LICENSING BILL TO BE INTRODUCED

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1948, Page 3

LICENSING BILL TO BE INTRODUCED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 12.

In the House of Representatives at question time today, Mr H. G. R. Mason (Minister of Justice), answering an urgent question by Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Nat., Waitomo), said that licensing legislation now being prepared, which will be introduced this session, will contain a special provision relating to the King Country.

Mr Broadfoot had asked if the Minister was aware of the recent raids on citizens’ clubs in Taumarunui, during which quantities of liquor were confiscated. He asked, was the Minister aware that clubs of the nature referred to were well run, strictly controlled, and the means of eliminating the sly-grogger in the King Country, as proven in the report of the Royal Commission on Licensing?

Mi’ Broadfoot asked the Minister to hasten legislation based on the commission’s recommendations to prevent other similar clubs being raided, and put out of action, thus paving the way for sly-groggers to renew operations.

Taxpayers Subsidise State House Rents (P.A.) -WELLINGTON, October 12. The charge that people who lived in 1 State houses were being subsidised at the expense of the taxpayers was made by two Opposition members, Messrs S. W. Smith (Hobson) and W. H. Gillespie (Opposition, Hurunui), speaking to the Housing Construction Estimates in the House of Representatives today. Mr Smith said there was too great a disparity at present between the cost of building one’s own home and the rentals of State houses, which were in effect subsidised for State tenants by the rest of the community. Mr Smith said that it was known that there was one Cabinet Minister living in a State house. The House knew what a Cabinet Minister received. “Why should the people be compelled to contribute something to his rent?” asked Mr Smith. “I feel the whole thing wants looking at.” Mr Gillespie allenged that it had been said by the Secretary of the Treasury (Mr B. C. Ashwin) that State houses were being financed through the pool accounts of farmers. The Minister of Finance (Mr Nash): It is a waste of time denying the things the honourable member says.