MEMBERS’ PLEDGES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 November 1927, Page 9

MEMBERS’ PLEDGES

PRIME MINISTER’S ADVICE.

"STAND UP TO THEM."

THE LICENSING ISSUE,

(BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO "THE STAR.”)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 17. Advice to the pledged members who might find themselves in difficulties over the changing conditions as the Licensing Bill progressed through committee, was a point to which the Prime Minister devoted special attention when he was replying to-night at the end of the second reading debate. The position members had got into when, they gave pledges had, he said, given him concern. Personally, he had always reserved to himself the right to act in what he considered the best interests of the country, though lie had always given his constituents a direct indication of what he would support. "Members who gave pledges might find themselves in a very difficult position as we proceed with this Bill/’ he said. "It is quite possible. . We never can toll, as it passes through the committee stages, what turn events may take, and members will be in a position of having to decide immediately what is the best thing to do. I say definitely that they should stand up to their pledges, as near as they can, but on the other hand there is a national and very wide duty which rests on their shoulders." The Prime Minister, commenting on the wide variety of opinion heard during the debate, said that he had taken note of some of the suggestions and had tried to think out some means to please those speakers, but he had to candidly admit that it was not possible. Therefore he appealed to members to avoid extraneous matters, but to deal with real live issues.

Mr Sullivan: "Will you leave the House free to vote?" The Prime Minister replied that he would treat every amendment on its merits. He trusted that members would get down to business in committee and endeavour to solve a problem which occupied the minds of thousands of people. "If the discussion is protracted," concluded Mr Coates, "I shall not desert the ship, but will do all I can to force through these issues."

The first division on the measure was then taken on the question of its second reading. It was characteristic of the non-party character of the whole issue when Mr Speaker chose as tellers for the Ayes, Mr Bitchener, a Government Whip, and Mr Sullivan, one of the Opposition Whips. He called on Mr Savage and Mr Bartram, from the Opposition camp to tell for the "Noes" — an easy task, as the division resulted in the Bill being read a second time by 58 votes to 7. •

POSITION OF THE BILL. SOME COMPROMISE HOPED FOR. With the Licensing Bill seventh on to-day’s order paper, the House will not get an opportunity of further dealing with the matter at this sitting. What is expected is that the Prime Minister, who asked the dominant section on' this question to take the responsibility for a Bill, an invitation which was declined, is left to deal with the position. He will probably keep the measure well down the order paper for a few days and in the meantime informal discussions will proceed, which may result in some compromise enabling Mr Coates to resume the committee stage. The Prime Minister made it clear to' your correspondent to-day that he has not abandoned his hope of passing this session some substantial measure of licensing reform.