LICENSING LAW.

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6203, 7 October 1921, Page 4

LICENSING LAW.

GOVERNMENT MAY ADOPT NEW POLICY. COMMITTEE TO BE SET UP. WELLINGTON, October c. The Prime Minister stated last session: that he would provide an opportunity this year for the examination - of the licensing question by a committee of the House, with the object of laying down the lines for the amendment of the licensing law in the event of prohibition not being caa-ried at the poll to be held next year. '' This matter was mentioned in the House to-day bv Mr McCallum (Wairau), wlio asked also what information the Prime Minister had gathered about lecensing matters in Britain. He suggested that the amendment of the law ought to aim at providing improved convenience for the public and greater revenue foa - the Government. Mr Massey said that he could not answer the question fully without disclosing the new policy of the Government on licensing matters. He did not say that there was a new policy, but if there was one, it would have to be disclosed in a full answer to the question. He had not forgotten his undertaking to set up a committee this session. Members would have an opportunity ongoing before that committee and making suggestions on licensing matters. The financial side of the licensing question required attention, added the Prime Minister. The committee would have an opportunity of dealing with that, point, although some other aspects were even more urgent. He could not predict what would happen at the .next licensing poll, hut there was no harm in saying that, if prohibition . was not carried at the 1922 poll, it ' would be the duty of the Government to make some very important amendments in- the licensing law o£ the Do* minion.—Special.