PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2796, 14 June 1916, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

WAR REGULATIONS TO CONTROL LIQUOR TRAFFIC EARLY CLOSING? Tho House of Representatives met at 5.30 p.m. The Hon. A. M. MYERS (Auckland Fast) gave notice of the Auckland City Parks Improvement and Empowering Bill. . Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) gave notice to ask the Minister of Finance whether. in the event of his deciding to raise u loan in New, Zealand, it will bo provided that Government Bonds will bo ucceptod by the State for death duties. Replying to a question by Mr. C. H. Poole, The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY said that he hoped to be able tho following day to present to the House the report of tho Board of Trade on the price of coal. Mr. R. M'CALLUM (Wairau) gave notice to ask tho Prime Minister whether he would cause the superannuation of Civil Servants to be delayed until after the war, and if necessary would he introduce legislation enforcing this on tho Public Service Commissioners. FIRST READING. Tho Gisborne Borough Gas Bill (the noil. W. D. S. Mac Donald), the Hutt' Park Amendment Bill (Mr. T. M. Wilford), the Christchurch Drainage Agreement Enabling ■ Bill (the Hon. G. W. Russell), the Waimakariri Harbour Bill (tho Hon. D. Buddo), were introduced, and read a first time. " TO STOP WASTE OF TI.ME, PRIME MINISTER'S MOTION. Tho Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister) moved: That for the remainder of the session Government business take precedeneo of all other business, except local-and private Bills; "J don't know that I' need give reasons for moving this motion," said Mr. Massey, "because 1' ani quite sure that every member of the House understands the [position. Itwill be recollocted that same or tlireo weeks ngo tho House agreed that Government business should take precedence on Wednesdays and Thursdays, on which days private members' Bills aro usually taken. But there is this difficulty—that tho House has not been asked yet to allow Government business to take precedence prior to 5.30 p.m. Members may still go through the form of moving- to introduce private members' Bills, which can never be further considered by the House, consequently wasting the time of tho House and the money of the country. lam quite 6ure it is the desire of tho House to prevent anything of tho sort. It was gonerally understood that this session was to l >e a war session, to deal with importauj, business arising out of the war." After several members had protested strongly agttinal the motion, the Prime Minister (ill reply) said that from the speeohes of honourable members it might be supposed that all tho rights and privileges of honourable members wero being taken away, that from now until the end of the session they would have no chance of discussing matters in which tlioy were interested. If menu bers would only think back they would recollect that they had already had opl>ortunitiea for discussing every question under, the sun. Referring nioro particularly to tho reason for tho motion, lie asked members to remember what had been said about tho cost of the House to the people of the country. He had hoard it suggested that the coat of tho sitting time of tho House was ,£7O hour. His own'estimate was that it cost about .£3O per hour. There had been a waste of three' hours per day— .£9O por nfteinoon of the people's money thrown away. It might be supposed that tho Government was proposing to deprive members of a well-established right. He knew exactly what had occurred. ■ The custom was tho result of a defect in the Standing Orders when they wero revised in 1894, A defect which was not noticed at the time. Tho Standing orders provided tliat a. member must not speak to the first reading of a Bill, but it was not foreseen that a member might speak to tho motion for "leave to introduce a Bill. Presently the defect in the Standing Orders was discovered, and a member spoke to the motion to introduce a Bill. However, the custom or the privilege had never been abused to tho extent to which it had been abused in tho last two sessions.

Honourable members had asked him to say what business was to come before the House. There was already on the Order Paper the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Amendment Bill—a. most important Bill—and Expiring L&ws Continuance Bill, which was of more than usual importance this year. The Financial Statement was in the hands of tho Government Printer,' and it would be laid before Parliament probably during the week. He did not know how long members would wish to discuss the Stateinent, but their right of full and free discussion would not be. restricted in any way. The Statement would deal with taxation and finance. Someone had suggested that thero would be no possibility of dealing with the rent question this season. But honourable members should know that it would nevei; bo possible to deal with this question by a private member's Bill. They should recollect also that early in the session he ha.d promised to introduce legislation on the subject. The Law Draftsman had been instructed to prepare the Bill, and it was probably, already drawn. In no case could anything be done regarding . the taxation of war profits by private mem. hers' Bills. The Government's proposals in this regard would bo discussed on tho Financial Statement. Mr. Massey went on to mention two other Bills to coma down—tho War Regulations Bill and an amendment to the War Pension's Bill, to correct some anomalies in the measure as it l«ft the House. No Hurry to Go Home. It was suggested that the Government was in a hurry to get the session over, in that two Ministers might visit England during the recess. He wished to say that wliat was being done that afternoon had nothing to do with the Minis, tors proposed visit to England. Parliament had been called together a. little earlier than usual this year to pass tho Military Service Bill and the War Pen. ;-ions Amendment Bill. These were the only two reasons. Their proposed visit to England—if it came off—would not bo affected in any way by what the Houso did this session. Whether Ministers went to England or not would depend 011 whero they could be of most use to the country. Wherever they could be of most, use to the Empire, there tliey would be found. The motion was carried after a division by 40 votes to 12. WAR REGULATIONS. . CONTROL OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC DISCUSSED. Tho War Regulations Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's messago and read a first time. The" Hon. A. L. H Eli DM AN explained the purport of tho Bill very briefly, referring • to the provisions of the Bill (noted elsewhere) relating to the sale of liquor. Mr. li. M. ISITT (Christchurch North) said ho would liko to think that tho Government would note tho magnificent vote expressing the opinion of the people of New South Wales. We by 110 means lagged behind them, and he hoped the Government would take tho opportunity of putting such a provision iii the Bill as would enable the people of New Zcaland not only to limit shouting, but to imitate the excellent example of Australia. Mr. T. Jf. WILFORD (Hutt) said that as they now had a Bill dealing with treating, he would ask tho Government, before finally bringing down the Bill for its second reading, to consider t.lio question of tnking over the whole liquor traffic under State control. (Hear, hear.) This was the only timo such a tiling could possibly be donei Tho public would permit it, the public would back it up, tho country would sanction it, and those who came after us would appreciate

what wo had done. War time made such an action on.Socialistic lines possible. The vile class of liquors supplied in many hotels, and especially to soldiers, warranted the Government taking drastic action in regard to liquor, not only upon treating, but also upon national lines,. The Government should seriously consider taking over the wholo interest in the liquor trade, paying the holders Government debentures bearing a reasonable rate of interest, awl .'arriving at the interest of the licensee in accordance uith tho pnyments for the goodwill. Wo would never stop ■ the abuses that wero occurring until this was done. Ho was not a Prohibitionist . . . but he did bo'rieve seriously that the time was coming when the State should consider the question of establishing by one stroke of the pen Btafce control of the liquor traffic. The Prohibitionist View. Mr. A. HARRIS (Waitemata) sai.i ho hoped the State would no nothing of tho kind. Even the greatest friend of tho liquor trade would not protend 'hat it was not a pernicious trade in the extreme, and the Gov.ernineht should 1101 touch it. He endorsed what the memboi for Christchurch North had said about the New South Wales vote, and he thought the. same opportunity should be given to the people here. Mr. A. S. MALCOLM (Balclutha) supported the suggestion made by Mr. Isitt. He was assured that at least 80 per cent, of the people in Duiiedin and Otago wore in favour of 6 o'clock closing. That be. ing the case he would be delighted if the Government would give ■ effect io, what were tho wishes of the people. Mr. C. H. POOLE (Auckland West) urged tho Government to be courageous and place the liquor business under the Shops and Offices Act, which would meet the wishes of the people for a proper regulation of the trade. Br. H. T. J. THACKER (Christelurch East) urged the Government, if it <l:d take drastic action, to see that licensees were compensated, and that any loss should fall upon the original owner and not upon the lessee. "Mr. E. NEWMAN (Rangitikei) declared tliat he was not a Prohibitionist, nor did ho approve of the Government - taking over, the liquor business, bet he did think that the time was coming when the Government, in view of their position and the manner in which they were being urged to economise, {hould do something in the way of reducing the sale of liquor. He would be very disaopoini'od »<i the o*omnment dd not give members an opportunity of expressing their views on this subject before Parliament closed. Duty demanded this and hp believed that duty would become a necessity.

Demand for Early Closing. Mr. J. M'COMES (Lyttelton) com. mented on the fact that the small petition in favcur of the limitation oi

"shouting" hud been favourably receivttl by Clip Government while the much larger ono in favour of six o'clock dosing was ignored by the Government. One could not help thinking, he- said, that the Government were really trjing to find an excuse for not doing eomsthing effective. Dr. NEWMAN (Wellington East) said he was glad that the Ministry had «t last done something to (leal with liquor during war tiine. Russia, France, and Britain had acted, and six o'clock closingjiad been carried in Sydney, in Ade. laide, and in Tasmania by large majorities, and Victoria was moving. Ho was sure that in this country thero was a very strong body of feolirig altogether outside the Prohibition party that two things should be done—prohibit "treating'- 1 and deal with the early-closing demand. "Shouting" was an idle and vicious custom, leading to an enormous amount of misery. ' England, had managed to stop it, and thero had been less drunkenness and less misery since then. As for the Bill, he would support it as far as it went, but he hoped to see added to it a referendum upon the six o'clock closing question. Not in the Bill Yet. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN, replying, stuii it should be clearly understood at once that there was nothing in the Bill to empower the Government to close hotels at six o'clock. the Bill con, tained a number of provisions to enable the Government to deal in a reasonable, if drastic way, with the abnormal conditions that had arisen since the beginning of the war, and he sincerely hoped that there would bo diminution of drinking in tli'o country. He repeated that the Bill did 'not empower the Government to make any regulations to close hotels at 6 o'clock. Mr. Tsitt: The Government could put it in if it liked. Mr. Herdman: Yes. Mr. Isitt: They have got it-in New South "Wales, Mr. Ilcrdman: I think it will be dis covored after they have had a trial of the business m New South Wales that tfieyliave made a very great mistake. str. Isitt: They will close up altogether. Mr. Herdman: No; I don't think so. That is the honourable gentleman's opinion as to what should happen. It is not mine. The House roso at 4.25 p.m., the rea. son for the early rising being that Ministers to be relieved of duties in the House in order that t'hey might sit in Cabinet.