LICENSING BILL

Wairarapa Age, 10 November 1927, Page 5

LICENSING BILL

PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. WHIPS APPOINTED. MEMBERS & THEIR PLEDGES. (By Telegraph.—“ The Age” Special.) WELLINGTON, November 9. The Prime Minister has given no indication when he will move the second reading of the Licensing Bill, but at this late stage in the session it is assumed that he will do so during the present week. As to its fate, it is impossible to make a sound guess in face of the variety of possibilities. The only definite factor in the situation is the organisation of the no-license members in the House for the purpose of keeping intact their pledged majority—said to be three—for the elimination of the State Control issue and a decision on the basis of a bare majority. A committee representing this interest met to-day and appointed an executive of seven and also four Whips. The New Zealand Alliance happens to have two of its vice-presidents among the members of the House. Interest centres around the discussion of the prospect of pledged members maintaining their attitude on all phases of the Bill. If so there can be no chance for it. The suggestion has been made that as the Bill contains somewhat drastic clauses which would impose heavy capital obligations on the owners of licensed premises, the higher standard of public accommodation thus demanded could reasonably warrant a concession by pledged no-license voters of an extension of tenure to six years. Whatever may be the feelings of Alliance supporters in the House on this matter when the Bill reaches Committee, there will be definite opposition from the Labour Party to a six-year period. Their objection is based on general policy and the ground of refusing to extend privileges to vested interests. A NON-PARTY COMMITTEE. The no-license committee in the House includes members of all parties and this is characteristic of the whole situation, which cuts clean across party divisions. Members are inclined to agree that the Bill will get’past its second reading stage with comparative ease, but a long fight will come in Committee. Present alignments may easily change as fresh questions arise w-hen amendments are moved. There •is no information regarding the organisation of legislative forces in opposition to the no-lieense group, but Whipping is going on unofficially, and preparations are being made by individual members to take full advantage of the opportunities of long discussion to stall off adverse divisions. This was the method of Parliamentary manoeuvre which worked well on the Religious Exercises in Schools and Gaming Amendment Bills, but when the Prime Minister takes charge of the present measure and asks Parliament to make a serious effort to come to a solution of tho licensing reform question, the Bill stays in a better position than its equally contentious predecessors.