reported. Tho Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill was committed The amendment- made by the <'o:dfields Commit too were agreed to and the clauses passed with slight amendment-. Mr G. W. Bussell moved a new danse providing that .any land known to contain a coal mine bo set aside as a coal reserve and worked by the S-.tate as a national coal mine, tho coal to be obtained therefrom to bo used as the Minister of Mines ! might think tit. Tho Premier objected to the insertion of such a clause. Tho clause was rejected by 33 to It.

The Counties Act, 1886, Amendment Bill passed through Committee without material amendment. The Defamation Bill was committed.

Mr Ward objected to the Bill from beginning to end, as it would give opportunities for unscrupulous journalists to attack public men. He did not object to fair criticism, but he did object to scurrilous attacks on the part of certain newspapers, and there were a few journalists in the colony who wore by no means fair in their criticism.

Sir,Robert Stout said that what Mr Ward complained of took place under the present Act. Ho (Sir R. Stout) defended the Bill at length, and said that it chiefly related to protection in reporting matters of public interest, and publishing fair comment on public questions. After a long discussion, during which Mr McKenzie and the Premier spoke against the Bill, the motion by Mr Ward, that the chairman leave the chair, was carried by 32 to 20, the Bill thus being killed.

The division list on Mr Ward’s motion was as follows : —Ayes (32). —Cadmau, Carroll, Caruell, Collins, Crowther, ’Duncan, Flatmau, Graham, Hall, HallJones, Harris, Hogg, Houston, G. Hutchison, Joyce, J. W. Kelly, W. Kelly, McGowan, J. McKenzie, Meredith, Millar, Mills, Morrison, Parata, Pinkerton, G. W. Russell, Seddon, E. M. Smith, Stevens, Tanner, Ward, T. Thompson. Noes (20) Buchanan, Buddo, Camcross, Duthie, Earnshaw, Green, Heke, W. Hutchison, Lang, Massey, McGuire, R. McKenzie, McNab, Mitchelsou, O’Regan, Pirani, Saunders, G. J Smith, Steward, Stout. Bairs ; Ayes—Maslin, Reeves, T. McKenzie. Noes—Newman, W. R. Russell, Button. BILLS PASSED. The Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill, Coal Minos Act Amendment Bill,and Counties Act Amendment Bill were reported, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 12.45 p.m.