GOVERNMENT TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BILL

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 December 1948, Page 5

GOVERNMENT TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BILL

PARLIAMENT BLDGS. Last Night (PA).—The acting Prime Minister (Mr. Nash), sneaking in the second reading of the debate on the Liquor Licensing Bill, said that he did not think it was correct to say that the Ballot paper was loaded in favour ef trust control, as he had been suggested. As the result of what had been done in Invercargill and Masterton the people now knew what trust control meant. It was correct that the Bill was a Government measure. The Government, as a Government, took lull responsibility for it. He had had a great many telegrams, many of them urging Ihat the Bill should be postponed, but if it was it would be a great mistake. Mr. Nash said it meant that there would be no Bill at all. for every member would be watching how his vote on certain clauses would affect other votes he expected to receive. Irrespective of the fact that the Bill was a Government measure, it should get the support of even - even-minded member of the House. He thought the Bill would bring more good into the licensing trade tnan any other single measure that had been introduced in the House. Mr. Nash said he did not think it would be helpful to New Zealand to carry prohibition. Prohibition in the United States had developed into an underground illicit business that was one of the most disintegrating social factors in that country. Abolition of liquor would lead to great difficulties and the control provided for in the Bill was the better way. If the rules laid down in the Bill were enforced and the commission was backed tin, they would get better results than if'they tried to suppress the trade. What was required in appointing the Commission was to find the three most competent men of integrity available. To limit the field of selection in any way would be wrong. It would not, however, be an easy job to find the three men to do the iob. Mr. Nash said there ought not to be circumstances that meant that the provision of a first-class comfortable hotel was dependent on the prices charged for liquor and the quantity sold. He thought that six o’clock dosing would be carried. The nolicence people wanted it, and, from inquiries he had made in two lields in the licensing trade, he understood the trade did not w’ant to have hotel bars open until 10 p m. Mr. R M. Algie (Opp.. Rcmuera): The women want G o’clock closing too. Mr. Nash said that in New South Wales it was carried by an overwhelming majority.