LICENSING BILL

Evening Star, Issue 16909, 5 December 1918, Page 2

LICENSING BILL

BEFORE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [FItOM Our Parliamentahx Repoetkb.] WELLINGTON, December 5. Brief contsderatikm was' given in the Council to-day to the Licensing Bill, Sir F. IX Bell refrained to the new clams© making 6 o'clock closing permanent. ■He considered that early closing had proved its value, and that to go back to longer hours would be a crime, but the question was whether this was the- proper way to bring about the desired reform. The Hon. O. Samuel chaa'acterised the adoption of the new clause as grossly unfair, and not equal to common honesty. Tie Hon. J. T Paul said the Bill was one of the worst politioal compromises in the history of New Zealand politics. , It allowed a Jack of courage bo deal with the question In any shape or form. There was no need for two polls, and preferential voting was the only fair way of aeeer* taining the will of the people to whom all possible solutionis should have been submitted. In Iris reply, Sir Dillon Bell, who drafted the Bill, denied, that there had been any compromise. Tho Bill was read a second time, end it was decided to take the- committee stage on the following day. CHARTERED CLUBS PROTEST. [Feb United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 5. The chartered clubs in Wellington have forwarded to the Government a protest against tho inclusion of 6 o'clock closing in the Liquor Bill. They say that 6 o'clock closing was acquiesced in by the clubs aa a war measure, but they consider that an unfair advantage is now being taken of their former compliance, and they ask to bo heard on the matter before the Bill readies the Upper House.