PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, 28 July 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

ANTI-SHOUTING CLAUSE. WHY IT WAS INSERTED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent., WELLINGTON, This Day. In the House of Representatives a, discussion took place -regarding Friendly Societies. The Minister in Charge, the Hon. J. A, Hanan, was urged to arrange for a conference *of representatives o. Friendlv Societies during the re"ess to discuss the means of placing Societies on a. better footing. Mr Hanan said the matter would nav: his favourable consideration. , . . , Some amendments, mostly technical, were made in the Finance Bill. One of the amendments increases the annual limit of unauthorised, expenditure *rom £250,000 to £350,000. ■ The War Regulations Bill, which. deals amongst other matters with the question of liquor control, reached tne Committee stage last evening. Considerable discussion took place on the short title stage. The first few speakers said nothing of special interest.Sir Joseph Ward then made an interesting statement regarding the history. of the anti-shouting clauses m the B' lHe said he had never known legislation affecting the. licensing question » ein g passed with concessions being made by one side or other or without and understanding of some kind being arrival at. He had been, informed' some montas ago bv a certain prominent member ot. the Temperance Party with whom he had had a discussion, that there was no desire for early closing, but that zhava was a desire for anti-shouting. rie conveved the statement to the Pri.-ne Minister, and. both he (Sir Joseph War.l) : and the Prime Minister felt that trey were proposing to carry out what -va& required by the public in inserting the * anti-shouting clause in the Bill. As a. .representative of the people he was go-, ino- to stand by the mandate on the mt>iect of liquor control given by the people three years ago. He had been asked -if he would vote for six, f£ ht > or nine o'clock closing, but he did think it was right that he should from the strict instructions on the subject given by the people when the question was last before then. ' i ■ : Mr Isitt, referring -to the remarks made by Sir Joseph Ward,, said that if he had' conveved to the Minister ol Finance the idea that the -Temperance; party was prepared to make a A" member : Oh ! It was you, was it? Mr Isit said that if he had conveyed to Sir Joseph Ward the idea that the: party was prepared to accept anti-snout-ino- as a- compromise and not to press forearly closing, it was. clear there_ was a-: misunderstanding. No scuh intention had i ever entered his head. He had tod Sir Joseph Ward that if the Cove,-'-, ment introduced anti-shouting legisla- : tion it would have the people ■•[ l»eDominion behind them, anj thnt it would- do a great deal to allay the feH-in-o- of discontent amongst a large suctioi of the community regarding the drink traffic He (Mr Isitt) had no antnorr-p tv to make any compact • witi tli& ; - Finance Minister, and he certauuy die, not do so. In regard to eariy. ..ciosin? j he said that many of its - V; porters, Bishop Sprot for instance, vere;, i strongly opposed to prohibition : : : J Mr Massey endorsed Sir Joseph \v arc <?: I remarks as'to the conversation ! himself (Mr Massey) and the Minuter.; |of Finance regarding the latter s < conversation with a prominent member ofj the Temperance Party. When Sir Joseph ! Ward returned from a visit to the i South some months ago, he stated ..that I he had been informed by a prom. l \er.t member of the Temperance Par'.y thi.t speaking generally, that Party would ibe satisfied if the Government introduced legislation providing for ai:tt shouting. He. did not say that this state-, ment was hot due, to misunderstanding.. He made no. such imputation. The sta-.e-ment was conveyed by; Sir Joseph Wa"d and himself to Cabinet, and it was agreed that anti-shouting, legislation should introduced. Had it not been for the convei-sation that Sir Joseph Ward had. had with a prominent member of thJt? Temperance Party, the anti-shouting clause probably would not, have. . ne'en before Parliament that night. If the \ proposals in the Bill were adopted, they, in conjunction with more drastic control of liquor indicated by Mr Herdman in his speech last week, would do a, great deal more in bringing about reform. If a man broke the law once he should no*; have the opportunity of doing it twice. (Hear, hear): - Mr Wilford: You will be with me yet on the subject of State control. Mr Massey said that he did not oelieve in State control, but if things went on as at present for a few :years, it" might lead to some form of State control. / .- • . • Mr Parata, referring to the Ward-. Isitt incident, said that as the antishouting clauses was obviously due to! misunderstanding, the best thing to do was to agree to strike out the clause. (Laughter). '■■■,' Mr McCombs, referring to a Temark by the-previous speakers that there w?,s no mandate from the people, said that "if that were so, the best thing to be done was to go to the people for a mandate." (Hear, hear). ' ■ " ■ Mr Witty , urged that they shou\J (not?) restrict the hours without _ provision for compensation of some kind 't-r conditional licenses.

Mr Herdman said it would- be difficult to make special provision, exempting conditional license holders, but consideration might be given later to the auction of allowing them to break thnir contracts. Such provision would need to be Generally applicable. > The short title passed at 10.55 p.m. Mr Hornsby moved to add the following proviso to the provision- giving power to make regulations for the suppression of prostitution and venereal disease that no regulation shall authorise the arrest of any person on the ground of suspicion or otherwise than in accordance with the process.of the law now in force: Mr Herdman, speaking of the one woman brothel question, referred _ to the result of the recent appeal against a Wellington by-law which was declared to be invalid. It was necessary, he said, to have power to deal with those houses during the war. As to Mr Horn? by's amendment, he said there _ was juo intention to make a regulation giving. ! power to arrest people on the street on suspicion of being affected with the [ disease. ■- Mr Hornsby's amendment was rejected by 54 to 16. - [ A division was called for the an-M----shouting provision, which was carried by 56 to 15, the voting being as follows I for anti-shouting :—Allen, ■' ■ - Anderson 1 , Anstey, Bollard, Buddo, Craigie, Dickson (2), Ell, Field (2), Forbes, Fraser, [ Guthrie. Hanan, Harris, Henare, Herdman, Hefries, Hiindmarsh, Hornsbv, Hunter, Hudson, Isitt, McCombs, Mo Galium, McDonald. McNa'b, Mandev, Maesey, Myers, Newman. (2), Ngata, j Nosworthy, Okev; Poland, Pem'are, 'Poole, Rhodes (2), Bussell,: Scott, Siday, | Smith. Statham, Stawart; Sykss/ Thomson. Veitch.''".''Walker, Ward, Wilfcrd., Wilkinson, Wright, Young. Against anti-shouting: Brown, BuicV Coates; Colvin,.Dickie; Fletcher, Glover, Jennings, Parata; Pavne, Pearce, Talbot;, Thackexy Webb/ Witty. The' remainder of the Bill passed. Mr Wilkinson moved a new clause, to the effect that hotel hours should be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. i • " : Mr Herdman raised the point t'h-tt-the amendment was not in order-,' as Vdwas foreign to the Bill. He was over-ruled on this point ; by the Chairman (Mr .Malcolm), .arid'>±bb*: Speaker ruled that he could- not review I the' Chairman's ruling.

Mt Wilkinson's amendment was 2»3fc' by 42 to 27, the voting being as follow*; —Against 8 o'clock closing: Allen,. Bollard, Brown, Buick, Coates. Colvin. Dickie, Dickson (Parnell) W. Fiel-i. Fletcher, Forbes, Fraser, Glover, Gutfi- : rie, Henare, Herdman, Herries, Hudion,, , Jennings, McCallum, McDonald, Me- ■ Nab, Massey, Myers, Nosworthy, Parata, Payne, Pomare, Rhodes (2), Russell, Scott, Sidey, Smith, Statham, Stewart, Thacker, Veiteh, Ward, Webb, Wilford, Witty. For 8 o'clock closing : Anderson, Anstey, Buddo, Craigie, Dicksorii (Poyt Chalmers), Ell, T. Field, Hanan, Harris, Hindmarsh, Horns by, Hunter, Isitfc, McGombs, Mander, Newman (2), Ngata, Okev, Pearce, Poland, Poole, Sykes, Talbot, Thomson, Walker, Wilkinson, Wright, Young. ' fe Mr-Wilford movedsthat hotels should not be open before 9 a.m. This was lost by 38 to 32. Mr Ell moved that hotels shall close at 9 p.m. This was lost by 36 to 35.The division list being as follows :VAgainst 9 o'clock closing (36)—BoJIancf, Brown, Buick. Coates, 'Colvin," TXckio, Dickson (Parnell).' W- Field, Fletcher, Fraser, Glover, Guthrie, Henare, Herdman, 'Herries, Jennings, McCallum, MacDonald, Masse v. Myers, Nosworthy?, Pairata, Payne, Pomare, Rhodes (2), Russell, Scott, Smith, Statham, Stewart,. Thacker, Veiteh, Ward, Webb, Witty. F"or 9 o'clock closing (35) —Allen, Anderson, Anstey, "Buddo, Craigie,' Dickson (Chalmers), Ell, T. Field', Forhas, Hanan, Hams, Hindmarsh, Hornsby, . Hunter, Hudson. Isitt, McCombs, McNab, Mander, Newman (2), Ngata, Okey, Bearce, (Poland. Poole, Sidev, Syk&s, Talbot, Thomson, Walker, Wilford, Wilkinson, Wright, Young. . Mr Anderson anoved- that a day be provided for taking a referendum on the question of the limitation of hours diir.ing which hotels shall remain open for the sale of liquor. After considerable discussion, this was lost by 44 to. 26. - "■ ■ ; ■ . ■ Mr Wilford moved that hotels should not open -until 8 o'clock. '• He said this was desired by many hotelkeepers. The amendment was lost by- 38 t0.31. Mr Hindtaiarsh moved that', hotels should not open before 7 a.m. - This -/was lost by 38 to 31. Mr 'Herdnian moved a new clause, giy--1n- the police power at any time to call upon a hotelkeeper to show cause why his license should' not be cancelled! for misconduct. This was agreed to on the VOICGS- '" The Bill was reported with amend-. ments. , , r The third reading was seb down for : . to-day. - . '.,.'" The House Tose at 3.20, a.m.- this morning. , .....'. '■-.