GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 18 June 1880, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

«. _-_ Jane 17. A caucus of Opposition members was held yesterday, and to«day thirty*nine members were present, and accounted for. Its was resolved that tbe Financial State ment should be opposed. To*night Sir G. Grey brings on his Bill for the repeal of the Property Tax. The Government have intimated that they will accept tbe motion as one of waDt of confidence.

There is no doubt that Sir Jaliu Vogcl lias resigned (he Agent-Generai-ship. It is probable that Stafford, Keader Wood, or Dr. Pollen, will re» ceive the appointment. The Government do not intend to bring in the Bill for the resPistribution of Seats this Session, and doubtful if the next session. It is rumoured that next session that the Government wiil ask the House to repeal the Ttiennial Parliament Bill, feeling certain they could not hoid seats after general elections. Wellington, June 15. The adj mrned debate on the second reading of the Licensing! Bill was resumed by Mr Speight. He objected to the proposal for Native licenses. He next reviewed the proposal for billiard licenses. The position there should be re» versed. They allowed a man who had a public house license to go free, and a man who had not a license was charged. If the publican wanted a billiard license make him pay for it, and allow others wanting to establish a billiard table g > free, fie likewise objected to the proposal that Club, should not be subjected to police supervision, Wbst was to pres vent illegal practices being engaged in at these premises. He would ask if such practices are not carried on in clubs. Had they never heard of gentleman being disgraced and expelled from these clubs because they had cheated at cards. That of i. sdf showed that these places demanded strict supervision. The family hotel licensing proposal would secure highly respectable houses if honestly carried out, and there the difficulty arose. Clause 10 prohibited the supply of liquor to children under 16 years of age. He asked how it was possible for the publican to ascertain what was the age of the person so applying. The prohibition against the supply to drunkards was next reviewed. Wires and children of drunkards would rather do anything than go into Court and convict their husbands and fathers, and yet they ere asked to do so, ■ Mr Bowen agreed with the general provisions of th j Bill, but llk light they might be materially amended in corns mittee. Local Option was very general y acquiesced in by the House. He agreed wifh the oL jeetion to the Native district licenses. He would object altogether to the family hotel licenses. It was a fact that they could sell liquor to lodgers, which meant that if men were put out of other houses they would go to these places for further supplies. He also obs jected to the bottle licenses, and was glad to see the proposal to do away with them. It was another means of evading the law, and it put temptation in the way of per* sons who were not in the habit of going to public houses. The Club question was surrounded by many difficulties. The fault of the Bill was that it did not define what a Club was. Anybody might call their bouse a Club, and by the Bill as it is, they could not be o' jected to. He would abolish the lona Me traveller altogether. Major Te Wheoro objected lo bottle licenses. Women got bottles of drink for eggs and butter, or else had them put down for groceries. Sir W. Fox moved adjournment of debate.— Carried. Captain Fraser, in moving for a return, said the Mines Department was worked very badly, and detailed two fatal accidents, the result of non -enforcement of the regulations. The inspectors of miners were given no power to sue breakers of the law, and the whole question demanded reform* In moving the second reading of the Gaminyr and Lotteries Bills, Mr Whitaker gave notice of a new clause prohibiting the totalisatcr, except to responsible racing clubs. The Bill wa<? read a second tide. The Council went into committee on the Gambling and Lotteries Bill. The discussion lasted the whole affernoon, on the proposal to allow racing clubs to use the tofalisator with the consent of the Colonial Secretary. This was u'timately oar ried by 11 vot^s to 9, the fotalisator being rendered illegal to all others but clubs. An amendment was carried that art* unions sbou'd onlv take place with the consent of the Colonial Secretary, The Bill was then reported, but ordered to be recommitted next dav on the proposal to give Resident Magistrate? the power to allow art unions instead of the Colonial Secretary, » ! Sir W. Fox gave notice of question ' relative to the payment 0f % £300 to Mr W. L. Bees by the late Government. Eeplyiug to Mr Seddon, Mr Hall said that he hoped next week he would be able to introduce the Representation Bill. June 16. j The House met at. 2-30. Mr Sutfon presented a petition from 31 publicans and brewers in Napier prf testing against the beer tax, Napiee, June 15. A number of outsiders Ere coming into town, attracted by the reported gold discoveries. The Herald to«day warns visitors that the facts so far as ascertained are not sufficient to justify the speculation, saying it has been proved gold-bearing quartz has been found over a large area, but there has been no test made to ascertain the actual quantity of gold in the stone. The prospects are only sufficiently encouraging to cause prospecting to be pushed on with vigor.