LICENSING BILL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 December 1927, Page 9

LICENSING BILL

BARE MAJORITY LOST. IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 52i PER CENT. TO 47-J. (by TELEGRAPH—WIESS ASSOCIATION.) WLLINGTON, Dee. 2. The Legislative Council resumed its discussion this morning on the Licensing- Amendment Bill, going straight into the committee stage. The Hon. V. H. Reed moved an amendment to provide for a 521 to 471 majority for the carriage of prohibition. The Hon. G. J. Smith defended the principle of the bare majority, which had obtained as a recognised principle in New Zealand. The Hon. L. M. Isitt maintained that the prohibitionists had fought for a bare majority and could not give ground now that they had secured it in the Bill. There was no possibility of their making such a sacrifice. The Hon. V. R. Reed said he was in favour of some handicap being given to prohibitionists and he asked for a fair trial of what lie proposed. The Hon. Sir William Hall Jones submitted that a wrong would, be done to the people if the decision -of the people ’s representatives in the House was altered in any respect, and he declared that the Bill should be passed. The Hon. J. B. Gow urged that the amendment would impose a greater handicap on prohibitionists than they already had, and he proceeded to argue that the abolition of the third issue would be to the benefit of thd"continuance party. As against this, Mr. Reed quoted figures in support of his contention that the prohibitionists would make the- biggest gain, receiving a majority of over 4000 on the basis of voting at last poll. _ Several speakers deprecated juggling of figures and the use of supposition that nine-tenths of the State control votes would go to continuance. The Hon. A. S- Malcolm urged that the majority of those who supported State control did so because they wanted licensing reform. The amendment was carried by 21 votes to 11. Hie division list was: For the amendment: Bell, Rhodes. Alison, Carrington, Clark, Cohen, Collins, Garland, Lang, Mackenzie, McIntyre, Mander, Michel, Mitehelson, Newman, Reed, 'Scott, Snodgrass, Triggs, Weston, Witty. Against: Craigie. Gow, Hall-Jones. Hanan. Hawke. Isitt, McGregor, Malcolm, Moore, Smith, Thomson. REGISTRATION OF BARMEN DELETED. PROPOSAL TO EXTEND PEIRIOD BETWEEN POLLS.

On the motion of Sir Francis Bell, the clause providing for the registration of barmen was deleted from the Bill after a brief discussion. Air Reed then moved a new clause providing for six years’ polls in order to give .some stability and enable the licensees to make improvements to their premises. Air Malcolm raised an objection that once that was conceded there would be demands for an extension to nine or twelve years. Air Isitt said that the proposal would result in further loss in the hold on the trade. '

Air Gow argued that the period should not be increased until the period between the general elections was extended.

Air Reed further explained that he did not aim at assisting the trade so much as the moderate licensee who wished to improve his premises. He referred t-o the dilapidated condition of many hotels. Sir Robert Stout also opposed the extension.

Sir Ft an cis Bell tsaid that if prohibition were carried, he wanted a six years’ interval to see reform established.

Mr Malcolm declared that the extension would enable the trade to amass greater funds with which to fight polling campaigns. The Council .adjourned at- this stage until 2.30 p.m. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AMENDMENT. PERIOD EXTENDED TO SIX YEARS. (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO "THE STAR.”) WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. The Council amended the licensing tenure to six years, by 18 votes to 13.