OUTSIDE INFLUENCE?

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 224, 21 September 1928, Page 14

OUTSIDE INFLUENCE?

THE ALLIANCE PRESIDENT.

WATCHING LICENSING BILL

GISBOKNE'S MEMBER OBJECTS

'By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Thursday,

Long after midnight a jaded House was enlivened by remarks by the member for Gisborne, Mr. Lysnar, on the third reading of the Licensing Bill, when lie made some very pertinent observations concerning the presence of the president of the New Zealand Alliance for the Abolition of the Liquor Trade, and the secretary of that organisation in the visitors' seats on the floor of the House. There had been an objectionable phase of the consideration of the bill, he thought, because it was openly stated that the secretary of the Alliancfe had claimed that his organisation had got control of the New Zealand House of Parliament, and that his statement had not been questioned during the whole of two sessions. While the bill was being considered in committee Mr. Todd, Dominion president of the Alliance, had been present at the rear of the chamber, and Mr. Lysnar thought it was most objectionable to see leading members going back and forth to Mr. Todd to get their instructions. Mr. Lysnar said that just before Mr. Harris and Mr. Bellringer had moved to have clauses 19 and 37 recommitted he "had noticed both members go to Mr. Todd and engage in close conversation. "I drew attention to it," said Mr. Lysnar, "and asked if they liad got their instructions. I also noticed the member for Patea going up for his instructions a few minutes before, and I asked him in an audible voice had he got his instructions. When that motion came forward to recommit the two clauses, I could not help feeling that it was not the motion of those two members, but rather the motion of the president of the New Zealand Alliance. On an important matter like this, for one of the parties to boast that they have control of this House is distasteful. It is an unwholesome spectacle to see a few who claim to control the House making a constant stream of prohibition members going back and forth, wearing out the carpet in their journeys to the rear of the chamber." Mr. McCombs: Shall we send a bill in? Mr. Lysnar: It is not that, but I do feel that this bill has not had free, reasonable and open consideration by members of this House. I hear the member for Patea telling me to stop, as it is getting late, but of course I know he would not wish me to say more on these lines. I want to say, however, that what has happened is distasteful and regrettable. Mr. Dickie (Patea) said he did not tell the member for Gisborne to "shut up." It was true that he did speak to Mr. Todd, but it was the first time he had done so since the bill came before the House. As a matter of fact he had also s])oken to the president of the Licensed Victuallers "and their secretary, so that he had an easy conscience. (Laughter.)