THIRD EDITION. THE LICENSING BILL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16500, 18 November 1927, Page 11

THIRD EDITION. THE LICENSING BILL

MANY RUMORS CURRENT PROHIBITIONISTS CONFIDENT ULTIMATUM TO PREMIER (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON,, this day. There wen; so many rumors circulating in the lobbies' this morning concerning the Licensing Bill and its prospects of being seen again this session that any diligent investigator could hear whatever lie wanted to hear, and yet not arrive at the truth. However, several members on the prohibition side are confident that the Bill will be bi'ought on again on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Yesterday, the Prime Minister was busy with meetings concerning licensing, and there was an important gathering in the early hours this morningafter the House rose. The exact details of what happened are, of course, jealously guarded, hut if is reliably stated that Reform prohibitionists who helped carry the hare majority dceision told Mr. Coates in straight from the shoulder terms that they expected him to allow Hie Bill to bo, called on. Words were not mixed, and it is said that what members said to their chief amounted almost to an ultimatum.

A committee consisting of Messrs D. Jones, J. Bitchener, and C. E. Bellringer, was set up to confer with the Prime Minister after he has met the other side.

Another similar committee has, it ;s reported, been set up by the other side.

This morning Mr. Coates was besieged with callers, and telegrams are flooding in from all parts of the Do3ii in ion.

Although this morning's conference lasted till a very early hour, no final decision was arrived at. When the gathering dispersed everyone .was on friendly terms.

Reform prohibitionists say .that no decisive statement can be made till the interests of the other side have been considered, but they arc confident of ultimate success.

An official statement by the Prime Minister is awaited. There is a possibility of its being made in the House this afternoon. The resentment of some members was incurred by the fact that Mr. Coates moved .simply to report progress, and did not add the words "with leave to sit again" till the matter had been discussed. The Prime Minister's action was .taken as an indication that no more would be heard of the Bill, and consequently every effort, is being made to induce him to bring it on.

Apparently prohibition members outside the Reform Party are not directly interested in the representations. Interviewed, Mr. Coates gave no indication of what lie intended doing, but he said lie would -wait a few days for developments.