LIQUOR DELAYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24832, 2 March 1944, Page 7

LIQUOR DELAYED

INVEECAEGILL CHANGE

, "EXTRAORDINARY BILL" DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT (SR.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday A ruling that in discussing the Invercargill Licensing Committee Bill members would not be permitted to discuss licensing reform in its broad aspects was given by the Speaker, the Hon. F. W. Schramm, in the House of Representatives this afternoon when the second reading debate was commenced. Moving the second reading the Attor-ney-General, the Hon. H. G. 11. Mason, «aid that now that restoration had been carried in Invercargill there would ho the problem of building 14 or 15 suitable modern hotels. While making full allowance for the rights of the Invercargill people it had to be recognised that with housing in a serious state and more schools Urgently needed it would be wrong to build hotels at this stage of manpower and material shortages. Conditions ol Restoration It was true that the people of Invercargill wanted restoration, Mr. Mason continued, but there was a considerable body which wanted municipal control, while others asked for some other kind of reform. The Government felt that if anything was done on the various lines indicated it would have to be carried out by legislation. To enable the question to be properly considered the bill deferred the election of a committee. The clause declaring Invercargill a nolicence area for the term of the postponement of the election of a committee was superfluous and misleading, said the Minister, and he intended to ask in the committee stage that it he deleted. "Though the bill mentions a period of six months, it does not mean -that arrangements for the provision of liquor will be delayed as long as that," Mr. Mason'added. "I hope it will he available not appreciably later than June, when the new licensing committees will function."

Mr. Holland's Criticism The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G.'Holland, said the House had lis-ten-ad to an extraordinary speech on an extraordinary bill. Members were told that the bill did not amend the Licensing Act, but did alter it. It seemed that the opportunities given to the House for discussion were unreasonably limited bv the ruling from the Chair. The people of Invercargill had carried restoration ,md only 1250 out of 14,357 electors said they wanted State control.

The Opposition said last year that if elected it would appoint a Royal commission to inquire into the liquor traffic, Mr. continued, and some months later the Prime Minister made a similar announcement. That was five months ago, but the Government had done nothing to implement its promise. Licensing committees had their annual meetings in June, when they issued licences. Under _ the existing law a licensing committee for Invercargill would be in operation in June and then grant licences, but under the bill no licences would be issued until June, 1945. There was much more in the bill than appeared on the surface. "Will Honour Promise" The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, said the Leader of the Opposition, in implying that the Government would not honour its promise of a Royal commission to investigate the liquor problem and licensing generally, had made an unworthy suggestion. The time for the keeping* of that promise was a matter for the Government and nobody else. Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Opposition— Pahiatua): When is the commission to be set up? Mr. Fraser: That is my business and the business of the Government. We will carry out that promise. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 5.20.

CITY COUNCIL'S OFFER TEMPORARY CONTROL PLAN '(P.A.) IN VERCA RG ILL. Wednesday Subject to the Government passing the necessary legislation, the Invercargill City Council is prepared to carry on temporarily the control of the sale of liquor in the city as from June 30 until the wishes of the people are ascertained by-" a referendum, which should be taken at the earliest possible date. The council does not agree with the postponement of the change in status of the Invercargill electorate until September. A resolution on these lines was carried at a special meeting of the council and members of the committee for municipal ownership and the control of hotels. PUBLIC MEETING PROTESTS UNANIMOUS R ESOLUTION ;<P.A.) INVERCARGILL. Wednesday The strong feeling aroused in Invercargill by the proposal of the Government to postpone the election of the licensing committee until not later than September 12, and to continue the state of no-licence in the city in the meantime, was shown by a large attendance at a meeting of protest last night. The meeting was called at very short but in spite of that the Victoria Concert Chamber was filled to overflowing. The following motion was carried without a single dissentient: —"That this meeting of Invercargill electors unanimously protests against any attempt by the Government to deprive the electors of Invercargill of their rights, constitutionally won under the existing laws of this country, by reverting Invercargill to the status of a no-licence district."

Mr. Owen Smith, Mayor of South Invercargill, who presided, said the course proposed by the Government was contrary to the principles of democracy. "It has been said that the people of Invercargill did not know what they voted for, but when the resolution which will be put to this meeting gets to Wellington tbev will know what we voted for," he said. NEWMARKET AFFAIRS name of sports ground The choice of a permanent name for Sarawia Park sports ground, which, it was stated, had never been officially lanied, was discussed at a meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council last night. Notice to move at the next meeting that the name Olympic Stadium be considered was given by Mr. C. Fj. Passmore.

Approval of the arrangements for the proposed renewal of the overbridge in Khyber Pass Road was given. The other public bodies contributing to the cost thought the now bridge would be retired to last about 10 years, said the borough engineer, Mr. N. F. Alcock, by that time it was considered that tramcars would not be in use and a reinforced -concrete decking on the bridge would then replace the proposed wooden one. ~ It was decided to grant motor drivers' fences free of charge to members of trie armed forces returned from overE eas on furlough.