SALE OF LIQUOR RESTRICTIONS BILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10110, 18 October 1917, Page 5

SALE OF LIQUOR RESTRICTIONS BILL.

I AMENDMENTS DISCUSSED BY THE HOUSE. • The House on resuming at 7.30 last evening proceeded to consider amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Sale ol Liquor Restriction Bill. Mr Massey indicated that lie proposed to ask the House >o disagree with amendments made in the new clauses la, 3a. 3b, 4a, and 4b. He agreed with the principle involved m most of these amendments, but thought the clauses required re-drafting. He disagreed with clause 4c because it was the. intention of the House to put clubs and hotels on the same fooling. It was also intended that the provisions of the Bill should apply to Bellamys. Clauses 4d and 4e also required modification to meet, social requirements, lie proposed to agree with the amendment, made in the clause of deferring tho coming into operation of the 13111 till December 1. He moved that with these exceptions the amendments be agreed with. Mr Wilford urged that the operation of tho Bill should be delayed till June 30th. The no-licejise party had gained a great deal by getting six o'clock closing, and ho asked them to show a little mercy to the men who are goinjr to be ruined by the alteration of the law. An lion, member: "What about, the extra year?"

Mr Wilford, continuing, said if total pro hibition had been carried at the last election the licenses would still have run till the end of June, and he asked the lloiine to observe the terms of the scrap of paper. He moved, that clause 2 bo also disagreed with, Mr fsitt said the pro|x>sal to extend the time from November to December had absolutely no reason behind it except to give tho Trade another month. However, the no-license party were not going to strain at that point, but ns the most optimistic did not expect the war to end under twelve months, and if the Bill by extending the time lo dune was going to cut away half of the war period, then the no-licenac parts did not want, tho Bill at all. Mr Massey said if Mr Wilford's amend menti was carried the effect in all probn bility would be that they would have to go back to November Ist. The. Legislative Council had as much say in the matter as the House, and if December was struck out the other place might conclude that (he House had insisted upon November and reinstate it. Messrs Webb, Witty and Glover supported the amendment. Mr Payne contended that if hotels were left open' till June, the necessary revenue could be obtained with which to give the Second Division larger pensions. On a division, Mr Wilford's amendment was lost by 50 to 24, and clause 2 was agreed with. Tho Premier moved, that Sir John Findlay, Mr Wilkinson and himself prepare reasons tor disagreeing with the amendments made by the Legislative Council. Mr Wilford protested that the committee was all on one side of tho question, and after discussion Sir Joseph Ward was added to '.he committee. THE DIVISION LIST. Following was the division list on Mr Wilford's amendment: For (24): Bollard, Brown. Buick, Carroll. Colvin, Fletcher, Forbes. Glover, Herdman. Hudson, Jennings, McCallum. MacDonald. Myers, Parata, Payne, Scott, R. W. Smith. Statham, Thacker, Ward, Webb. Wilford, Witty. Against (50): Allen, Anderson, Anstey, Buddo. Craigie, Dickie, J. N Dickson. .1. S. Dickson. Ell, T. A. 11. Field, W. IT. Field, Findlay, Fraser. Guthrie. Hanan, Harris, Henare, Herries, Hindmarsh, Ifornsby. Hunter. Isitt, Lee. McCombs, Malcolm. Mander, Massey. A. K. Newman, E. Newman, Ngata, Nosworthy, Okey, Parr, Pearce, Poland. Pomare, Poole. K. 11. Rhodes. 'J'. W. Rhodes, Russell, Sidey. 0. IT. Smith. Sykes, Talbot. Thomson. Watch, Walker, Wilkinson, Wright, Young.