IS THERE A PACT?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 63, 15 March 1944, Page 2

IS THERE A PACT?

LIQUOR SALE HOURS

QUESTION AROUSES PROTESTS (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) * WELLINGTON, this day. A question asked by Mr. Kidd (Nat., Waitaki), in the House of Representatives yesterday regarding the attitude of the Government and police towards the hours observed by hotels in the sale of liquor, raised strong protests from members of the Government benches.

Mr. Kidd said he was not a prohibitionist. "But," he added, "I say this: That the police are not doing their job." Was there a pact, he asked, between the Government and the police, or the police and the trade?

The Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, as acting-Leader of the House, asked whether Mr. Kidd was in order in suggesting that there was such a pact. "If the honourable member wants to make a statement," added Mr. Sullivan, "let him make it straight out, and we shall have a commission inquire into it." In reply to Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kidd said he had not stated definitely that there was a pact. He had asked the question, "Was there a pact?" Government Members: That is worse. It is a nasty innuendo.

Mr. Speaker said that if it were suggested, even in the form of a question, and there was behind that question a suggestion that there was a pact, then that would be wrong. The honourable member had assured him that there was no suggestion or imputation, and he accepted his assurance.