LICENSING BILL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 2 December 1927, Page 5

LICENSING BILL

BEFORE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

PASSES SECOND READING

DIVIDED VIEWS

(By Telegraph)' ";'L, (From “The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter).

WELLINGTON-lst De.c. . The second reading of the Licensing Amendment Bill was carried to-night-in the Legislative Council after a two-and. a half hours’ debate. . \

Moving the second reading AheyHofi.’ J. B. Gow, who is in chargp-of " the measure, urged members ' to. ;buve' regard for the fact that the Elective Chamber had passed the Bill. V 1 The Hon. W. H. Triggs thought , the Bill should be sent back to the House to give members a further opportunity to consider it. He oppoßed the bare'majority and said he was willing to agree to a 52^ —47), majority as a compromise between the bare majority and - fha 55 —45 ratio.

The Hon. I. Newman also opposed tha bare majority. He deplored the taking of polls every three years and said that the liquor poll clouded the issue.He also opposed. State, Control and extension of tenure.- • •' 1 , - I The Hon.' Ji A 7 Hanan maintained that the Council had no right to alter what had been decided by the House for members of the House had VgivCq pledges. The Council . had no, -mandate. . . : - ’ ■

The Right Hon. Sir Robert Stout advocated the bare, majority.;which/;..:he, submitted, was :democratic .and' -’had been recognised for 50 years in -New Zealand. It was a restriction of liberty to pass a law requiring the abolition of a thing injurious to toe people by a two-thirds majority. • The Hon H. L. Michel opposed the principle- of. State control, which,/ Ihe said, was not a live issue. He also opposed the bare majority and said 'too people could not be deprived of the right to vote every three years. ' 1 Sir Frederick Lang declared he would; i ote for the bare majority if he thought everybody would exercise his vote, bjtt; he was not convinced of that. He sUp-J ported retention of the third issue. TheV Hon. M. Cohen said he would never; advocate the hare majority. He supported the two-issue ballot paper and. six years, between polls and referred to the. need? for improved accommodation In hotels. J ' The Hon. L. M. Isitfc declared • tliat,abovo all, prohibitionists had ' .fopgfijt" for the bare majority and as they had a majority in ihe House concessions’ •should be made by their opponents. ' ; The Hon. C. J." Carrington, spoke,.;Alt’ favour of a substantial majority and a, six year tenure. -.‘.'l',; The Bill will be committed ta-mpryow;.*