THE NEW PROPOSALS,

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14509, 12 November 1909, Page 2

THE NEW PROPOSALS,

(By Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. Noy. 11. _ There is a reticence among members in regard to the local option proposals of the Government, as already announced, that' can only be regarded as significant almost in fact. It would seem that there is among them a distrust of the proposals, although no one approached on the subject has. put such a suggestion into words. It is evident, however, that there is a feelmg among some members, and more particularly ambng members who lake • keen interest in licensing legislation, tbat they should have been consulted on the subject: that, no matter what the trade and the alliance and the Government decides upon, as a reasonable ' working agreement, the members have still to be consulted; and as they in most eases have been returned pledged to a certain course of action on such matters, and that those pledges will have to be carried out. On thY other hand, it is pointed out that the proposal outlined is now made a- feature of the 'Government's policy, and that ~ when the BUI comes down the Government will be in the position of icing able to call on its snpporters to uphold that policy. The situation will be interesting, but members are- sceptical as to whether any licensing legislation will be placed on the Statute Book this session. '