THE BARE MAJORITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14280, 31 July 1908, Page 5

THE BARE MAJORITY

DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT. THE PRINCIPLE CONDEMNED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON", July 30. _ The discussion on Mr Laurenson's Licensing Absolute .Majority Bill to-night (reported in another column by the Press Association) showed very clearly what I ■ have etated on several occasions recently— that the advocates of temperance reform were making a great tactical mistake in bringing in such a measure. Speaker after speaker, including such temperance advocates as tho Hon. Mr M'Nab, Dr Chappie, and Mr Fisher, stated that the bill would cause a serious division in tho rank 6 of the Tomperaneo party. Mr "Fisher said lie knew amongst his own friends hundreds of people who had for-, merly voted, no-license, but who had, in consequence of this measure, already signified their intention of casting their votes in tho opposite direolion at the next election, bcoauso they recognised tho danger that would be brought about in trade in this Country were license or no-license to be brought about by a majority of one. Tho Prime Minister made one point clear—a point denietl by the Church Committee—when ho said that tho great majority of men returned to the present. Parliament had pledged themselves to the law as it now sUitmLs. liuleed, lie went much further, and stated "•emphatically that had the bare majority been in evidence in the past the pi'eSont legislation would never have got, on the Statute Book—a statement that was reo?ivcd with various "Hear, hears." Sir Joseph showed that tho present bill would have no chancc in committee, and he ventured to say that before it had been in committee for a day itwould have a tail to it of three or four hundred amendments.

Member after member rose and said that hey had been pledged to tho three-fifths majority. The division was taken shortly before half-past 12. On Mr Fjsher anil Dr Chappie—two strong temperance advo-cates-being named by Mr Speaker <ts tellers for the "noes," thcro wero shouts of laughter. Tho division resulted in tho defeat of the bill by 54 votes to 8. Tho result was received with applause.