LICENSING LEGISLATION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12881, 30 April 1913, Page 2

LICENSING LEGISLATION.

A DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER

MATTER TO BE REFERRED TO

CABINET,

(Per Press Association.). AUCKLAND, April 28. Several amendments of the Licensing Act desired by the Presbyterian General Assembly were placed before the Prime Minister thi3 afternon. by a deputation of Auckland Presbyterian ministers and elders, headed by the Rev. A. Miller, Moderator of the Auckland Presbytery.

Rev. Miller; in introducing tlie deputation said that its members were appointed by th© Presbyterian General Assembly in November last to wait upon the Prime Minister with the object of placing before him prior to the coming session several suggested amendments to the Licensing Act upon the desirability of which the Assembly, representing all the Presbyterians in the Dominion, had unanimously agreed. ITie- changes that they asked for were, (a) Ihe reduction of the majority necessary for carrying of No-license or National Prohibition from 60 per cent, to 55 per cent, of the valid votes recorded ; (b) that in the event of national prohibition being carried it should come into operation within two years of the date of the poll instead of within 4 years as the Law now provided: (c) the abolition of private bars and the establishment of the principle of one license one bar. • Tho speaker added that it was the hop© of tho deputation as well as of those they represented that these changes might be given effect to during the coming session. •: The Government, said the Prime Minister in reply, had to^conside r the question from several points of view, from the social and . financial points, and also to consider tho fact that n great many people were involved in .the business. "Up to the present we have not got to the length of attempting to. complete our programme for the session," said Mr Massoy. "There are two Labour Bills in the course of preparation and also a, Land Bill, all of which will-bo in my own charge. Then there will be a Bill dealing with the Legislative Council besides a number ot oth«r Bills. The question whether there would be a. Liquor Bill could not he definitely settled until there was a fairly full meetrng of the Cabinet. From one joint of view a- Liquor Bill is not so important ns some of the other Bills," added the Prime Minister, "because it cannot bo given effect to u*i--Ijil noxt ialeet«ioni v " The deputation .'could rest assured^/however. ( that its ' representations wouH bo laid before fe.hinet at. tho first opportunity, certainly'i before t^> Hbiise met.' They "would then be-able to _telr.'whether it would then bo possible to go on with a Liquor Bill this sclssic'n. "I cannot commit the Government in the meantime to any course of action," said Mr Massey, "and. I would certainly not attempt to decide such an important proposal unless ther© were certainly seven out of nine Ministers present."