THE LICENSING BILLI

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIII, Issue 14349, 15 November 1910, Page 7

THE LICENSING BILLI

DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL. Per Press Association. WELLINTON, Nov. : In the Legislative Council tliis evenBig Dr Findlay. moved tlie second reading of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill. He referred to the elimination of the reduction issue, which he said had served its purpose. The cardinal principle of the Bill was the National Prohibition issue. There were a number of important details in Part 2 of the Act. The inexpediency of women serving drink behind a public bar liad been recognised. Another reform was the abolition of the locker system, which had been responsible for much mischief . He hoped to introduce an amendment which would make tho clauses dealing the locker system moro drastic. wf+Wh 1 * 1 u ls ° iutrod "ce amendments with the object of rendering it impossible tor Courts of Justice to be £"d Bill m 1! t i - a ! m aild ob i ect of tJic ha- tech " ,Cal grounds. The issues had been put onthe voting papers <o gence meanest ' inteliiS ~ E THE BILL SUPPORTED. Mr Jones seconded the motion -lnrl th i e need for 11 change in i j.i laws. Ho was triad ffm+ JatifiS 111 Ho intereSted - m tlle BUI "'ere ment of l "T against the employment or barmaids on the ground women were demoralised bf in v h?c'h S? attacked the bottle liceSes, h uf t0 t ¥ e , at deal of sly drinkincluded with a dissertation on the evil of the drink traffic. The Bill would tend to remove these evils and give po wer to the people r at and control the liquor trade, which was a curse. He hoped for still further legislation which would have the BhogethL g Wltl tlle traffio MODERATE SPIRIT OP HOUSE. Mr Camcross referred to the moderate spirit shown by members of the xY Se x, Representatives i n dealing with the Bill. He agreed with Mr Jones as to the evils caused by bottle licenses and was glad that these were to be abolished. In regard to national .prohibition he regarded the four years period which must elapse before the carrying of a • vote in favour of that issue into effect as being not' merely a concession to the trade, but in the financial interests of the Dominion. He looked upon the Bill as a great step forward in the reform of the liquor traffic. OTHER VIEWS. a Mr Callan was speciality pleased witli two features of the Bill—namely the

abolition of barmaids mid the reten- | tioti:; of tin l three-fifths majority. [ . -'ir {jvJ.-.i.i ,s;n7! that intending legislation ivns ncotsisary in tJ;c' interests of jtno r.nak. He \va.i ulad to see prcvi* j Si&o irad.'s in tho Biil prohibiting the • salo of liquor to persons under 21. [He gave approval to thp main features jof the Bill, but considered that the proposal to give effect to the vote j for restoration within three months Iwas unfair to the reform party. - IT# counselled the liquor trade to Bet its house in order ae the reforms aimed |at by the no-license party were cerj tain to .he carried. DR FINDLAY'IN REPLY. Dr Findlay, in replying, referred to the spirit of compromise shown by both the parties interested iu licensing, which was duo to the intelligent recognition on both sides that they had to submit to the will of the people. The time had come to take the voice of the people on the question and abide by it, and the Bill was the most effective means to that end. He considered that the prohibition party had shown wisdom in conceding four years to those engaged' in the trade to carry on their business after the carrying of national prohibition. Men who were accustomed to the use of liquor were not likely to resist legislation when they had four years in which to indulge in their habits. He defended barmaids from aspersions often cast upon their moral character, and said that in his experience as a barrister he had seldom "found that lady correspondents in divorce cases had heen barmaids. The Bill was a fair, honest and reasonable attempt to meet the difficulties of licensing legislation to-day. The second reading was agreed to.