ANOTHER ATTEMPT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 54, 12 September 1928, Page 10

ANOTHER ATTEMPT

The Prime Minister is right in giving Parliament another opportunity to clear the decks of the licensing issue before the General Election; but the debate on the introduction of the Bill does not encourages hopes for the success of the attempt. The discussion was wholly unnecessary and futile. Instead of taking two hours it could have been ended in ten minutes if the usual course had been followed —a brief request by the Leader of the Opposition for information and a short statement by the Primo Minister in reply. Instead of that member after member rose to say things which could bo said just as well on the second reading—the.statements are sure to be repeated then. Some went further and did worse by attempting to make party capital out of the question. It is well known that on this subject the parties aro hopelessly divided. Under these circumstances it may bo amusing, but it is certainly not profitable to engage in wholesale stone-throwing and then gaze with childish delight on the welter of broken glass-houses. Such tactics serve only to increase confusion, and hinder concentration on the main issue. The Leader of the Opposition is as great an offender as the others. If lie has proof iv support of his allegation that the Prime Minister has determined on something entirely different from the Bill ho should have produced tho proof with the allegation. If ho was not prepared with tho proof he should have refrained from making the charge. As to the Bill itself, it is similar on the main points to the measure introduced last session. We hold now, as wo stated then, that it is an improvement on the present lawj It is to be regretted, however, that its prospects are no brighter. Reading the report of last night's debato one must admit that Parliament shows no disposition, to recognise its responsibility as a legislative authority. We realise tho present impotence of members who have pledged themselves to support certain proposals before knowing or considering the possible alternatives. These plodges may bar tho way to freo legislation this session. Nevertheless, wo believo it would bo possible, in a House sincerely anxious to grapple with tho problem, to make- some progress* . A complete settlement would probably have to wait until members had freed themselves from their pledges in tho General Election; but the parties could at least reach a stage assuring that licensing interference with general politics should be reduced to the minimum. If they are wise in time they may yet do so. If they refuse and think to gull the electors with wordy by-play they may find at the end of the year that the voters are, after all, not easily hoodwinked, and that there is a demand for tho serviceof men who will think clearly, act squarely, ..and not submit to extremist dictation.