LICENSING BILL

Evening Star, Issue 19710, 10 November 1927, Page 13

LICENSING BILL

MEMBERS PREPARE FOR FRAY FOUR WHIPS APPOINTED PROPHETS AT A DISCOUNT. [From (Job Parliamentary Ekpobteb.] WELLINGTON, November 9. The Prime Minister has given no indication when he will move the second reading of the Licensing Bill, but at this late stage of the session it is assumed that Tie will do so, during the present week. As to its late, it is impossible to make a sound guess in face of a variety of possibilities. The only definite factor in tho situation is the organisation of tho No-liconsc members of the House for the purpose of keeping intact their pledged majority, said to be three, for tho elimination, of tho State Control issue, and a decision on tho basis of a hare majority. A committee representing this interest met to-day, appointed an executive of seven, and also four whips. Tho New Zealand Alliance happens to have two of its vice-presidents among the members of the House. Interest centres around the discussion of tho prospect of the pledged members maintaining their attitude on all phases of the Bill. 11 so there can be no chance for it. The suggestion has been made that, as tho Bill contains somewhat drastic clauses, which would impose heavy capital obligations on the owners of licensed premises, for this reason, the higher standard of public accommodation thus demanded could reasonably warrant a concession by the pledged No-licouso voters ol an extension of tenure to six years.. Whatever may be,the feelings of Alliance supporters in the House on tins matter, when tho Bill roaches committee there will ho definite opposition frdrn the Labor Party to the six-year period. Their objection is based on tho general policy ground of rolusing to extend privileges to a vested interest. _ The No-liccnsc Committee in Hie House includes members ol all parties, and this is characteristic of tho whole situation, which cuts clean across party divisions.

Members arc inclined to agree that the Bill will get past the second reading stage with comparative ease, but a long light will come in committee. Present alignments may easily change as fresh questions arise when _ amendments arc moved. There is no information regarding the organisation ol the legislative forces in opposition to the No-liccnso group; hut Whipping js^going on unofficially, and preparations are being made by individual members to take full advantage of the opportunities of a long dismission to stall off adverse divisions. This was a method of parliamentary manccnvro which worked well on the Religions Exercises in Schools and the Gaming Amendment Bills, hut when the Prime Minister takes charge of the present measure, and asks Parliament to make a serious effort to come to a solution on the licensing reform question, the Bill stands in a bettor position Gian its equally contentious predecessors. NO SURRENDER OF BARE MAJORITY [SrixUL to Tim ' Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, November 0. “While I anv in accord with that clause of the Incensing .Amendment Bill which proposes to eliminate the State Control issue on the ballot paper, 1 am strongly opposed to Hie substitution of a 55 per cent, majority, which 1 consider would give an unfair advantage to ‘the trade ’ and its supporters.” So the Rev. W. .T. AVilliams, an ardent supporter of the Prohibition movement, expressed his opinion of the proposed Licensing Amendment Bill today. Mr Williams said his party had been working to eliminate the Stale Control issue, and if it were deleted ho did not doubt that it would be of assistance to Prohibition. Ho was opposed, however, to extending the time between polls from three to six years, and to the substitution of a 55 per cent, majority for a hare majority.