LIQUOR PROBLEM

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9572, 25 July 1923, Page 5

LIQUOR PROBLEM

THE NEW PHASE. CORPORATE CONTROL. ANOTHER COMMITTEE APPOINTED. WELLINGTON, July 24. In the House tins afternoon tlie Prime Minister moved to set up a Select, Committee to deal with licensing matters, tlie committee to consist of Messrs. Bitcliener, Glenn, Harris, Hockley, Horn, Isitt, 'Sir J. P. Luke, and Messrs, iLysnar, Savage, Witty, Wright, and tlie mover. The Leader of the Opposition, Air. T, Ai. Wilford, asked what was the necessity for setting up this committee. A ‘ committee had'been, set up some time ago to deal with matters in connection with the licensing laws of the country, and had heard a great deal of evidence and submitted recommendations to tho House. He could not understand why after all that had been done the Government should now propose to set up .another committee of different members to find out what was thought to be necessary in the interests of the public. The recommendations of the former committee, lie thought, should be concreted into sopie form of legislation that might be submitted to Parliament. It was not a party question*, and the Government had not to stand or fall by anything they brought down. The question was always one that had ncen held to be clear of party. He presumed this proposed committee was not to be set up to come to a decision 011 the main question, because they all knew that they would wrangle amongst themselves, and that they would never agree. The composition of tho committeo was as oil and whter. It would be impossible to get them to agree at all. It would be simply playing with things to hand over this question over to such a committee. Let the House vote on tho recommendations of the last committee, and then the country would see where they all were. To ask this new committee to deal with’ the issue was simply waste of time. So far as lie was concerned he knew how he was going to vote on every recommendation of the old committee. It would not alter his opinion to have the report of another committee. He already had made up his mind. Mr. Isitt (Christchurch North) said he did not quite understand llie reason for reforming this committee. It was practically the same as that which sat before, except that the Prohibitionists had lost a member that had been on it, namely the Hon. Air. Lee. The fact was that they were four to eight, so there was not much chance of his sidedoing anything but sit and watch what tho other men did and record their vote in protest. There were, however, several very important petitions that had come in on various aspects of the question since the last committee reported. (Air Massey: “Hear, Hear”) such as the question of liquor in tho King Country. There were also the reproseintations which' were said to come from the Anglican Church, but the petitioners Mere by no means representative o! that Church. They were simply members of the Church who had this idea about State control.

An lion, member: Corporate control. Air Isitt: It is the same thing. Hon members: “Oil no” and laughter. Air. .Isitt said that personally lie would just as soon see those petitions dealt with by tho ordinary petitions committee. Air. Sidey (Dunedin South)' asked if the Prime Minister intended to bring down licensing legislation tins session. Next month lie said they expected to see the- curtain . rung down on the session. Aiost members were pledged on the question 011 c way or the other. He continued to ask what were tho Prime Alblister's intentions. Air. .Massey ; Ii you will sit down 1 will tell you. MR. ISITT AND AIR. LYSNAR AS PARTY CHAMPIONS.

Air. Holland, Leader of the Labor Party, said the result of the last poll had created a new situation insofar as New Zealand was concerned. 4i became a question now of the control of the Trade. He thought there was a general understanding when tile last committee reported that it would be set up again tliis&essiou. He thought legislation was very badly needed in that direction, it was another question whether the Government would bring clown a Bill this session. If they dicl so alter the committee had reported then they would certainly have to deal with it before •.he Prime Minister left for the Imperial Conference ,because the proposed committee was not likely to come to its conclusions very rapidly. (Laughter). It was a committee widely divergent in its views. He had heard a suggestion that the Prime Alinister should submit the question to two members of the House only—the member' for Christchurch North (Air. Isitt) and the member for Gisborne (Mr. Lysnar) (Laughter) and leave them report after they had come to an agreement (further laughter). There was not in his opinion much to he said against the setting up of the proposed committee. 2V committee was needed to deal with that fine issue of control alone. The bigger cjuestioji of tho liquor traffic: as a whole must be left to the people themselves. Air. Ngata (Eastern Maori), said that a Maori member should he put on the committee. He suggested Mr. Tan Henare (Northern Maori). Air. Massey: Why nob the member for the Eastern Maori electorate? Mr. Ngata replied he. would he content with the appointment of Mr. Henare. In regard to tho King Country question ‘ there were some threads that the European mind might not he a Die to gather up. but which the Native mind could pickup. They should endeavour to discover what tho Natives really" wanted.

NON-PARTY ISSUE. Mr. Massey in reply agreed with what had been said as to this being a non-party issue. He added that he had not the slightest intention of making whatever Bill was necessary differ from any that - had preceded it. Members would he- at liberty to vote exactly as they liked, apart altogether from party ties. In appointing this committee what he had in mind was the petitions that had come-before • Parliament. There was one from Canon Williams, and 50(30 others, asking for important changes in the licensing laws of' tho country. If any changes wore- to be made, then it was necessary to put them . into legislative shape, so that a Bill could be drafted and come before the House either this or next session. In regard to tho constitution of the committee proposed to be set up he was quite prepared to put that right. The committee could thresh the new proposals out after calling evidence if necessary, and then it could be brought before the House. ,The question could not be dealt with by Parliament this session. He could bo 'finite candid a ,,7 jut that because this session could not be a long one. The House agreed to the 'setting up of the committee as proposed, but it was l understood that other members would be appointed to it later.— Special. -