Licensing Bill Appears

Evening Star, Issue 19709, 9 November 1927, Page 4

Licensing Bill Appears

The Licensing Bill, explained by the Premier as a measure upon which members may vote without regard to the fetters of party ties, w r as introduced into the House of Representatives yesterday and read a first time. Its chief provisions are:— (1) The elimination of the State Control issue. (2) A poll every six years. (3) A 55 per cent, majority. In introducing the measure the Premier made a brief statement as under: — ” This Bill represents the fulfilment of an undertaking. given by me ‘to the House, as well as to many delegations which have waited upon me from time to time, that an opportunity would be given in this Parliament for consideration of the licensing question. As is well known, the licensing question is one which has always been treated as a matter outside ordinary party politics; that is to say, members of Parliament have always had, a free hand in recording their opinions,and convictions in regard to any licensing representation which may come before the House. There is no intention whatever of departing from this custom in the present instance, and as far as members on the Government side of the House are concerned they arc quite unfettered by any party ties in their consideration of the proposals which arc submitted in this measure. The Bill, therefore, is in no sense a Government measure. The proposals are the outcome of my own consideration of the question, and I submit them in the hope that they contain features calculated to give a lead upon questions which occupy a foremost place in the minds of those who study our social and economic life. “ In making this statement I would like to refer to my own personal position in regard to certain views expressed by me at the last General Election. I then stated that I was iii favor of the three-issue ballot paper. The Bill now before the House eliminates the third issue—that is, the State Control . issue. Careful consideration and examination of the figures recorded for what is known as the third issue have Jed me lo the conclusion that its existence can hardly be justified, 'as it is not a live issue. At the same time, to ensure that a drastic change, such as the carrying of National Prohibition would involve, should have a stable majority in its favor, the Bill provides for not less than 55 per cent, of the total votes recorded at the licensing poll as being necessary to carry National Prohibition. It is also advisable that if Prohibition is carried it should not be reversed except by a stable majority. The elimination of the third issue in the ballot paper, the institution of the 55 per cent, majority, and the, substitution of licensing polls at every alternate General Election in place of the present triennial polls are among the chief features of the provisions of the Bill. As members will recollect, a Bill was submitted to the House last year, hut I cannot say that its reception generally was encouraging. On the contrary, its proposals did not seem to be wanted, and the present proposals are submitted in the belief that they are worthy of very careful consideration by Parliament.”