LICENSING BILL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19162, 19 November 1927, Page 14

LICENSING BILL.

SHOULD IT PROCEED ?

MR COATES'S POSITION. • WILL MEET OPPOSING FACTIONS pTHB FBHBS Bp«cUl iertie*.] , WELLINGTON, November 18. An intimation to the general public that he was fully aware of the position with regard to the Licensing Bill impasse and that he had requested committees from the opposing factions on the question in the House of Representatives to meet him to see if same compromise eould be reached was given by the Prime Minister in the House today. Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East) asked the Prime Minister if he realised that after he had divested himself of responsibility for the Licensing Bill, a majority of fifty-five hundredths of the members who voted on the division and a bare majority of all the members in the House clearly indicated that they did not desire the Bill to proceed. , The Prime Minister was also asked whether in view of. the vote of 41 members in favour of progress being reported, he intended to allow the minority to influence him again to bring the Bill before the House this session. The Prime Minister was further question as to whether he had stated that the Bill would be brought on again only if a compromise could be reached, and whether the will of the fifty-five hundredths of the members should be set aside.

"With the exception of the last portion of the question, I find no fault with it," said the Prime Minister. "In regard to the last portion, may I say that I clearly intimated to the House in committee that I desired progress in order that I might consider the position. I also said that I hoped and believed there were possibilities—l may be wrong—of bringing about some compromise. I have asked those in this House who are in favour of a bare majority to appoint a committee to meet me and I have also indicated to those who think differently to do the same, in order to seo how far I may be able to go with that compromise. That is the position at the moment, and I will decide after I have thought it out. "May I say also that the public outside Parliament seem to be somewhat perturbed," the Prime Minister continued. "I would like to assure them that it is quite unnecessary to send telegrams. lam quite seized of the position.

Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch 8outh): The telegrams are good for the Telegraph Department.

The Prime Minister: Yes, I know, but I don't want to take advantage of that..

Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt): They are circulars. We are all receiving them. , The Prime Minister: But someone has to pay.

Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East): Dump them in the waste-paper basket. The Prime Minister: But tbe descent of an avalanche of opinion in one direction may sometimes prejudice a man's mind.

Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne): It is only the propaganda of no-license people. , .

The Prime Minister: The telegrams have not come from one source only. "There is only one man who can decide what is to be.d.ne," the Prime Minister added. "I am just indicating to the public generally that I am seized of the position." He believed members in the House opposed to him on the question and in the method of settling it would grant him that he had clearly interpreted their minds, aind also those of the people outside who had telegraphed to him.

PROHIBITION DEPUTATION TO MR COATES. [THE PEESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, November 18. Messrs D. Jones, Adam Hamilton, and C. E. Bellringer have been appointed by the Prohibitionist Party in the House of Bepresentatives to meet the Prime Minister to discuss with him matters in connexion with, further proceedings regarding the Licensing Bill. The other side have not yet appointed representatives to meet the Prime Minister. PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY'S HOPES.

The report of the Temperance Committee of the Presbyterian General Assembly stated that up to the time it was written the Licensing Bill had not come before Parliament, but the committee was confident that the strength of temperance sentiment in the two Houses would see that full consideration was given to the. demands for a two-issue ballot-paper. The temperance forces of the country were well organised and alert. If only they could and would work energetically winning converts to Prohibition during the coming year, there was every hope of a victory at the nest referendum.