CANBERRA

Northern Advocate, 21 June 1926, Page 3

CANBERRA

LIQUOR BAR. FOR PARLIAMENT HOUSE. MELBOURNE, This Day. A resolution favouring the establishment of a bar at the Parliament House at Canberra has been agreed to by the Joint House Committee of tho Federal Parliament. Although there was not a full attendance the resolution was agreed to by seven votes to three.

This action is likely to raise very keen controversy in Federal circles.. One of the ordinances of the Federal Capital Territory provides that no alcoholic liquor can be sold in the territory. Although this ordinance was not actually agreed to by members of the Federal Parliament it was tabled in both Houses, pursuant to Statute. If the House Committee’s recommendations were carried into effect, therefore, the anomalous position would bn created of the whole of the territory being “dry,” with the exception of Federal Parliament House. Many members oppose a proposal of this kind quite apart from their views

upon tho liquor question in general. It would be most undesirable to make any differentiation between the free- i dom allowed to members of Parliament at Canberra and to the residents of the territory generally. What will happen in view of the * House Committee’s resolution is a little uncertain. The Parliament as a whole has of course the final say in i the matter, and it is probable that a | private member will shortly raise the question in the House of Representatives with a view to testing the opinions of members.