The Licensing Bill.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 6049, 14 September 1894, Page 4

The Licensing Bill.

(BY TELEGRAPH.) (pkom ottr ows correspondent. ) Wellington, September 13. , In rising to propose the second reading . of the Licensing Bill, the Premier was , greeted with hearty applause. " The ; long expected," he said, had arrived at last. It would be found that the little i stranger was well developed and very ! stronc. The Bill had not satisfied everybody ; indeed, it would be utterly im- , possible to satisfy the temperance extremists, who carry their intemperance into the question. Was there a necessity for the Bill? (Cries of "No, No," and '• Yes, Yes.") He considered that there was, as the legislation of last year on the question had been defective. The sooner this liquor question was settled the better both for members and the country. It was the desire of the Government that the present Bill should pass, and that members should have the opportunity . to discuss it. Mr T. Mackenzie: Seriously ? The Premier: Most assuredly. Continuing, Mr Seddon said that ■ in providing that the local option poll should be taken at a general election, it might be urged that- it was intended to , mix the licensing election with general politics. But that was not so at the . last election, and would not be so as long as there were two views on the liquor question. Whether an old question on general election day or not, the liquor question would always be connected with general politics. After referring to the expense of last licensing election, the Premier said that tlie new proposals were decidedlyin the direction of economy. In reference to bottle licenses, he said that they had been a scourge, and it would be to the benefit of all concerned to have them abolished. The abolition of New Zealand wine licenses was also necessary, as it might happen that in a district where prohibition had been carried a New Zealand wine license might be in force, and though there was wine in the front window there might be something stronger on the shelves. He pointed out in reference to the contention that it would have been better to have introduced a short amending Bill, that the Government were aware of the defects in last session's Bill, but they were confident that the present Bill would pass easier than a short amending Bill. The Government had been twitted as to their sincerity regarding the passing _of the Bill. This was a serious accusation, and had the hon. gentleman who had made it known how earnestly the Government had gone into the question he would never have made it. The Government had come to the decision that the question must be set at rest, and conscientiously believed that the present Bill would be eftective in that direction. Mr M'Nab followed and said that; lie was in favor of a short amending Bill instead of a Consolidation Bill. The Bill now before the House, he said, would need to be referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, and if it were sent to that Committee this session the Bill would be as dead as a door nail, as the Committee had at present too much work before it. He would not further discuss the Bill, as he was desirous to get the Bill soot to the Committee as soon as possible. Mr Collins questioned very much whether legislation on the question had been demanded by the country. He spoke as a life-long abstainer, but thought that this intemperance legislation would retard true temperance reform. This Bill would not satisfy the Prohibition party He considered that if Prohibition were carried it would be an infringement of the right of the minority, which never should be infringed. Mr Heke said that he would like to see the native licensing districts abolished altogether. Mr Saunders said that he had listened with much pleasure to the Premier's speech, which had shown that he was progressing. The only defect in the present Bill, in his opinion, was the alteration of the constitution of Licensing Committees, which he thought should not have been interfered with. The Premier, in reply to Mr M'Nab, said that an amending Bill would not have been so easily disposed of or prepared so quickly as the present Bill had been. Referring to Mr Saunders' remarks about Licensing Committees, he showed that the electors should nvt be called on to vote for Committee men when they had the more serious question of the election of members to the House before them. The second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill is to be committed to-morrow.