The Licensing Bill

Southland Times, Issue 19202, 13 November 1903, Page 2

The Licensing Bill

(By Telegraph). (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 12. The unanimity of the satisfaction expressed at the fate of the Licensing Bill is quite charming., ! • THE TRADE " CLAIMS A VICTORY. Mr Moss Davis, of Auckland, who has been in Wellington watching the interests of " tho trade " claims that they have been most successful in regard to licensing matters. The second rending of the bill, token on the absolute principles of the measure, was carried on the voices. Tho division last night was only what lie expected so late in the session. Mr Davis claims that " ihe trade," by not opposing clauso '_>, h;ive I cen the true advocates of temparance, whilo the prohibition party have now openly advocated the consumption of liquor, nnd have also declined to allow rrol-'.bition to be carried out in its true ond entire form. He claims this as a victory, as the prohibition advocates, by desttting their cause, have sounded i',s death knoll. REV. I*. W. TSITT DELIGHTED. Mx Isitt. secretary of thu N.Z. Alliance, says : "We should indeed l<c an unreasonable lot if we were not more than satisfied and in ex-ioor.int sp'iits" He went on to say that witti tho victory of 1002, tho tactics of the, trade revealed, and the menaces of the Premier I falling on the ears of the peupio. the party was kept in a quiver of mttr.se expectation, and was lilled wah an eurnest purpose. " The Immediate future is full of hope to us, and menace to the trade," concluded Mr Isitt. EXTRAORDINARY SCENE. At the Baptist Church last evening, when tho news were amouncorl that the Premier's Licensing Bill had been killed, the large audience, amid great excitement rose in a body and remained standing while the Doxology '.vus suug. A similar scene was witnessed at the i rinity Church Sunday School anniversary celebrations. IN MEMO RI AM. The death of the Liquor Bill is being quietly chatted over to-day. The rcor orphan, after lingering for a month — a period of torture and misery — was knocked on the head a*, it moment's notice The tear-conipellti>(* part of the tragedy is the treachery oi Mr Sed-K-n. who at the last moment threw over his friends in the trade. 'Ihe amendments which he outlined yesterday afternoon, un ounted to practical des.-rtion. Mr Seddon entreated the House '.■> let him change the garb in which ;l'o bitntlinu was diossed. He was a young inexperienced mother and would now like in» i- e true Hue in its parts, and in the morning a consultation was held over the infant. The Premier beseeched his fi*if-nds r.ofc to spill blood in the Cabinet room ■ ho did not want that stigma on bis good nume. Let them take the orpVuin uwuy and throttle it openly in vj v w of the public, so at 7. H0 the wicked molhov led in the littlo chap so sweetly diesst»] with blue ribbon that members wero ashamed of the murder in their ucarts. What perfidy ! The heartless mother f^avo the wink to this armed baud, and in tho presence of callous spectators they crushed the life out of the deserted, homeless, friendless orphan — " butchered to make a itoman holiday."