TOO MANY SIDE ISSUES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 55, 14 September 1928, Page 8

TOO MANY SIDE ISSUES

There .was a lack of directness in dealing with the main issues in last night's Licensing debate. The Prime Minister himself explained his Bill and his attitude with the frankness which ! has characterised his previous dealings with this subject. But many of the members who-followed wandered into bypaths of argument having little or no bearing upon the legislation. Admittedly, it is expecting much to ask a pledged Houso to handle the question with perfect candour; but it would have been more satisfactory if the pledged members had acknowledged that they wero powerless, instead of trying to cover up the fact by following the famous example of the Walrus and the Carpenter—_ "The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things: Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax— O£ cabbages—and kings— « a * "It seems a shame/ the Walrus said, "To play them such a trick. After we've brought them out so far, And made them trot so quick." The Carpenter said nothing but "The butter's spread too thick!" The moderate voters of this Dominion are to bo i^ the position of the oysters

at tho picnic. When the conversation on cabbages and kings has been carried far enough they will bo gobbled up, with many expressions of sympathy. Until Parliament arrives at a better understanding of its responsibility in this matter —at least to the extent of acknowledging the error of hasty pledges—it seems hopeless to expect a frank examination of the issue and a sincere endeavour to promote reform. What little was said to tho point last night"did not present a solid argument against tho Bill. Mr. Coates based his argument for tho 55 per cent, majority upon the need for stability and authority behind a drastic change. This argument was not mot effectively. Mr. M'Combs is reported as asking tho question: "Would the self-respect-ing peoplo of New Zealand submit to their votes being of less value than that of a bar loafer?" Tho classi fieation does not fit the case, unless Mr. M'Combs is prepared to apply it to the majority who, three years ago, voted against Prohibition. It is not an issue of tho self-respecting against the rest. It is a question of a new category of criminal offences being niado at tho behest of half the people, with tho possibility of tho other half refusing to recognise the criminality. The enforcement of a law which has not tho sanction of a substantial majority must bo difficult, and the failure of onforcoment must havo a bad effect on the whole community. This is one main point in the Bill. Another to which some attention was given last night was tho elimination of the State Purchase and Control issue. We realise the force of the arguments of those who contended that this elimination disfranchised a considerable section of voters; but against this it must be admitted that the State Control proposal is not yet within reasonable distance of being carried. Its retention on the ballot-paper has thus less practical value and it tends to confuse the issue. ______^______