THE LIQUOR BILL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 964, 3 November 1910, Page 7

THE LIQUOR BILL.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT. .The' Prime Minister stated in the House of Representatives yesterday that the, Government proposed to go on with ■She Licensing Bill this afternoon if the House did a reasonable amount of work jesterday. ■: . . .-.:.. .. . . , —"^j o *^ o l? u mean b y 'going on'?" queried Mr. ■ Massey. • • ■ • "We intend to put it through," Baid Sir Joseph Ward. . : . ■ , ~Mr. Massey expressed the opinion that Jt would not be. this Parliament. He asked when the Land Bill would be taken. •■■• ...... •■■ •■ . , . Sir Josoph said he would not object to going on with the Land Bill after the_ second reading of the Licensing.Bill. Mr. Massey said:<"l would h>j to make the Land Bill .a good Bill. • It leaves a good deal to.be desired now." _"I ,do not know,".answered Sir Joseph has been .given by Mr. Poole that when .the Licensing Bill is in Committee he. will move to.Etrike out the provision ' that :• every ; vote .in favour of national Prohibition shall' be a vote in ■favour o£ local No-License and everv vote' against national Prohibition shall 'be in favour of local • License. The effect of this-amendment would be to separate the national.and local option issues./ Speaking in the. House 'yesterday afternoon Mr* Poole cited instances of firemen . and'; seamen becoming • violent on their return to their ships on account of the quantity and quality of liquor they had consumed on shore. Frequently vessels, loaded do:jvn to the Plimsol line and Teady ,to sail to catch an early market were delayed while members of their crews could be hunted np.- The liability of British crews to come back the worse for liquor was driving steamship companies to prefer coloured'; and foreien crews. He had ' n6t heard " a • sihrie prosecution under the Sale of Pood and Drups Act for selling imp.ure.liquor, and hfl_thought there was necessity for more etringent ; examination. ..