WAR REGULATIONS BILL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14047, 18 July 1916, Page 6

WAR REGULATIONS BILL.

j SECOND READING TO-NIGHT. I INTEREST IN THE LIQUOR QUESTION. (From pur Parliamentary Reporter.) / WELLINGTON, this day. Mr Herdman will move the second reading of the War: Regulations Bill . to-night, giving the Govenior-in-Coim-cil time to make further regulations dealing with enemy trade, controlling the saie of alcoholic liquor, suppression of prostitution, and prevention of ; venereal disease, and . for the maintenance of industries essential for the public welfare. The matter wJiioh is , exercising most interest m connection i, with the measure is tliat dealing with the sale of liquor. A clause m the measure specifically proposes to abolish • "shouting,'' but peti tions by the pro- . hibition section have also been returned t to the House from the M to Z Com- [ mitteo with a favorable recommendu- ( tion for the six io'clock closing of i licensed houses. The house, however, ! talked it out and an appeal to the Got yernment to introduce ai clause embodyj ing tho recommeuda-tion succeeded no i further than arranging for a conference t betwean representatives of opposing j factions m the House with the object . of effecting a. compromise. Tlie oonl ferenco has proved abortive, and it is ; not likely any report will be • presented 5 to-night on the subject as a guide to members, the position being that the . » whole 'question will have to be fought i on the floor of the House. The . prohibition party is not" strong enough -, to carry a motion m fayoi' of early closing m the House, and although opi, ponents of the proposp.l were willing to grant some concegsioa to publiq Qpijiioil

the somewhat \incompromising attitude of tli3 prohibition section has resulted m creat.ng a definite sp.rit of antagonism, and it is now practically certain that tho argument that early closing during the war is an economic necessity will 'all to carry weight with the majority of members. The situation Jias iv fact become so delicate that even the anti-shouthig clause may be vigorously combated, and a definite attempt b 3 made to -kill ; the Bill altogether. This move may be assisted by. the Labor section,' which regards the provision giving the Government 'power to make regulations for the maintenance of industries essential for the public welfare as being m a Parliamentary language, "loaded," and -Iraught. with a peculiar danger to trades unionists./ There are other clauses which are also regarded with suspicion by a number of members, and the Bill may have an exceedingly troublous passage. Mr Massey and Mr Allen -will not be m the House to-night, but the Premier expects to 'be -able- to resume his seat at t to-morrow's sitting.