LICENSING BILL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19154, 10 November 1927, Page 10

LICENSING BILL.

PROHIBITION PARTY'S

ATTITUDE.

OPPOSITION FROM TRADE

EXPECTED

[THE PRESS Special Servlco.]

WELLINGTON, November 9

"A very good Bill," said a Prohibitionist, who is a prominent member of the Reform Party to-day, when asked what his opinion was in regard to Mr Coates's Licensing Bill. "It only want 8 two words altered. The word 'three'

should be inserted instead of the word 'six' in regard to the polls and the figures regarding the percentage should be equalised to provide for a majority vote."

That seems to sum up the position in oo far as the Prohibition Party is concerned, and if there is to be a stonewall on the Bill in Committee, the chances arc that it will not come from the noliquor side. It is generally understood that there will be a majority in the House of Representatives favourable to the two issues at the licensing poll. Estimates of this majority vary from three to six. The Prohibition members claim that there will also be a majority in favour of a fifty-fifty poll, but this is not so certain. If there is a likelihood of the Prohibitionists carrying these two important amendments, the chances arc that the supporters of the Trade will do the stonewalling in Committee. There are some members who are pledged to a three-issue ballot paper, but who would vote for a two-issue ballot with a 55 per cent, majority. The "State Controllers" also would be prepared in many cases to abandon that issue if there was a certainty of carrying the fifty-five per cent. poll. Another phase of the question is that not all the members who are pledged need adhere to the strict letter of their pledges in view of the alternatives provided in the Bill.

Interviewed to-night, Mr McCombs, who is the most prominent of the antiliquorities in the House of Representatives, said that although the Bill, as drafted, makes huge concessions to the Trade, and considerably increases the handicap against Prohibition, there was a possibility that the liquor supporters in the House would stonewall the Bill from the word "Go," because they fear that the Bill when it finally emerges from the House will contain a three-year poll, a two-issue ballot, and no artificial majority. The supporters of the Trade will, therefore, do their best to kill the Bill. The most that the Trade can hope for from the present Parliament is that there \vil.l be no alteration in the-present law, and that is what their supporters in Parliament will fight for. He added that if members are to have a perfectly free hand, and are given ample time to come to a determination on the various issues involved, there will bo little to complain about. In view of a prolonged and close battle the Prohibitionists from tho three Parties in the House have formed a committee of seven with four whips, to watch the battle from start to finish. A meeting of the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers' Association will be held in Wellington to-morrow to consider ,the Bill in detail, and their plan of action. "INIQUITOUS PROPOSAL." (FBESS ASSOCIATION TEMGBAM.) WELLINGTON, November 9. The Dominion Executive of the Licensing Reform Association resolved this morning: "That the association expresses its amazement at the iniquitous proposal contained in the Licensing Amendment Bill for deletion of the third issue, thereby disfranchising a large and rap-idly-growing body of thought in the Dominion, and on behalf of moderate electors calls on Parliament to resist this violation of the principles of democracy; that the association expresses its regret that the proposal of corporate control has found no place in the Licensing Amendment Bill, and respectfully urges its inclusion by way of amendment to the Bill, as providing a sound and practical method of controlling tho licensing system in the interests of true temperance."