Knotty Issues For Labour Caucus

Chronicle (Levin), 8 June 1948, Page 5

Knotty Issues For Labour Caucus

Thorniest problems which Cabinet ind the Parliamentary Labour Party caucus will eonsider this week include rough drafts 'of legislation which have been prepared as ajesult of the Licensing and Gaming Commissions7 reports. Committees set up by caucus are expeeted to recommend extension of hotel bar trading hours into the evenings and the provision of ol¥-course betling i'acilities through the totalisator. The Minister of Labour and Employment (Mr. McLagan) may, however, have some pertinent comments to make on iliversion of workers from other employment avenues to provide staff for these additional services at a time of ucute labour shortage. In his capacity as Minister of Immigration, Mr. McLagan .is unlikely to court strong criticjsm from large sec-. tions of the public by bringing people from dtliBrVeouiitfies-. jblie sble pnrpose of.. staflflngs Jxotel^bars and ; oSeoiirs^ fofaiisator -A •' It appears reasonably certain that some sweeping amend.men.ts to the Licensing Act will become* law this year, but gaming legislation may be held over until the final stages of thb session and may not even be introduced until next year. Cabinet will diseuss both proposed measures during a preview of legislation for the session tomorrow afternoon and probably on Wednesday, while Labour members will have the opportunity to criticise or approve at caucus on Thursday and Friday, T^e committee set up by caucus to eonsider the Licensing Commission's report Jias already completed its deliberations, and its recommendations are now being assembled by Justice Department ofiieers before being referred to the law draftsmen. The work of the caucus committee on the Gaming Commission 's report is not so f ar for- : ward. The Government will probably hope for a Parliamentary debate along nonparty lines on both these measures, wlilch will, of course, be strongly opposed by powerful factions. Usually safely orft of the critical limelight focussed on most of their ministerial colleagues, the Minister of Justice (Mr, Mason), Vith th.e Licensing Act, and the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry), with the Gaming Act, will liave the not altogether enviable task ,of piloting the legislation thr/iugh the House. Redistribution of hotel lieences will .almost certainly be iqcluded in the licensing legislation. No deflnite indication can be given yet of the eveningf hours recommended, and these might be the subject of a referendum, but probably little, if any, increase will be granted in the total of hours hotel s are open during the week. Hote'ls may be obliged to close at 6 o'clock and reopen one and a half or two hours later for a period of two hours. Stricter control of hotels can bd expeeted and more severe penalties for breaches by lieensees and harmen.