THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16882, 9 July 1920, Page 6

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

LIVELY DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. (SPECIAL TO "THE TRESS."", WELLINGTON, July 8 The man who dares to attempt licensing laws amendment by a private Bill introduced into Parliament in theso days is a bold man, and if ho thinks ho has any chance of getting his mcnsim on tho Statute Book he must be extraordinarily optimistic. Mr 11. McCallum, tho member for "VYairau, to-day introduced such a measure, and immediately the whole party dump was ablaze and giving off 'loud detonations. Mr McCallum did not improve his position when ho doscribed tho prohibitionists as fanatics and intolerant bigots. . Mr Isitt, the prohibition champion from Christchurch North, -was seen to be ready to spring, but he contentod himself 'with a satirical remark that owing to the shortage of paper Mr Me Callum himself should lie made to paj the cost of printing his Bill. (Laughter.) Dr. Tliackor, another Christchurch member, took his stand in the opposito camp to his fellow-member, ana, complimenting the mombor for Wairau, urged that there should be an amendment, if only in tho interests of travellers. Now that dining-cars were I done away with on the railways, the Government should build hotels with licenses at the principal railway stations, such as were to be found in all civilised countries. Our hotels should also bo classified ono, two, and threfc, so that people who used them could classify themselves as they did in theatres or in the trains. At present there was not enough accommodation in the hotels for the travelling public, and they did not want hotels to be me"* drinking dens. Mr R. A. "Wright (Wellington Suburbs) hotly repudiated Mr McCallum'a condemnation of the prohibitionists as fanatics and intolerant bigots. The member for Wairau, he said, posed as a Liberal and a Democrat, but in advocating State control he was twenty-five years behind the times. The issue now, ho said, was a straight-out ono between two parties, and had it not been for the State control issue, prohibition would have h«en carried at the last election. Next time the traffic would be absolutely wiped out. There was no question about it.

Mr Witty said judging from the remarks of the prohibitionists, tho subject was still like a red rag to a bull. He advocated tho extension of licenses to ten years. Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton) said the Bill should be ruled out of order as it contained appropriation clauses. The Bill showed no constructive ability, and its clauses were ill-drawn. Its illconsidered and ill-digested clauses were an insult to the House, although draft--ed by a lawyer. (Laughter.) The Hon. 3. A. Hanan (Invercargili) said the discussion showed what a real burning question tho liquor question was.

Mr .Massey: Fancy a Licensing Bill before this House after what has taken place to-day. (Laughter.) However, the hon. member for Wairau had en- : livened the House that afternoon, and he congratulated him. Mr Witty: You had better go and have a drop of drink with him(Laughter.) - _ ( Mr Hanan: It makes them "witty' sometimes. (Laughter.) Mr J. Edie (Bruce) expressed tho opinion that prohibition would have been carried at last election but for tho third issue.

Mr McCallum replied briefly. He got tangled up in regard to how the issues •were put at repent elections, and got into a tu quoque argument with Mr McCombs. The latter retorted, a®"®" laughter: "It's you that is mixed. (Laughter.) r \n hon. member: ■ Put some moro •water in it.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 8. Mr R. McCallum's Bill proposed to set up a State I>epartment under toe Minister to .control licenses, in the hope that licensees would be induced to provide better accommodation for the public. In the event of licenses being reduced, a compensation fund was provided, but he believed that if hotels were properly conducted a large ®'* jority of tne people would vote continuance. He urged the Government to set up a Royal Commission to go into tco whole question, with a view to reconciling tho views of the extremists. Our Licensing Law was thirty years behroa the times. Mr Lysnar urged that the first reform to be effected was to take the local option poll on some other fftj than that of the general election. U®' loss that was done this question couiu not be impartially considered. The Hon. J. A" Hanan declared that there was not the slightest chance 0 the anti-shouting law being repealed The Bill was read a first time.