(Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Agency.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 351, 13 August 1874, Page 2

(Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Agency.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

• Mr Yon der Heyde took his oath and seat. He presented a petition in favor of Kaipara railway extension. Mv Fox having moved that the petitions in favor of lust year's Act be read, made a vigorous speech in support of the prohibitive principle of the existing Act, and in denunciation of the liquor traffic generally as the main cause of a great deal of demorali lation, destitution, and decay in the colony. He maintained that the Government had no right to bring down the present bill after the House giving in to the Permissive principle after resting it for three years of fair open fighting. But if the Government would still introduce the prohibitoryclau.se he would support the bill. He was afraid the Premier had not sufficiently studied this question. He did not display the s.i::ic statesmanlike grasp noticeable in the many large measures he had introduced before the House. The motto of the present measure seemed to be — I Let thoso drink now who never drank before, j Anil thoso who drank still drink tho more. i In editing " The Handbook of New Zealand " the Premier said colonising meant establishing homes, I yet the bill before them meant destruction of homes. With one hand he was building up, and with the other pulling down. The liquor trade was unlike ordinary beneficial trades of society, and required to be hedged round with safeguards for the people, i and yet the Government evinced the utmost reluctance "to place its control in the hands of thoso most directly affected. Road Boards, municipal, and other local legislation were entrusted to them. Why not this ? The very speech of tho Premier in Otago, when he declared himself an advocate, like Mill, of female franchise, was diametrically opposed to^this bill. The Wellington petition was signed in a base and unmanly way. The question was essentially a woman's, yet only males were allowed to sign that petition. He was sorry that amongst thoso male signatures he saw names of men whom you turned from in disgust, but who ought, were it not for intemperance, to be tilling the highest places in the land. The Premier defended the bill, which had caused tin immense deal of trouble in preparation, though intended mainly to remedy the defects of the bill of last year — to cross its t's and dot its is. Owing to the enthusiasm of tho hon memer for Rangitikei, his usual logical acute mind was slightly biassed, consequently he could not accept his deduction. The bill of last year was unworkable, and satisfied neither one side nor tho other. It simply amounted in practice to confiscation, and the invasion of private houses by enthusiasts of tho temperance cause. The bill was proceeded with, nearly every clause meeting with considerable opposition from various members, chiefly on the ground that generally the pi'ovinces should have the control of the machinery of the bill, and that licensing boards should be appointed by the people in place of licensing benches nominated by the Government. On divisision on this point the clause was retained, by 42 against 20. Considerable discussion took place on the clause permitting two bars in one house, but it was carried. There was strong opposition also to the facility for obtaining wholesale licenses, and to bottle licenses, but the objections were overruled. It was arranged that the provinceshave the control of bottle licenses. Mr Fox endeavoured to report progress at clause 13, providing for quarterly licensing meetings. The Premier contested the groui.d inch by inch, and the bill progressed to clause 24, which was postponed, the alterations made being not very important. After some discussion, the House agreed at 1.30 that progress be reported, and the House adjourned.