LICENSING BILL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 November 1927, Page 7

LICENSING BILL

MEASURE TO PROCEED.

NEW CLAUSES SUGGESTED THE MAJORITY PROBLEM. (BY TELEGRAPH “PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 29. Just before midnight, in the House of Representatii’es, the Prime Minister made a statement regarding the Licensing Bill and the legislation to be gone on with during the session. “I dbg ire Jto make the following statement as to the line of action I intend to take in connection, with the (Licensing Bill,” said Mr Coates.. “I need not recall to members the position at which the consideration of the measure was adjourned. It is sufficient for my purpose to say that by amendments in the House the Bill had taken a form which I personally could not hold myself responsible for, and accordingly 1 moved to report progress in order to allow time for reflection and for consultation with representatives of the different points of vdeAA r .

“Members will recollect that by a division of 41 to 34 progress was reported', and QeaA'e obtained for the committee oil the Bill to sit again in the interval. Many members have called upon me and have stated A r ery definitely their view that, had the effect of the vote to report progress been thoroughly understood by them they would have felt it necessary to vote in a different .manner, and it is doubtful whether progress would have been re* ported had these members voted in accordance with what they now declare to be their conviction.

“The situation has consequently been to some extent obscured by this misunderstanding, and in the circumstances I .have received intimations from a. very, large majority, of my party in Parliament that in their opinion an opportunity should be afforded for the Bill to receive further consideration this session. During the period since progress was reported I have carried out to the fullest extent the undertaking that I ga\’e at the time. I have made opportunity for frequent consultation with members representing the opposing points of view and have done all that lay in my power to bring about an agreement.. My principal effort has been to.arrange a compromise upon the question of the majority that should be required to carry national prohibition, but I regret to say that in this direction my efforts have' been unavailing. It is a fact that many members of the house are definitely pledged to a bare majority on this question, and those members feel that they have no power to accept or even to consider any compromise on this point.

CONTROL OF LICENSES.- * “On every other question I ! am happy to say I have been able to arrange a complete agreement between those members Avith Avhom I have been in conference, and it has been possible also to agree upon two further proposals which I am confident that the opinion of all shades will approve, - firsly, that there should be a system of licensing barmen; and, secondly, that payment of large sums of money for good Avill on transfer of a license should be prohibited. This goodwill, whatever it is purported to be, Avas in actual fact paid for by the license itself.

“it lias been agreed on both sides that traffic in licenses issued by the State is not in the interests of the country. Though the actual terms of this provision have not yet been drafted the principle has been approved: Though all must regret that an agreement on the question of the majority to be required has been found to be 1 Impossible of attainment, in the circumstances very great progress has in general been made in the short time at my disposal for, negotiation. I /eel that it is a real advance to be able to report an agreement (with that one important exception) between those members holding opposing views, and 11 feel that those concerned _ deserve thanks for the manner in which they met me. THE MAJORITY PROBLEM. “Although we are, of course, still faced with a definite and final conflict of opinion on the question _of majority, my own personal conviction on the matter is unchanged. I still hold the view that no measure of this kind should be allowed to pass without a sufficient majority in the country, to secure its enforcement,, and to afford that degree of stability which such a revolutionary change demands. Mv opinion on . this point is rendered only stronger by the anxiety expressed in some quarters that in the event of prohibition being carried, no poll foi restoration should be taken for a length v period. Surely no stronger case for a substantial majority could be made than the existence of some considerable- nervousness that prohibition might almost immediately be reversed. I find it - impossible to ignore two further considerations; firstly, that, should prohibition be carried a large number of people would be thrown out of employment, and that a period of dislocation and confusion (temporary at least) must ensue, and, secondly that one immediate effect of the enforcement of prohibition would be material reduction in revenue amounting to £2,000,000 per annum in Customs and excise duties alone, and that immediate difficulty in the administration of the finances of the country must be experienced. “Other factors in the matter are worthy of consideration, and perhaps I may be excused if I refer to one personal aspect. I think that at the last general election, manjr members of the Reform Party were returned, not only on their personal qualifications or ‘the result of their own appeal to electors, Hut largely by virtue of the fact that thev announced. their adherence to the Reform Party and their intention to support myself as their louder. “Now. as leader of my party and Prime Minister of the country, my responsibilities are wider than the responsibilites of any one member of the party or of the House. I am unable to take an individual point of view and I am bound to consider, especially in the case of such a sweeping reform as would he involved in the carrying of prohibition, my responsibility- to the whole of the electors of the Dominion, and not merely to one section. Weighin” - these conflicting points one view against the other, and giving the most careful and earnest consideration to • every aspect of the matter that apt peared to me to bo worthy of attention I have come to the conclusion that it , is my duty in the circumstances to . give "the House another opportunity of 1 considering the Bill, especially with

the improvements to which I have referred and generally to enable those members who feel that they have been placed in a false position to take What action they now consider necessary. MINISTER REFUSES FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY. “An opportunity will accordingly be taken for turther consideration of the Bill in committee. In taking this course I wish it to be clearly understood in the House and in the country that my own views on the matter aie entirely unchanged, and even at this last moment I urge members to con-] Sider carefully 'the .proposal that 1 originally placed before them. The Bill as it was amended in committee is not in my judgment, a wise measure, and there must be no doubt whatever as to my own position. I never have been, and am not now, a supporter of a bare majority on this issue. The House, in its wisdom, has thought otherwise, and in affording the opportunity which members have asked for, to consider the Bill further, I must take the opportunity of divesting myself of all further responsibility for its carriage in its present form.” The Prime Minister stated that the Licensing Bill would come on to-day (Wednesday), after which the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill would be taken. He saw no reason why the session should not be concluded by next Monday. The House rose at 12.40 a.m. till 2.30 p.m. MORE OFFICIAL CONFERENCES. LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES IN ATTENDANCE. NEGOTIATIONS INCOMPLETE. (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL, TO "THE STAR.”; WELLINGTON, Nov. 29There was an expectant air in the lobbies this evening and. a large number of Legislative Councillors came to the opening of the House after dinner, hoping to hear the Prime Minister’s promised statement regarding the Licensing Bill. There was some reason for believing that the position had made a definite move towards a solution, as the Prime [Minister had been for some hours in conference at intervals during the day with the leading members of the opposition groups in the House, Messrs C. E. Bellringer, A. Hamilton and D. Jones, representing the Dare majority supporters, and Sir George Hunter, Messrs H. M. Campbell end W. S. Glenn, who were appointed to negotiate* for those opposing the Bill in its present form. There was a significant addition to this conference of two legal gentlemen representing respectiveiV'the no-licen.se and the license interests, being present in all discussions. ThVPrime Minister’s time was limited, owing to the necessity for attending the State luncheon to the lit. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery and the urgent calls involved in the business of Parliament, therefore the discussions were frequently interrupted. They finally_ended late in the afternoon, and an> air of great secrecy was maintained regarding the position- It leaked out, however, that the conference would lie resumed on Wednesday morning, finality not having been reached,

While opponents of the Bill are dubious over the ultimate results, those who favour the trieuiuai pols, tiio two issue ballot paper and the bare majority are conhdjent that an opportunity will be given to fully test out the Parliamentary position. A caucus of the Government Party was called for at the dinner adjournment, but it had nothing to do with the licensing issue, the matter under discussion being the remaining business of the session. PRIME MINISTER CROSSQUESTIONED. WELLINGTON, Nov. 29. The Prime Minister, following the reading of his licensing statement, briefly indicated the remaining business. The only Bills to be dealt with were the Arbitration Amendment and the Financial Bills. “With those two we will complete the programme,” lie said, “and of course the Appropriation Bill, which generally rings down the curtain.”

Mr E. J. Howard: “Could we not leave the Arbitration Act for a conference in the, recess?” Mr Coates: “No doubt the _ hon. member will ask me that question in committee.”

Mr McCombs : “Was ther.e any actual demand for an extension of the polls?’ 1 Air Coates : “I think them was a feeling in the country that there should be an extension. I am faced with the responsibility. As a responsible man I say that it would lie a good thing if it could lie extended for six years. The Leader of the Opposition: “May we have a clear under,standing. Does the Prime Minister propose to put this licensing legislation on the statute book, no matter what amendments may bo made- That is, if amendments auo made will lie accept them?” Mr Coates: “The lion, gentleman would lie doing the country and himself a service if he deferred theiquestion, because members with different views have been consulting mo.” Mr 11. T. Armstrong: “Members of one party only.” Mir Coates: “Yes. but both vipws are represented in that party.” Mr Armstrong: “Is it a party question ?” Air Coates: “No.” Air Armstrong: “Then why do you confine it to one party?” An Opposition member: “Your party has decided what is to be done?”

Air Coates: “There are three distinct views in this House, hut there are tiro opposing views. It is perfectIv true that only members of my own navt-.v have come to me. but they have their different opposing views. I take it that the hon. member will be informed by those members as to what amendments have been agreed to. Mr Armstrong: “Agreed to by. your own party?” Mr Coates : “Agreed to by the gentlemen present of the opposing views.” AD V. H. Potter: “There were no opposing views.” On the Speaker .securing order, Mr Coates said: “I don’t think I can throw any further light on the, subject.”