SIX O'CLOCK CARRIED..

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14539, 17 October 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

SIX O'CLOCK CARRIED..

GOVERNMENT TAKES INITIATIVE.

QUICK DEVELOPMENT IN PARLIAMENT.

NATIONAL LEADERS' VIEWS

(From Our Parliamentary Corresponpendent.)

Wellington, Sept. 20. After its long preliminary debates, the House this afternoon reached the crucial stnge on the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill. Then members avoided circumlocution, . ,and wont quickly through the stages of voting, showing , a big majority against the Govern- | ment's 8 o'clock proposal. . The Premier created; a, sensation by immediately declaring for 6 o'clock, and the- resultant division showed a majority of ]8 for. that hour. Having decided the vital principle, members entered |on a. long Committee discussion, during j which an unsuccessful attempt was made to- repeal the-anti-shouting, law. Immediately the Sale, of Liquor Restriction Bill was' reached Mr Payne raised an interesting point of order, that as the Bill ,was likely to result in a loss of revenue, which would have to i n ii .c yp li 5 T in«'eased taxation, it should have ."been introduced, like other financial'mea.sures r by Governor's message.. :. ■■ . '■:''-' •■ .' ■■■ ■ , Mr Speaker's answer; caused general laughter.; , "There is no indication ■•what the result will be, whether a i eduction or otherwise, "he said. ' 'Borne members are of opinion that it will be quite the opposite." The House then went into Committee on the Bill. There was opportunity for a general discussion upon the Bill's short title, but members appeared anxious to quit . talk- for iTie vote. Withm a minute the committee was dividing upon the: .amendment by Mr Anderson to strike; <fofc ''eight o'clock 7' as the closing timeSrra order to substitute an earlier howrf

Ihe division todk place -amid excitement, the result being declared- For the amendment, 41, against 29 Mr Webb asked leave to explain that ne had made a mistake in voting He wanted to vote against ,any elteratto* i:v the hours consequently ho wished .to vote with the Noes. Mr Malcolm;. (Chairman of Committees): 'I find the hon. gentleman has voted both sides. (Laughter.) He de-;-Cjs*ed the result of the division- For ;thtf-amendment 42 ; against 28. _ I? or 8-Vclock closing, 28: Bollard. Brown Buick, Carroll, Colvin, Diclcl son, J. S FieTd, W. H., -Ffetcfier. Eraser Glover, Henave, Kerffman,- Herl •nes - Hudson, M^aJlum, Mac Donald, Ma^ey.Myeri:^r«,Payne. Pomare I|eed, Rhodes. T^^Scott, Smith, R,! VL, ,Thackeiv.. Wfttv, Ward; pairs; Jennings and: Wilfdrd. Against 8 o'clock, 41: Allen, Anderson Austey, Buddo, *Craigie, DTckson, I. M.v Ell Field, T. A. H., Forbes buthrie, Hanan, Harris. Hmdmarsh. Hornsby, .Hunter, Isitt, Lee, McCombs Mander. Newman*, A. X., Newman, E. Nosworthy, Parr, Pearce, Polani; Poole, .Rhodes, R. H., Russell, Si<w' Smith, ,&. JFL, Statham, Sykes, Taloot Thomsoh. ?jei*ch. Walker, Webb. Wilkinson, Wright,, Young; pairs, Finalay and Ngata. PREMIER MOVES SIX O'CLOCK.

The Premier, upon the announcement of the divisions said in moving to introduce the Bill: "I promisedl on tfie part of the Government that iip'influence would be used and no interference made with members' votes. That promise has been kept. (Hear, hear.) The vote has gone against the principle proposed in the Bill, but I want to say I accept if now. on behalf of the Government, and now, Mr Malcolm, I projose to insert, the word 'six-.' (Hear, hear, loud applause, and confused interjections). I hope," added the Premier, "when the Bill goes on to the Statute Book, as it probably will now in the shapo proposed/ it will end the rarest which the Houso and country have experienced during the last few weeks, and especially during the last few days. {Hear, hear.) I stated the other evening, and I repeat now, that something will have to he done to end the present stale of affairs. I want to tell the Hoiise this: I am firmly impressed with the idea \ye shall havo to do snmetEmg on the lines proposed by the Efficiency Board, that is to say, the country will have to bo given an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the one side of Continuance and on the other side of Prohibition with terms of compensation. It might hi* decided, perhaps, by a bare majority, but I will not express an opinion on that point just here, but I thinJt the time must come, in tho not far distant future, for this matter to be decided.

I SIR JOgJSPTT W<\t?.t> SUPPORTS EARLY POLL. Sir Joseph Ward remarked that She [House had made public its mind definitely to effect a great change in the p.atter.of the closing hours of hotels | tbroughoiit the country. He thought ihe people of the country should halve an opportunity of deciding the issue mentioned by the Premier within the next six months. (Hear, hear.) He did hot want to see this issue decided after the war was over. He considered the people should have an opportunity of deciding the point early. Again; it was not fair, in his opinion, for meralers in the House and the people otat-l side to tell the man who for the £imo being was responsible for directing the the. finances of 'the country than* he could easily make up the loss of revenue which passed ■ through the Customs Department owing to the increased savings of the people. If +-he country declared for National Prohibition 'iiien the country in turn must Realise ft. The* fair and right thing to do was not to make generalised statements that the revenue could bo.-made m> and throwing the onus on the Finance Minister.- The rigbl .thing to do was for the country to closely consider and I for Parliament to meet and decide in what direction it was going to fmpose jtlus ifecessarv taxation.

The committee divided on the question of inserting 6 o'clock as £he closing hour the result being: Ayes 44, Jsoos 26.

For 6 o'clock, 44: Allen, Anderson, Anstey, Buddo, Craierm, Dickson.J M T>ickson. J. $.. Ell, Field. T. A FT ' Field. W H.. Fraser. Guthrie, Hanan. Harris: ■Hindmnrsh, JTornphy, Hunter, T=itt. Lw, Mcdombs. Manrler. Massev. Myers, Nfcwjvon. A. X., Newman F. ' NoswoHhv, Okey. P.-in-, Ponrce, PnInnd, Tnole. RhotVs. R. H.. Rhodes. T. W., Pii.ccell, «idy, S'nu'tb. G. H.. Svkes. Talbot. TiioTnpon, Vertcli, Wal-V-or." Wilkii^ori. Wright, Young ; pairs Findlav and X«-af,a. .

-An-ainst? 6 o'clock. ?6 • B^ll^yl, Brown, ■Rnick. Cnrroll. Cblvin, Dickie, THcfchnr, (lio^or. TTonarq, F.^rd- " sin. 1T e v / ri PS Hudson. F^Callum. %»-. T>nno.ld. -Parntn P.—ne, Pomav<\ ReeTl. Pr»f+ «niifh, R. W. • p a ir S Jennings ?nd Wilford.

| ■DCIIHTTON OF THE CHANGE. , Mr Wilkinson moved to amend clause 3. li'iiitinrr the ooeration of the Bill to the, duration, of the war and" six months! thereafter., by- orovidins flint the hours! slinlli; remain fixed until altered Fy a vote of tho people, to Be taken at "the 1 next ■ licensing poll after tho end "oF'ihe H*pr. ,

Mr Ma?<*ey said bo cuH not accept iho oinond.mr-ut. "I don't- think ll r/nite fair.'' he added. "In Ehe first ivl.io-e,.th'is io.a- war measure, and war measures cease to operate 6 months

after the war ends. Besides, it looks/ a little like nibbing it in. I think Mr|. Wilkinson and his friends have dona \ory well, and ought to bo perfectly satisfied. This Act will mean a certain ' amount of hardship, and I don't think wo ought to make it worse than wo can 1-elp. I represent a country district, and I know perfectly well what we hare done is going to cause considerable inconvenience to many country people who use country hotels. It will be'illegal after the passing of this Act for these people to 'be on licensed premises after six o'clock, except as boarders. Therefore we may i-ave to alter tha Bill later on." ' - Mr Wilkinson * We have .had a great win, and I an: quite content to wibhcraw the amendment.. ANTI-SHOUTING RETAINED. The next amendment was by Mr Witty, who proposed the repeal of the anti-sf outing, law passed last year. Tins point was considerably discussed, members favouring the amendment accept- • ing that the publieXgenerally had flouted anti-shouting and that it'had become < a farce by reason of the inability of the authorities to enforce it. Those opposed to the repeal of anti-st outing appealed for a further trial of the law, which they claimed had done more thanany law previously passed in this country to diminish excessive drinking. The Minister of Defence declared that tie one great evil the soldiers hud: to face \ was shouting, therefore he hoped the committee would stand by the antishouting clause. Mr Webb declared that anti-shou ting was responsible for creating more sneaks than anything else in the country. ■ ■ - ■ -

The amendment was lost. For, 21: Brown, Buick, Carroll, Colvin, Dickson, J. S. Fletcher, Forbes, Glover, Herdman, Herries, Horns by,McCallum. Mac Donald, Parata^ Payne, Pearce, Thacker, Veitch, Ward, Webb., AVittv.

Against the amendment^ 47: Allen, Anderson, A'nstey, BoUard,. Butldoi Craigie, Dickson, J. M., Dickie,Ml, Field,.T. A. H., Field, Tv. H., Guthrie, Harris, Henare, Hindmarah, Hudson, Hunter, Isitt, Lee, MeCombs, Manclac, M.assoj\ Myers, Newman. A. X., Newnian, E., Nosworthy, Gkey, Parr, 'Po;land, Pomare, Poole, Reed", Rliodes, R;H., Rhodes, T. W., Russell, SQoi^-Sii dey, Smith. G. H., Smith, 11.^(8^, ibam Sykes*Talbot, Thomson, Walker Wilkinson, Wright, Young

RENT ADJUSTMENT. The Premier moved; a new. clause to the Bill providing for a reduction of rent payable by a hotel licensee to the owner of premises if tho licensee at any time prior to February Ist, 1915,----gives notice to the. owner requiring a reduction in rent. The clause gives the owner discretion to accept the surrender by the-licensee of tire lease.on payment to the licensee- of tho property, part of any bonus- or premium hi consideration of the grant of the lease, together with such value of the furniture and: stock-in-trade,as may be decide^' by arbitration-..- If- th& owner-fails With-' in fourteen- days- of rthe notice te reduce- tfc'e rent or accept the 6urrendec of the lease the licensee may apply to the local licensing committee for an order reducing'-the rent, the'committee to have the power % determine the" matter. The order so issued shall take effect as from the date thef Notice was served by tie licensee on the owner and continue in force for the duration of the Act.

During the discussion on the clause a number of Ts&mjbimi. objected to tho licensing comiraitees:i ;;''«s unsuitable bodies' to adjudicate oniMe adjustment of rent.

Mr Massey eventually agreed to have the clause overhauled by the Statutes .Revision Committee of the Legislative Council, as he agreed that licensing committees were not quit© suitable to deal with the position. Tlie clause was adopted on" tKi£" tin? derstanding. , - The Premier moved a new clause providing for a reduction of rates on licensed premises when the rent is roduced in districts where the rating is on the annual value.

The Bill was reported wifct; amendments.

Mr Massey moved the third reading cf the Bill without comment. There was no debate.

The House rose at 8.50. \