DISCUSSION ON BELLAMY'S.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15856, 30 August 1913, Page 10

DISCUSSION ON BELLAMY'S.

QUESTION OF A LICENSE. (From Odb Own Correspondent.) • WELLINGTON, August 29. Whether or not Bellamy's, at the House ol Representatives, should retain its license was a question raised this evening by Mr L. M. lsitt. Early in. the day a member. complained. that parliamentarians had no choice of whiskies in Bellamy's. "It matters very little what brand ot whisk" is supplied," commented Mt lsitt 'some hours later, "it always seems to me. that all brands of whisky have the same undesirable effect over the men who swallow it. "There is a question I want to put to the Minister," he continued. "What about the right of Parliament to vote in the issue of a license to Bellamy's? How long is it since we have had an opportunity to vote as to whether .Bellamy's should do without it or retain it?' What with short sessions and other things we have been robbed'of the opportunity of voting on the question to' do away with an institution which.will never work for the good of this House." He hoped to have, he said, the sympathy of the' Prime Minister. As a matter of fact he believed that when Mi' Massey first came .to the House he voted against the right of Bellamy's to have a license.

j\lr Massey: That was many 'years ago, too long ago to remember. Mr lsitt: So you to perfection grew. He hoped the House would have a chance of voting on the matter .this session. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that in 1909 there was a good reason for a short session. It was the Dreadnought session. In 1906 there was another short session, owing to the death of the Hon. Mr Seddon. That was the reason why, after two general elections, no vote was taken. No doubt, after next election, the hon. gentleman would .have the opportunity he sought. / Mr lsitt said that he did not regard the Minister's reply as in any way satisfactory. It was "years since the House.had had an opportunity to vote on the question. There might be another brief Ministry and they would be robbed again of their chance.