THE LICENSING BILL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20252, 10 November 1927, Page 10

THE LICENSING BILL.

ANTI-LIQUOR VIEWPOINT. HOPES OF A 50-50 POLL STONEWALL BY TRADE SUPPORTERS. (From Opr Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, November 9. “ A very good Bill,” said a 'prohibitionist, who is a prominent member of the Reform Party, to-day when asked what his’Opinion was in regard to Mr Coates s Licensing Bill. ‘ “It only wants tvv„ words altered—the word three should be inserted instead of the word six in re gard to the polls, and the figures regarding the percentage should be equalised to'-provide for a majority vote." That seems to sum up the position insofar as the Prohibition Party is concerned, and if there is to be a stonewall on the Bill in committee the chances are that it will not come from the no-linuor eide. It is generally understood that there will b e a majority in the House of Representatives favourable to the two issues at the licensing poll. This majority is variously estimated at from three to six. The prohibition members claim that there will also be a majority in favour of a 50-50 poll, but this is not so certain. If there is a likelihood of the prohibitionists carrying these two important amendments the chances are that the supporters of the trade will do the stonewalling in committee. There are some members who are pledged to a three-issue ballot paper, but who would vote for a two-issue ballot with a 55 per cent, majority. The “ State Controllers also would be prepared, in many cases, to abandon that issue if there was a certainty of carrying the 55 per cent. poll. Another phase of the question is that not all the members who are pledged need adhere to the strict letter of their pledges : u view of the alternatives provided in the Bill. Interviewed to-night, Mr J. M'Combs (Lyttelton),' who is the most pi eminent of the anti-liquoritcs in tho House of Representatives, said that although the Bill as drafted made huge concessions to the trade and considerably increased the handicap against prohibition, there was a possibility that the liquor supporters in the House would stonewall the Bill from the word “ Go ” because they feared that the Bill, when it fh ally emerged from the House, would contain a three-year poll, a two-issue ballot, and no artificial majority. The supporters of the trade would therefore do their best to kill the Bill. The most that the trade could hope from the present Parliament was that there would be no alteration in the present law, and that was what their supporters in Parliament would fight, for. He added that if members were to have a perfectly free hand and were given ample time to come to a determination on the various issues involved there would be little to complain about in view of a prolonged and close Wattle. The prohibitionists from the three, parties in the House have formed a committee of seven, with four whips, to watch the battle from start to finish. A meeting of the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers’ Association will be held in Wellington to-morrow to consider the Bill in detail and its plan of action. DELETION OF THIRD ISSUE. A RESOLUTION OF PROTEST. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. November 9, Tho Dominion Executive of the Licensing Reform Association resolved this morning—“ That this association expresses its amazement at tho iniquitous pioposal contained in the Licensing Bill for the deletion of the third issue, thereby disfranchising a large and rapidlygrowing body of thought in the Dominion, and, on behalf of the moderate electors, calls on Parliament to resist this violation ot the principles-of democracy; that the association expresses its regret that tlie proposal of corporate control has found no place in the Licensing Amendment Bill, and respectfully urges its inclusion by way of an amendment to the Bill as providing a sound and practical method of controlling the the licensing system in the interests of true temperance.” TWO-ISSUE BALLOT PAPER. STULTIFIED BY 55 PER CENT. PROVISION. STATEMENT BY NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 9. The Standing Committee of the New Zealand Alliance issues a statement in which approval is expressed of the Prime Minister’s assurance that Parliament will be left to thresh the matter put. It is disappointed that the provision of the two-issue ballot paper is stultified by the provision of a 55 per cent, majority to carry prohibition. In reference to the six year poll, the alliance has always strenuously opposed the : extension of the time between the polls. The alliance opposes the proposal to extend the hours “for the sale of liquor in the dining rooms oi hotels until 10 o’clock at night, and also the removal of control from licensing Committees to the police.