LICENSING "PAIRS."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 232, 1 October 1928, Page 10

LICENSING "PAIRS."

MR. NOSWORTHY'S POSITION.

STATEMENT BY NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE. The general secretary of the New Zealand Alliance sends us a long statement about the voting on the Licensing Bill. Much of what he says has already been covered by statements published in the "Star." Referring to the statement by the Chief Government Whip, the general secretary says that Mr. Dickson tries to cloud the issue in regard to Mr. Nosworthy's pair by stating that Mr. Nosworthy did not wish to be paired on the third reading of the bill. Mr. Dickson then goes on to state that Mr. Nosworthy was paired on clauses 3 and 4 of the bill, these being the clauses dealing with the question of the two issues ballot paper, and the bare majority. The general secretary challenges Mr. Dickson to produce his evidence that pairs had been arranged. He is in receipt of definite information that at 11.15 on Monday morning last, no pairs had been registered on any of the divisions taken during the committee stage of the bill. Evidence adduced by Mr. Sullivan, of the Labour party, proves conclusively that Mr. Dickson's statement in regard to Mr. Nosworthy's pair was entirely incorrect. Further, the secretary personally interviewed the Hon. Mr. Nosworthy on the Sunday, the day on which ho left. Wellington to come to Auckland to leave for Canada, and he then informed him that he was doing his best to secure a pair on the Licensing Issue. Under date July 24, Mr. Nosworthy in response to representations made by the New Zealand Alliance in South Canterbury area, wrote in the following terms: "I need hardly state that my views on this subject have not changed, and that in order that the value of my vote may not be lost during my coming visit to .Canada, I am endeavouring to arrange for a 'pair.'" That Mr. Nosworthy did take action to arrange a pair is confirmed by the terms of a letter which he sent from Auckland to the New Zealand Alliance under date of July 30, just prior to his departure for Canada. Although it may be stated that there is no definite instruction that a pair should be arranged on the third reading of the bill, it is hardly likely that Mr. Nosworthy would- wish to vote for the main clauses of the bill and then lose the value of that vote on the third reading. The general secretary goes on to say that the Prime Minister assured the Alliance president (Mr. Charles Todd), in his hearing during the afternoon of Thursday, September 20, that pairs for Hon. G. J. Anderson and the Hon. W. Nosworthy had already been arranged. It was not until the bells were ringing for the vote on the third reading early on Friday morning that Mr. Coates stated that Mr. Nosworthy did not desire to be paired on the third reading of the bill. On Thursday September 20, the president of the Ashburton No-License Council wired to the Prime Minister requesting him to arrange a pair on the third readI ing for the Hon. Mr. Nosworthy. A reply by telegraph was received in the following terms: "Your telegram received, matter of pair for Hon. Nosworthy on third reading of Licensing Bill has already been arranged." It will be noted from the above, savs the secretary, that this was dispatched from Parliament Buildings at 6 o'clock on Thursday 20th, when the bill was in committee stage subsequent to the passing of the main clauses dealing with the triennial polls, ballot paper, and the bare majority issues. It would be interesting to know what influenced the Prime Minister to change his mind in regard to granting a pair to Mr. Nosworthy in such a short space of time.