THE EXAMINER EXTRA.

The Examiner ]

Charlottetown, July 3rd, 1871,

[ 10s, per annum,

= — ——

arltamentarn.

LLM Mh tae ll he eA LAL ALL AL NL ALA LAL AL

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY,

Seen SOO een

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Debate on the Board of Works and the Road Service.

Mr. McNeie had formerly been of opinion that a Board of Works was necessary, be- eause a great deal of the public money had formerly been spent uselessly ; but the work- ing of the Board bad not given the satisiac- tion which the country expecied from it. It waa, however, but a new institution, and mizht yet be made to work so as to give better @atisfaction. In reference to the Militia grant, he bod always considered it a useless expenditure of the public money, for he did not think there was any occasion to practice the art of war in this country. The grant for military service might be lessened by a thuusand pounds, and the money might be employed iv the purchase of a Steam Dredg- ing machine, which weald be a great benefit to the Isianc He had endeavoured to yer- suade the late Government to change the Statute Labor system aliogetber, but could not accomplish bis wishes in reference to it. The roads at present are not made early enough in the spring to ¢o them much good; if the money were cx pended belore they hurd- ened, we ebvuld retp great benefit trom it, but at present it is almost wasted, If the statute lubor were cCmmuted for a small sur of money, it weuld eo: duce to that desirable object. Whether Read Commiesioners would etitl be neceseury, was not for bim to say, but he believed these cficers did not always prove very : flicient, and tbat they were not suffcientiy remunerated for the dutics which they should petorm. If the G.vermment wou'd inelire to this alteration of our present road syst w they should have his ready sup~ port, for be believed st would be a vast benefit to the country.

Hon. P. “inci am hoped the Government wouid order the pripiing of the regulations wm reference to Siatute Labcr, to be done in time, so ae (to allow the Jaber on the public roads to be done evriier in the season. If the road work were porformed about the first of May it weuld be a great advantage to the country, and it was better to leave the roads as they were, than to periorm the lator in the beginning of July. As this ie the first year for tle present Government, they say they cannot make the necess«ry alterations; bat be thou cht it would be just as easy now as at any _ ther time

Mr. Rau cy said the hon. member for New London bai made some practical suy gestions in reference to the time at which the road work sboul ibe performed and was of opinion that if the regulations were printed eartier, the labor would also be pertormed eariier in the seuson ; bat the hoo. member was in error, the printing was done in proper time. Ip order to. have the sta.ate labor performed earlier,the Act itse'f would aave to be amend-

ed.

Hon. Mr. Parry eaid that the Road Act bound parties tu have the road work done within @ certain time. Tocall the people from their |arms in the month of May, would cau-e @ serious loss to the cous ry ; butif bon, members thought the time had arri ed to tax the people, instead of demanding their labor, the work could be dome at any time in tre year whea cequired, It was severely punish- ing people, te compel them tv work several days upon the public roads every year, and should bs abolished,

Mr A. ©. McDonaup said that the mannér ja whien Statute labor is at preseu.t conducted, is & mere sham. A small tax of eishteen

nce oc two ehillaazge per head, would gu Rte to make good roads than the three aoe anny Aisory labor, under the present sye-

tem; 6 ~~ shause is made in the system the better for the” Suv oie ey

pot require much legislation to bring this about. and it is high time the oid system was discarded.

Mr. McLzan heartily agreed with those bun. members who had spuken in favor of aubstituting-a tax instead of the present Statute labur upon our roads; bat eighteen pence per head would be insufficient for the

urpose required. The sum for which statute nee may now be commuted is three shillings, aud that suim is sufficiently smull. In refer- ence to the Board of Works, he was quice gure it was nut giving as much satisfaction as was expected, 1t was hard tnat petitions from the differe or sections of the country, asking for granis of money for d:ff-reut public works,

could not be brought befure the House, in order that a free vote might be given upon them. ‘lhese matters were left altoyeiner with the Board of Works, to do just as they thought per, whe the representatives of the peop ¢ could do hitile or nothing for their districts im referer.ce to matters under the control of that Boaid. The Board of Works should not be altugether composed of meme

'

bers of the Executive Counei!

Mr, Leen thoaghta would be a step in the rigbt direction to re-mcdel our road sysiem e) oge.ber It would be better for all partics to pay reisonable tax than to spend su much valusble time upon the pub- lic roads, when so |i tle labor was perform- ed. it was acknowledged on all sides that the time speut io perlerwing Siatute labor at present was veurly wasted, and that vo go d res ited from it. In Lot 48—which was a part of the District b> represented — there were about eighty Volunteers, who were exempted frm pe:foromeg Statute labor, and when that number was deduced, there were not macy persone left who were liable to perform road work, At Brackley Point there were forty more who belonged o the Cavalry Companies, aad those ulso were exempted. if, therefore, Sia'ute la- bor depe ded upou those men for its perform. ance, it would be left undone Lt waa high tim: the o d system was discarded, aud a new and better ove substi:uted

lion, Mr. Caniveck quite agrecd with the remarks of the Liou, member tor the City in reference to the propriety of perform ing Starute labor earlier In the season, for roads that bad heen properly made in spring bad always been found to be far better thaa those mode after they bad thoreughly bard- ened. If the soil is thrown upon the roads immedi: te'y afiev the frost leaves the ground, it will adhere, but not after the road bard- ens, | had always been found that if the streets were Het put io good repair m the spring, \t was worse than useless to do 50 at auy other time. M-. Bagnall, aa overseer in bis district,had called out bis men to per- form their Statute labor early iu the spring, and although it was eontrary to the Act, that gentleman said be was so thoroughly conviuc-d of the advantage of performing the work at that season, that be would rco the risk of the evosequences, A much less gum thao the price of three aays’ labor would suffice to make good roads, if the work were performed at the proper season. Io many districte not a whole day’s labor was perormed, and yet the work was not aone properly. He was quite aware that

puch a change could not be brought about

without having the matter well ventilated, In h's late canvass through his district he brought the matter up, and found that the majority of the farmers were in favor of the chang» They were x!so in favor of abolish- ing the labor system, and putting on a tax instead.

Mr. MeMittan said that it appeared strange to him that overseers cou'd not get three shillings worth of work done by each man working three days upon the roads, He thought it surprising that any overseer gould make bis affidavit that his men had worked three days and done the amount of Jabor required by ‘aw, and yet did not get three sbillings worth of labor from each man under his charge, He would like (o see the present system changed for a tax, which, however, should not be less than tbree shillings per map. The Commissioner shou!d also have his work performed earlier; for, unless done in the spring, it was of no use whatever, [le thought the work might be done early in the season without inter- fering with farming ocevpations, if a tax were levied instead of the present Statute labor.

Hon D. Davrrs said it was strange if an overseer culd not get his men to perform three shillings worth of work in three day>, for a man could earn five shillings per day in working jor other persons at oiher em- ployments. If the roads were repaired in the month of Muy, we should have good travelling; but at present the labor was per- formed entirely too lare in the season. If the Statu’e jabor now performed were com- muted for a reasonable tux, the labor cou'd be done earlier, and the money expended would enable poor peop'e to procure seed grain. ‘The Legislature was some'imes called upon to grant sums of money to assist the poorer class of farmers for that purpore, aud money expended upon the roads early in the spring might render them the neces- Sary assistance,

Hoo. Mr Peary said the reason Statu'e labor was vot performed earlier in the sea- son was, perhaps, that ibe publication of the Parliamentary Debates was not cow- pleted till about the first of July, and the farmers geacrally fiui-hed their perusal be- fore proceeding withthe road work. Every road overseer tiad an effize, and received the pspers coutaiuiog those debates, and it took a long time to read them, for they were +0 lorg. He saw an item for the salary ef in additiona! assistant in the Po-t Office, and would like to know why a third assistant was required in tbat office.

Hon Mr. Owen said that it hal been for.werly found necessary, wher the mails arrived to close the cflice for an hour, for want of ao additional bind. LB. sides this, the officers cculd pot attend to the eale of postage stamps uod perform the duties per- taining to the «flive at the same time, Those stomps had previously been sold at d:ff-rent stores in the town, but it bad been found neeessary to sel! them at the office, The cflive had former.y been opened at eight o’clock, a. m,, and closed at eight o’clock, p- m., but it is now open at -even o’clock, a. m,, and closed at nine o’clock, p. m. There was, therefere, @ necessity to em- ploy an additional clerk to perform the du- ties of the office properly aud satisfactorily.

Hon Leaver cr Tue Govegymenr said that all agreed that cur present road system was pot working satisfactorily, and that there was great veed of a chunge, He had

the honor 0 vxwe~ps the position of Chair- man of the Board of Works Bne~<ina_af

opiaion that it was not constituted as it sbuuld be, The subdivisicn of money for the road service between both the members of the House and the Board cf Works did not work well A sum of money was void by the House, to be distributed by the Board of Works; but the fact was, tbat bon. members, knowing there was a sum in the hands of the Board, take good care to get as wuch as they possibly can—cach for his own district. The Board contizually received applications for large sums from a'l parts of the country, aod 1t was a hard matier to decide which work was most im- portant to be done, for there was not sufli- cient to satisfy all. Lf a bridge broke down, the Board were ob'ized to at- teod to it immediately; but if the money in their bands were al} expended upon the roads, they would not be to a position to meet a case of emergency, The large pumber of petitions received ia ful'y con- sidered by them, but as there is only a limited sum placed ia their hands, they are compelled to keep the grea er part of it for contingencies, Lt cannot, therefore, be ex- pected that the Board could give satisface tion as it at present stands. The whole road service and public works in the cour- try sbould bo placed in their bands, in or- der to make it work satisfactorily. Tuis was not the proper time to discuss the amount of commutation money whiea should be paid instead of the present Statute la- bor. The amount paid the Road C_mmis- sioners for their services was ridicalous. lt wae well known they could not perform their duties properly for that small sun. The present sysieu of performing S:aiute labor was not fair to the poor man, who has to work hie three days upon the roads; but if the labor were commu.ed for th» pay- ment of a few shillings, he would have an opportunity of getting his money back again by taking a contract tor the repairing of @ piece of roid, aud thus place himself in a batter position than at present, He had just received a letter frow an old friend in the Country, in reference to this very thing, whose views were ip accordance wiih those just advanced by himself. The commuta- tiun movey should. be nine shilliogs per besd, or three shilling per day; the small amount of three shil ings was siwpiy absurd. io another year the whole matter wou'd be taken up, and made to work more satisfac- torily tham at present. Aithouga be was a member of the Board, be did not at all ap- prove of the working of it- Because it was necessary to have one from esch County, be considered it bis duty to take the position and do the best he could under present cir- cumstances. He thought it would be weil for both sides of the House to consider the mat- ter weli before another Session, and devise some better means of laying out the public moneyz Dext year, “Vs

Don. Mr. Owen moved that the sum of £5,000 be granted for the general service of roads and bridges for the present year, to be apportioned as follows, va :—

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£1640

Queen’s County, King’s “ 1480 Prince “ 1480 Road Compensation, 100 Contingent «xpenzes, to be equally di- vided between the three Coun- tics, 800 £5000

The resolution gave £50 each to King’s and Prince Counties more than last year,

Hon. Mr. Perry.—Prince County re- quired extensive repairs to several bridges, and if the cost of such repairs were tuken out of the road grant, it would be impossible to keep the roads in a proper state. Queen’s County had always received more of the publie money than the two others, and it had the additional edvantage of its locat want's being readily brought to the notice of the Government, while the require- ments of the other Counties had to be sig- vified through the post cffice, and conse- quently they did not rece ve the same prompt attention as those of Queen’s,

Mr. McLean — King’s County required more than the additional 4 0 apportioned by the resolution, The Statute labor in that County was of little importance. Many of the roads amd bridges were almost impassable.

Hon. Mr, Ketty.—The members for Queen’s County had the best rght to com- pliin. The treffic on its roads was far in excess of that in the other Counties, and it should receive at least the same amount as last year >

Mr. Beer.—In the Third D'strict of Queen’s County there were no macadam- ized roads, although the traffic cf roads was used for the traffic from Souris, Georgetown, and other paris cf King’s County, passed throuzh the district,

Hon. Mr. Cattpeck agreed with hon, Mr, Kelly that the representatives of Queeu’s County shou'd not allow the resoluiica to pass without objection. A great portion of the trade of the Island centred io the Capital, The population of Queen’s Ceun- ty was equal to that of Prince and King’s eombined, and the wear and tear of the roads were proportionate, Qucen’s was ep- titled to the lion’s share of the appropria- tion, if the division were based on popula- ton, The bon member for the Third District of Queen’s Connty (Mr. Beer) complained of the situation of bis Dis'riet, but he should remember that the steamer on the East River to k cff considerable of the tr: ffic from the roads in that District ; and he would find that a large portion of tue travel from Rustico and the adjoining se tlements passed through the Secoud Dis- trict.

tion. Mr, Sixczuatr hoped the Govern- ment would treat Queen’s County with more liberality. That Couwsty contained one balt the popu'ation of the lsland, and it was but reasonable to suppose that the travel over its roads was a third or a fourth more than that of tie other Counties.

Mr. A. C. McDonatv — King’s County bad not a fair share in proportion tv the number of miles of rozds in it, It was cut up by rivers, and there was a great pumber of crossroads, which were in a very bad state, and would require a considerable amount to make them passable. Many of those roads, after having been cpened out, had been allowed to become overgrown, and in the epring it was, in many insvances, im- pessible to get to market,

Mr. Cameron. — Queen's County required more than was provided by the resolution,

here was nO Guuts skut the otter Counties required more than was provided for them, but the grant proposed fir Qucen’s County was eotirely toosmail, He would rather increase than diminish the grant; but he Was not aware that the state of the finances would warrant it. The suggestion to abolish Statute laber was worthy of con- sideration. It would be advantayeous if the repairs on the roads were performed earlier in the season,

Mr. McMiruan bad no objection to Queen’s County recciving a fair sbare of the road money; but the soi! of that Coun- ty was of a quality better for roads than that of Vrince County, baving Jess of low- lying, swampy land. If any one woud travel from Kast Puint to North Cape, he wuld be satisfied which parts of the Island required most money fur their roads, Some hou. members had argued that the greater population of Queens County entitled it to the lion’s hare of the road money, but he had always supposed that the greater the numer of the population was, the greater would be the amount of commutation money, Trere bad been some little macadamizing done in Prince Coduty, aud ke hoped to see more performed, Quecn’s Courty always bad |:beral appropriations. When any public meney is required for Qreen’s Coun- ty, it ean be easily obtained; and as the finances weve sufficiest to enable the Gov- ernment to build a railway, be hoped they would give liberally to Prince County, In case of an accident to a bridge io Queen’s County, the Board of Works attended to it at once. ‘I'be case was, however, very dil- fereut with the other Counties,

Hon. Mr. Sixceatn wished to ask the hon. member if be would be wiking to de- duct from the road appropriation for Sum- mcrside and increase the amount at present given to the wilderness tracts in the west- ern section of Prince County? It was un- fair to take from Queen’s Uouuty and in- crease the grants to the others, Govern. ment should have given £3.0 more than they have

Hoo. Mr, WicuTrwsn. — Montague bridge was scarcely safe. £1 00¥ would probably be required to put it into a proper con- dition, ‘That sum could not be taken from the road money. It shoud be referred to the Board of Works. Ali important public works should be under the maragoment ef that Board. As the amount of the appre- priation for the road eurvice had been settled by Government, they must, he sup-

osed, be content.

Mr. Howat —In the vicinity of shipping places, the roads required to be macadam- ized, He bad expected a larger appropri- ation, and hoped that the Government wou'd yet see the propriety of giving it.

Mr, McNxitt—The amount of popula~ tion afforded po argument for increased ap~ propriation for this service, but the extent and nature of the trefiic to which the roads were subjected. There was more travelling on the roads ia the Second Distriet of

TY REE REE A

Queen’s County, than in any other part of the Island. It was diffisu’t to keep up the roads in that district. He had expected that as the revenue had increased the appre- priation for Roads end Bridges would be larger, Such a course would be only re- turaing part of the taxes to those who paid them.

Mr. Hoopen—King’s County had not had a fair share of road money for the lust four years. 'e was glad that there was 2 smal! improvement this Ses:ion He would hot object to Queeu’s County getting a little more than the others, if it were expended more generally over the County, where re- quired, For instance, Mount S ewart Bridge was an important shipping-place, and the roads in its neighborhocd were in a very bad conditioa. The roads from Mount Stewart to the County line, at Saint An- drew’s, is the worst to be found between Charlottetown and Souris. King’s Vounty being short and wide, the people had gene- rally to travel to places of shipment a greater distance thas those of the o ber Counties, Tne people of St Peter’s were under the necessity, on account of the state of the harbor, to carry their produce to market at M.uot S ewart Cardigan Bridge, or Grand River. The Road from t’e head of St. Peter’s Bay to Cardigan Bridge, was in a very bad state, and was much in need of being macadamised. Some of the farmers on the North Side, had to travel a Cistance of twenty miles to market.

The reso’ut‘ou was agreed to, and Pro- gress reported,

Hon. D. Davies preseoted a petition of A'’exander Biowo, Artemas Lord, and o hers, praying the establ shment of an ad- ditional Bank 1a Charlottetown. Referred to special Committee of Hon. D Davies, Mr. Leturgy, aud Lion. P. Siuelair,

Weonespay, March 15th, Hon. the Speaker in the Chair, Hon. Attorney General presented a pe- titon from the Trustees of the Union Bank, which was ordered to lie om the table,

On motion of the Hon. Attorney General, the Louse reso!ved itself into a Committee of the whole House. on the Billi intituled ap Act to amend the Act relating to

Vaccination. Mr Riebards in the Chair,

Hon Leaver or tus Governme ? eaid as the Bull bad been so fully discussed yes- terday, he thought he might be excused from making any extended remark: there- on, The [ill having beeo read clause by claus*, the House resumed, when the Chair- mao reported the Bill agreed to without eny amendment, when, 02 movion, it was order- ed to be engrorsed.

llon. D. Davies presented a petition from certain Tavero keepers in Charlotte- town, praying for an alteration im the Livevze Law, which was, on notion of the hon member. referred to the Committee of the whole House, op the Act relating to

Tavern Licenses.

Mr. Richards in the chair.

Hon. Arrorney Gevenat said it was de- sirable that the several Acts should be con- rolidated, and rendered more intelligib'e. The Law, as it then stood, placed the power of granting Tavers Licenses in the country, in the hands of the people in the respective Schvol Districts, and provided that but two pub:ic meetings should be beld in any dis- trict for that purpose in any one year. The practice had been, in some districts. to allow. two meetings to be hed for cach class of Licenses, Last September a dispate arose respecting that interpretatiun of the Law and he (fon. Attorney Genera!) was con~ sulted. On looking at the Act carefully, he came to the conclusion that but two meetings in all, could be held in a \y school district for any one year, which it was thought was too stringent, and it was, by the Biil under consideration, proposed to allow two meetings for Store Lizenses, and the same tor Taverns, to be held ia any school disirict requirieg them in any cne year, The petition whieh had been submitted by his hop. colleague, had re‘erence to the Act of 33id Vic, cap. 9, which prubibited L cer- sed Taveru-keep rs from selling to, or al- lowing spirituous liquors, to be drank by minors on the prem ses, and when that Section would be read, it would be for that hou. Committee ‘0 cousider what decisions it would come to on that poiat, An appli- eaton bad recently been wade to the Gov- ernment by a party, for the renewa! of a Licence which had beea cancelled by the Grand Jury, but he (Hon, Att'y Genera!) came '0 the conclusion that the Govern- ment ought vot to interfere, because the Act siil: “The Grand Jury shail be, and they are bereby empowered to suspend, or w oily to annul and wake void the License of any retailer of spirituous liquors, in like manner a3 Justices of the Peace are empowered to do by this Act; and uo right of appeal from any judgmeut or order of the Grand Jury, shall be granted or allowed.’’ Had tie License in the case to which he referred been suspended, the Government might bave conside:ed the application, but it had been

_cancelied,

Hon, “Mr. Howran said whether they wished it or uot, tue fact was that much liquor was drank in the couotry. People wou'd have lt, and they were not there to say what they were or were net to drink, Toe Government were empowered and com- manded to collect a revenue from spirituous liquors, and it appeared to him that they bad then (o Co with one of two things: ither to prohibit its sale altogether, or to extend and simplify the law relating to its sale. In all parts of the country, persons were continally being fined for selling spirit- tuous liquors coutrary to Law. ia other places, those who make due preparation for its sale according to Law, fiud it impossible to obtain a License, while others, when not expecting it, have, for the same reason, to close their houses. In some instances, the power was, to a greet extent, in the bands ef ove or two Magistrates, who from oppo- sition to the trafliv, or prejudice to the ind:- vidual, withheld their signatures from the necessary certificate. The Law should al- low any two of the four nearest Magistrates to sign these certificates, He was pleased to hear the learned Attorney General say that he proposed to allo two mectings in in each sebool district, to be held in a year for each class of Licenses, He was entire- ly opposed vo throwing (09 many restrictions

in the way of the business. Make the Law as etrict against gambling. selling to those whom they ought not, and all such impro- prieties, as they thought was required ; but 89 long as the Legislature legalixed the business, iis prosecution by those who en- gaged in its sale, should not be surrounded with barriers which amounted almost toa pro- hibition of the eale of spirituous liquors a!- together, The act of last Session respecting miaors was, he believed, often used for pur- poses of revenge, and was liable to be used unfairly to the prejudice of the Licensed Taveru-keepers.

Hon. Mr. Cattseex was glad the Hon. and Learned Attorney General had undertaken the consolidation of the License Laws, and hoped they wou!d be simplified as much as possible. He did not doubt bat that ex- tremes were sometimes resorted to by parties on both sides, in carrying out the law. With

especi to the petition of the Tavern-keepers, presented ty the Hon. member for Charlotte. town he (Hon. Mr Calibec’) believed it was necess ry to have a law to prevent spirituous | quors trom being sold to minors. A man, in 8 sae instances, might be imposed upon by a mipor representing bimeelf vider than he was, but no Mayisirate would impose a fine if such was wade plain to bim.,

Hon. Mr. Hownan thought the Statute was imperative, and thatif it could be shown that a Lavern keeper had violated the Law by seiling to those he ought not, or refused those unto whom he was sliowed to sell, that be could be ined.

Hon. D. Davres thought the legislation of the last eight years bad not improved the Tavern License Laws. Me agreed wth the Hon. member for Alberton, that it the traffic was iegalised by Statute, it shou:d not be surrounded with tuo many difficulties. Too stringert a Law had the effect of increasing illicit selling whieh had a worse effect upon society than Lecensed Taverne. ‘nose en- gaged in the bustuess, say 16 was difficult to teli who wae, or was not a minor, on many uceusione, and that they may bave their License , in this way, sueperded for ao ine fractionof the law, which was wost disasirous to their busipers. It was not fair to legalise a business, and then to hamper it with re- stricsions whieh might be rumous to a man who bad made dve preparation fur carry ing it on, ,

Hon, Mr. Perny did wot doubt but that those engaged tm the selling of spirituous liquors as LTayern-kcepere, fouod their busi- ness som-what hampered by the legal restric- tions paced around them But 16 was annoying aigo fur parents, guardians, and masters, to have their chudreo or servants going to Taverns aud spendmg their time a @ money there, without iter ku wiedge or consent. ile (Hon. Mr. P rry) believed that it could be rewedied by providing that, whea parents or gaurdians did not wesb liquor to be sold to any one under their char,ze, that they should serve @ notice in writing upon the Tavern-keeper, who, if he yiolated the requsremeat it myvolved, should then be sub- ject to all the pecaities tue Law imposed.

Mr. CamMERon thought the grievance com- plained of on the part of Tavern-keepere, was nct well founded, for it was te him quite clear that if a Tavern-keeper auld liquor by muse take to a minor in one cage, and ielused it to another, under th? imypression that he was younger than he supposed, im either case, no Magistrate or Court would impose a fiae vpou him. Instead of altering the law re- Jatinz to minors, provision shouid be made to extend it to stores where] quors were suld, us well as tolicensed Taverns, Young men were in the habit of colect ng et such piaces, where they olten contracted habits ibac were very injurious. If any difficulties arose in Char- lottet wn about eelling liquor to minors, who went onan errand efter it, he tiouzht, as they had so many Licensed Taverns in the City, 1¢ would be quite easy for any man who wished to have any, to go tor it hmself. Strict as they mizht euppose the Law to be, it was clear it wae frequently violated. If any al- teration wae to be made, it should ce to make 1t more stringent.

Hon. D. Davies believed that many evasions ot the Law took place, and if the Act was made more stringent, these would increase. People in this couatry, a: a general rule, did not care to become informers, and as reyard- ed minors, those in the businces were fre- quently at @ loss to know what to do respecting them. He knew a respectable house that bad been closed on that uccount, the proprietor hay.ng bad bis Licensa sus- pended.

Mr. MeMiLtan saw no difficulty in the matcer. Jt a parent or other person wished to obtain liquor, and sent a mivor after it, they bad but to se dan order, or note. He thought the Tuvern-keepers knew their po- sition quite well aud that it was seldom they had any doubt u; on their mind as io whothey shou d, or sould not sell liquor to. If Ma- gistrates did their duty properly, he thought tuere would mot be as many Licensed Taverna in, some place® as tiere were, for he knew where there were parties who hid obiained licenses to sell spirituous liquors and open a

favern, whose houses and stabies did not come up to what tne law required. It wag not fair to place 80 mMuny restrictions upon the Tavern keeper, and none upon the man who obtained-a Store License. in the latter places people frequent y got drunk, andthen went and annoyed the Tavern-keeper. He would placa more restrictions around the Store Licenses than tiere were at present,

Lion. Mr. Wicurman said the Act under discussion required a good deal of consicsra- tion. it was one that affected the interests of the peuple of the whole Island. The Law was, on some points, d ficult to understand, and eood much in need of being simplified. ls was also cumbrous and bard to compre- hend. ‘The section requiring a two-third m jority of a School District to obtain a Tayern License was, he thought, unfair, A few wight forma prejadice against an appli- cant, and thus prevent him from obtaining the number required, As was eaid by the hon. member for Alberton, if the traffic was to be legalised, surround it with all necessary es‘ezuards required; but, while they a low- ed those persons haying or obtainins licenses, to continue to sell; 80 long as they contioued to hava the necessary accommodation, let them not be annoyed in the prosecution of business, with cumbrous Statutes so difficult to undersiand. The Act of last Session was the most difficult for a licensed Tavern- keeper to observe. Under its provision it was easy tor an evil-disposed person tu annoy and impose upon avy man who kept a Licensed Tavern, Althoagh those men are fol owing a legalised calling, yet the Law baupered them in carrying. on their business, Those, and other complaints against the Law were generally made, and it was the duty of that

hon. Committee wisely to consider them, and to simplify the Law, so thit while such guarantees a8 society may require may be embodied in the Act, yet to eee that no un- nec-ssary obstructions were thrown in the way of those who engaged in that business.

Mr. Cameron thought that if a Tavern- keeper eold epirituous liquors to 4 minor, not knowing he was one, he would not be fined in any Court, The compla:nts made against Tuveru-keepers for eelling to minors, did not relate s> much to persons as old as tweuty years, bat to those between the ages of twelve and eixteen, He thought that no person who took a right view of the matter, would object

to the Act prohibiting the sale of spirituous liquors to minors.

Hon, Mr, How ay thought if a Tayern- keeper sold liquor to a minor, under any circumstances, be did so at his peril, and that, as the Law read, the Court before whom he would be arraigned would have to fine h'm.

lion, Arrornsy Gevenat said a Tavern. keeper would not be held as having violated the law, unless he sold 1o minors with a view tothe liquor being consumed upon his prem'- ses. And, in doubttul cases, where he might, in ignorance of the age of the applicant for liquor, sell to a minor, it would have to be shown that he did so knowing he was a minor.

Hon. Mr. Perry.—How could that be proved?

Hon. Arrorney Generat.—Much, of course, would bave to be left to the discretion of the Court, which would draw a conclusion from the minor's appearance, and otber cir- cumstances.

Hon. Mr. How1an thought, where the head of a family became @ cuvfirmed rank- ard, some provision should be made by law, whereby his wife, children, or friends, might step in and prevent him ir m bringing them all to ruin, It was true they might, as the law then stood, notify a Tavero keeper not to sell liquor to him but they bad no legal means of preventing him from obtaining 28 muco as he choose in other ways. Lt appeared aiways to him asa hardship t.atche wife and ca.ldien of such men had no legal remedy by Which they could secure themse. ves from im- pending poverty in euch cases. He thought such men sould be treated as lunatics,wh.ch, 1D ope sense, he consicered Loney were,

Hon. D. Davies admitted that there was mich good reason in the remarkeof the Hor. member tor Albe:ton, tut to meet tle views of tie hon. member, a separate bill would have to be introduced. Nor did be know if such a Bill could weli by brought in, inas- uch as it woud be iuterfering with that personal freedom which wos the inalienable right of every British subject. He bad no heettation however in saying toat he beliey ed such men were even wore than luenatice, With respect to Store Licenses, he thought they shouid uot be graaced tor se.Ling in less quantities than a quart Muking ibe law tco s.riet, WOuld but defeat the end i: was intend. ed to subserve. Nur did he dcem st necessary t> imposs the same regulations for obtaining &@ Store License woics were required tor @ Tavern. lo the former he dd noc know that it was really necessary to coll a public mect- ing to obtain the vote of the people, while in the latter, a mujority ef a School D strict ssould be sufficient to say whether a Tavern was required or not

Mr. MeNeicce w.u'd impose ae stringent regulations respecting Store Lice neces as he would for Taverns, He was aware of the pern’cious influence which such had upon the you h in sowe places, aud thought, while the liberty of the subject should not be too hastily interfered with, yet, as in the sale a: d use of spirituous quore there was wach that ied to ruin and madoess, 1is trade should be regulated by jaw, in accordance with the weil-kc own resuits of the treffic,

Hon. Arrorn+¥ Grn-rat said, as he had no wish to press the bil cvrougo in the ab- scnce of hon. members who were not present, he would move that tie Speaker should take ths Chair, report progress, and ask leaye to Bit agar.

Hcuse resumed, pogress was reported, and leave granied accordigly.

Tin for Manufacturing Purposes,

Mon. D. Davies presented a petition from Jolin Carins and otuers praying that a draw- back would be allowed on all tin imported into the Colooy, which was manvtactured into cans fur preserved fish, and re-shr fromthe Island. Iu domg 60, be rewarked that a duty upon any article used in the country for manufacturing pur poses, was, he thought, @ wrong policy, aud merited the Cons.deration of that hon, House.

The petition was received, aud ordered to lie upon the table.

House adjourned until 3 o'clock, G.

AFTERNOON SESSION, Spirituous Liqour Bil!..

House in Committee ot the whole, to oon- sides the Bill to consolidate end amend the several lawe rezulating tne sale by License of Spiruuoas Liquors:

Mr. Richards in the Chair,

The clause relating to Store License was road.

lion. ArT RNE¥Y GENERAL was of opinion that as licensed Taverne were restricted in 80 many d.fferent waye, a large quantity wae purchased at the stores, which retailed Liquors by pint hieense. It should be con- sidered by the Committee whether the store License suould not be more restricted than a& present. He thought it should, and there- jure moved that the quantity of liquor re- tailed in stores, be not iess tian one quart,

Lon. Mr. Owen thought that ii tne pint license were substituted oy the quart license, the cost of the license shou!d be ieszened.