LICENSING BILL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 30 November 1927, Page 8

LICENSING BILL

TO BE PROCEEDED WITH m COATES.STiU AGAINST BARE BARMEN TO BE LICENSED (By Telegraph) v (From. "The'Mail's" Parliamentary Reporter). Wellington, 29th November. The Prime 1 Minister (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) announced in the House of Representatives to-night that the Li- > censing and Arbitration Bills will be proceeded with this session. : Regarding the Licensing Bill, Mr Coates* said many members had called Upon hiih and stated very definitely their view that had the effect of the vote to *ep6rt progress been thoroughly under-stood-by them they would have felt it necessary to vo.te in a different manner, and it iwas doubtful whether-progress would . have been reported had these mdmbers voted in accordance witlt what they ; now declared to be their conviction. The situation' had consequently . been to some extent obscured by this misunderstanding, and in ithe circumstancesl he. had received intimations from 7 S very'large majority of the members of his.: party in Parliament that in their opinion anopportiinity should be afford-. ( €« for the, .Bill, to receive consideration this session. His principal effort had b'len .to arrange a compromise upon the ,/ question,of .the. majority <that should be required to carry national prohibition, butheregretted to say that in this direction his efforts had been unavailing. It wasa; fact that juany members of the . Hou^'were 1 pledged to a bare majority .oh this question,,,andJiheso• members felt they had Ino ; power .to accept or even cionsidef any compromise on this point. On'; every'other .'question he had been able to arrange'complete agreement, and it had been possible also to agree upon ■ two "further proposals, firstly that there ; '[ should be a system of licensing barmen, and secondly .that payment of large ; suihs.of money for the goodwill on transfer'of a license should be prohibited. >. This '.goodwill," whatever it purported to be, was in actual fact paid for the /license it'sell). TRAFFIC IN LICENSES ■ ■■:. , "It. has been agreed on both sides that • a traffic in licenses issued by the State ; is. not in the .interests, 'of the country. : Though;' tho actual terms of this provision have not" yet been drafted) the prin- < ;. ciple;has been approved." added: "My own personal • :> conviction on. the matter is unchanged. . I still Hold the view that no measure of ■', this lfind should be allowed to pass with-out-a sufficient majority in the country V -to its enforcement and to afford thai degree of. stability which such a .revolutionary change demands. Surely hoT stronger case for a substantial majority, could.he made than the existence of . some considerable nervousness that 1 prolubTiioii might immediately be reversed. J find 'it impossible also to ignore two* j considerations, firstly that should .''prohibition be, carried a large number of:people would be of em- .-•'. ploynieiit and', that a period of disloca- ' ti6ff"a'hd' confusion (temporary at least) , nius't ensue; and on© im';::mediate' .effect of the enforceriient of prohibition ,would be a- material reduc--1 -s>s'in revenue amounting to £2,000,000 ", peV armuininCustoms and excise duties alone, arid that an'immediate difficulty, - in .the administration of the finances of tho country must be experienced:"' • In conclusion he. said: , "I never' • hate beeri,-and'l'am npjfeihow a supporter of a bare_ majority oil'Jhis issue. The House in its vnsdoteSas.thought otherwise,'and when aftoding the. opportunity.: members ". have asked for. to consider the Bill further -I must take the .Opportunity of divesting myself of all further"; responsibility for its carriage in y its present,form." - ':_ Mr J. McCombs asked whether there waa any demand for the longer period ■".;" of three'years before a restoration poll was to be taken: ; ; "Thereis "a f6elirig:in the country that it would be aji excellent thing if we : cduld have'a:longei' period between the • • polls," Mr Coates replied.