PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12211, 8 August 1925, Page 7

PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY

PARLIAMENT WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. “If my reply is short,” said the Hod. J. G. Coates, in replying to the deputation, “please do not take it as being discourteous. There is no doubt in my mind that while two factions are squabbling about whether they will have prohibition or liquor the public is suffering. Is it possible for the Legislature of New Zealand to he able to ignore the two factions and' improve the lawß which govern the sale of liquor, and accommodation of the public? It seems to me that if anything is to he done, it must he done along these lines, and it seems to me you would have to ignore the wishes of those who believe in total prohibition and,those who believe in the trade itself. That is the only line we can possibly take if we are going to bring about an improvement. Is improvement necessary? Those of us who move about the conntry say it is essential, and that the control of liquor and improvement in accommodation is vital. That is the opinion I have formed. As someone has remarked, for thirty years it has been a question of whether , there should be total prohibition or continuance under existing conditions. I think any reasonable person will say, ‘lf there are ills they should be righted, because you might go another thirty years, and go from had to worse.’ Those are my personal views. Whether they please or displease is not a .matter of great consideration to me, but it is right that the public should know. You ask me to bring down legislation this year' in accordance with the promise of the late Prime Minister that a bill would be submitted for members of Parliament to deliberate upon. I am enable to inform you whether a hill will he placed before Parliament this year. As a matter of fact, Otbinet is considering the question at the moment. I.have not had an opportunity of going to the country and asking the country whether it thinks me fitted to’ lead a patty in Parliament,' or whether I am fitted to be the leader of a

Government, or whether the Government I represent is satisfactory to the people. That is one point which, I think, must affect the position to some extent. “I will 6ay this, that, apart 'altogether from the promise of the late Prime Minister that Parliament should have an opportunity of considering-li-censing legislation, I think I can say quite definitely that Parliament will hafe the opportunity of considering licensing legislation or the improvement of licensing laws in New Zealand, but, if not during this Parliament, , then in the future, if the group I represent, is returned to Parliament. If we are. unable to bring down legislation this session, next session Parliament. will have an opportunity of considering a billj and that hill will be on lines that have bhen suggested. We: know perfectly well that the accommodation in New Zealand to-day in re-

gard to hotels is not what people coming from other countries expect. How can. you make it better? It is quite obvious that those who are interested in hotel accommodation are not spending the money necessary to provide fot unproved accommodation. That is the case all over the country, and to-day it is .difficult to accommodate even a pprty of ’ forty in any hotel in New Zealahd. We have tourists coming from other parts of the world, hut we have to split them up into small parties, which makes it expensive for us. We cannot quote prices we would like, arid cannot give them the accommodation they lode for. If tikis country is tb become attractive, then good a/wsumodation mush be available. Am taxi Wa our own population is conoerned, We say the whole law should he tighteral up and controlled in a satisfactory manner, .They could then feel that w best'thought had been given to theJß form of tike trade.”