LICENSING ISSUE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 July 1928, Page 5

LICENSING ISSUE

MR COATES’S PROBLEM. HOW WILL HE SOLVE THEM?. REFERENDUM BILL FORECASTED., (By Telegraph—Special to The Star.) ! * WELLINGTON, July 4. The Prime Minister’s promise he will again introduce a, Licensing Amendment Bill! tills session ha® greatly heightened interest in the work of the House. Though it will not be a Government- measure in the strict sense of the term, being noii-party. the Government members feel most concerned on the matter. They are the only ones who pretend to know what is intended to foe done by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates to- meet the dilemma created on fast occasion when he had to abandon his Bill to rival forces, a majority actually coming from within the ranks of - bis own party. It is this bloc in favour of the two-issue ballot paper, the bare majority and the triennial! poll which the Prime Alinister has had to consider in framing his plans for the current session. He has not disclosed them in detail at this stage and at is not expected that the important measure will make an appearance until tli© work of Parliament is well advanced There'is much diplomatic so,unding to be dome meanwhile, not only in the rank® of the Government Party itself, but antong members oif the legislative Council, because the latter body might easily, provide another anti-climax this session by declining to pass a measure favoured by a majority of the Lower House. CONFLICT OF OPINION.

The no-lioense bloc in the House of Representatives refused' last session to appro,ve ,of tlie BjilU as amended, by the Legislative Council, though if still bore a 'substantial resemblance to the measure as it emerged from the stormy committee stage of the House. The bare majority proposal, however,, had been altered to provide for a majority of fifty-two and one half per cent, of the total number of votes, cast at the licensing poll. The two-issue ballot paper was inot altered by the Council, nor did it interfere with* the triennial poll. Some important amendments of the general licensing law were inserted by the Council, which declined td pass a clause requiring barmen to be registered -- * ■■ The Licensing Bill originally contained 32 clauses and included a good deal of legislation making for improved conditions of the licensing trade. This asp,eat has been generally ignored owing to, the strong conflict of opinion on the ballot paper and the majority. Until Parliament can be got to agree on these outstanding issues, there,, is scarcely any chance of legislating to improve the licensing law to sense. PRIME AHNISTER’S DIFFICULTY. The Prime Minister lias been credited in one quarter with the intention of introducing the Licensing Bill to the form to which it was amended by the Legislative Council, this being a compromise measure. But the no-lioense group last session- has had a full! opportunity of considering this contingency and has firmly turned it down. Have their opinions' changed since? Inquiries show, that there is a certain, amount of variation of opinion, but not sufficient to warrant the assumption that the Bill would pass the House of Representatives. To introduce a measure with the sure knowledge that the Legislative Council will exercise veto once again is the difficulty which faces the Prime Alinister "in considering any minor variations from ■ the proposals made either Iby ..himself or the no-lioense group last session. • . How will he.. face the .- problem? Opinion is growing that he will drop all the past efforts a-nd. make an entirely fresh start on the problem. Incensing refo,rm is admittedly needed., but he vnilil not attempt it this session in dofault of -settiliiiig; the Truajor points. UNFAMILIAR, BILL PREDICTED.

Parliament itself has practically proved, at least to disinterested spectators, that it cannot come to an agree-, ineiit on .the big issues and there is good ground for 'believing that when tiie Licensing Bill again appears, its shape will foe quite unfamiliar and that, it will disclose proposals for- submitting the highly disputed points to the decision «of the electors themselves, ouch a plan meets with the hearty approvalfrom members of the Government Party who clo not. relish, the . contin-<r-enby of the eleootral battle being confused bv side issues having no relation to the policy of the Government-, borne members of the Government party Who have stood firmly ‘by the licensing Bah as amended by "them last session are now displaying a quiet confidence that the tangle will be unravelled this session. This is the reason for their satisfaction that they are mot to foe placed in another dilemma in which private pledges have to be exercised against their popular leader on the eve of a general election. - Further reinforcement of this view as to be found, in the fact that members of the Legislative Council are being sounded regarding their attitude towards referring the whole difficulty to the electors, and it can be taken for granted that the Licensing Referendum Bill, backed jby the Prime Alinister and passed by the Lower House, even with a slender majority would meet with acceptance in the Legislative Council. TWO-ISSUE BALLOT PAPER-.

There is probably iiq actual Licensing Bill in print at .the moment, but- unportant “conversations ’ are going on which are helping rapidly to irame its terms. When they emerge it will be found in all probability that it wm provide for security at the next general election, an opportunity for an expression of opinion on a special ballot, paper on two vital points, that of the period between the licensing polls aiicl the -naioritv necessary to carry a change in the system. T!he majority handicap in relation to length of tenure would probably be indicated for voters’ decision, but the Licensing: ballot paper is not likely to be referred to the. referendum. It- will propose only two issues, those of continuance or a, 3 the alternative,, national prohibition.