PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3895, 23 June 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Peb Pbess Association.)

HOUSE EEPRESENTATIVES

Wellington/Wednesday. Evening Sitting,

Mr Andrews moved that in all cases wherein any member or members of the Civil Service, or any person in Government employ be charged with an offence by which they may, if found guilty, become liable to fine or dismissal, the charge shall be heard by authorities appointed to deal with such questions; that all cases shall be heard with open doors, so that the Press of the colony may be present to report on every case it may be disposed to make public. The Hon. J. Hall opposed the motion, on the ground that the service was already sufficiently protected by Act of Parliament, and that an arrangement such as contemplated by the motion might be highly inconvenient.

Sir Gr. Grey supported the motion, and argued that the tendency was for the Civil Service to fall into the hands of a few favored families, in which case great injustice* might .be done in individual cases.

After discussion, the House divided: ayes, 35; noes, 28. The motion was carried.

Mr Hutchison moved that in the opinion of the House it is desirable for the due protection of life and property that such amend men I be introduced into the shipping legislation, as to prevent steamers trading along the coasts of New Zealand, and carrying passengers, from leaving any port insufficiently manned.

Major Atkinson said that the rule followed by Government was to leave the individual members of the State free when experience showed it was not necessary for the State to interfere. In this case no such necessity had been shown. If the mover was really in earnest, he ought to have moved for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the whole facts of the case, and to ascertain what amendment was really necessary for further security. Mr Levestam cordially -supported the motion, stating that increased stringent measures were requisite for safe navigation, not only of small coasting steamers, but likewise the larger class of passen* ger steamers. Mr Shepherd moved as an amendment the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the whole question. Mr Hutchinson accepted the amendment, which was carried on the voices.

Mr Hutchinson moved for a return of the number of convicts in the various gaols employed at trades and various kinds of labour, specifying the respective trades and value per week of work done by each convict, with rate at which such value is reckoned, either by time orji'esults in each trade respectively. Government agreed to the motion, which was carried.

In reply to a question, Government said Dr Hector has been appointed to report on tUe Duuedin Exhibition.

Mr Murray moved the second reading of (.he Drainage Bill.

Mr Bain seconded, stating that great interest was being takep iv the measure in Southland, and .much disappointment felt at it not passing last session. The Hon. J. Hall expressed approval of the principle of the bill, but thought its details required consideration by a select committee.

Mr Montgomery pointed out that the bill last session was carefully considered by a select committee. After further discussion the bill was read a second time.

FIBE BKIGADES

Mr Stevens moved the second reading of the Eire Brigade Bill, which wa& an exact reproduction of the bill of last session.

Mr Shrimski opposed the bill. Messrs Shepherd and Dick supported the bill.

Messrs Andrews and J. T. Fisher ob jected to the rating clauses. The bill was read a second time.

LICENSING BILL

The Licensing Bill was further considered in committee.

"'" Clause 63 to 71 inclusive, dealing with the mode of making and hearing objections to the granting of licenses, passed as printed. On clause 72, Sir W. Fox proposed to make amendments requiring applications for packet and wholesale licenses to be made at ordinary licensing meetings. Mr Dick said this course would be most inconvenient. In the case of packet licenses, the case was postponed.

Clause 73 was passed, giving the power to grant wholesale licenses id the name of of a firm or co-partnership. Clause 74 was amended so that conditional licenses be granted by two members of a licensing committee, not by the Magistrate.

Clauses 75 to 78 were passed and refer to the granting of licenses on a goldfield, or places where owing to a sudden increase of population there appears to exist a necessity for a publican's license, such licenses only to be conditional, and until the licensing committee meet. Clauses 79 to 81 were passed as printed. These clauses give to the regulations for granting renewals, transfers, and removals of licenses. Renewals may be granted during 1882 at quarterly meetings, and fees shall only be charged proportionately.

In clause 82, in which applicants fir renewal are not required to attend unless notice of opposition be given, Sir W. Fox strongly objected, and moved that the clause be struck out.

The clause passed with an amendment giving the Chairman power to summons applicants to attend.

On clause 83, Mr Moss moved ant amendment to prevent a Licensing Committee, on its motion, cancelling any license without giving notice to applicant to attend.

The amendment was negatived, and the clause passed—all evidence of objections to a renewal to he on oath.

• Clauses 84 to 89 passed, dealing mainly with tbe objections to transfers, and applications for such.

Clause 89 was verbally amended

Clauses 90 to 92 passed

Clause 93 was postponed. It provides for the owner of a house getting a transfer of the license where the licensee has been ejected. .

Clause 94 was amended by two members of Licensing Committee being inserted instead of two Justices of the Peace having the power to give an order to the person they consider entitled to the benefit of a license to carry on business.

Mr Saunders moved the omission of clause 95, so as to make landlords more careful in the selection of teuants. This clause provides that when a licensee has been convicted of any offence or forfeits his license, the owner may receive a transfer if it is proved he had not been to blame.

After discussion, the clause passed as printed.

Latee. Wellington, This day. The Licensing Bill was continued. Clauses from 96 to 107 were passed. These clauses deal with the question of removals, deaths, casualties to licensees.

On clause 108, fixing amounts of license fees, considerable discussion ensued, Mr Bastings moved that the publicans license fee be reduced from £40 to £30. The amendment wa»lost by 35 to 25, and £40 was passed. Another amendment to make this apply only in Boroughs with upwards of 3000 inhabitants was also lost. In the license fee outside of boroughs, the proposed sum of £30 was stuck out. Amendment to make the sum £20 was lost by 27 24. A further amendment to make it not exceeding £20 at the discretion of the bench was negatived by 26 to 25 ; and a a further amendment to make the sum £29 was negatived by 25 to 24. The amount was ultimately fixed at £25.

Progress was reported, and the House rose at 12.45.