THE NEW LIQUOR BILL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 942, 8 October 1910, Page 6

THE NEW LIQUOR BILL.

national prohibition. •{ ~~ ' Mklim RESTRICTION OF VOTER'S . ;'■ ' CHOICE. : THREE-FIFTHS' MAJORITY REDUCED. -( - ' BARMAIDS THREATENED;';: .' -' BOTTLE LICENSES ABOLISHED. c ' ' v ' The following are the main features iof the Licensing \ Bill introduced in the House of Eepresentatives last evening :— - National prohibition is to be submitted as an issue at 'v' ', licensing polls. Local no-license and national prohibition are to be carried by 55. per cent, of the voters. If national prohibition is carried the issue of national i 'restoration is to be placed before electors-'at*the first election three years after the coming into force of-prohibi- , tion. . , i i > The proposal for national restoration is to be carried by 55' per cent, of voters, and the determination is to come into force after three months. ■ * ' Licensing polls'are toibe taken periodically after the • determination to restore licenses.' 'Any determination in favour of national prohibition is < ' not to come into force for four years, and is to remain in •; force until superseded by the restoration of licenses. ' , , On the cording into force of national prohibition or local , no-license, all licenses shall, unless determined in course • ,' of law, continue in force for the respective periods for • " which they were granted. , ''j The provision that half the voters on the roll must vote •' 'to render the poll valid is abolished. This, it is antici- '" pated, will do away with the -necessity of putting up no- ,, , . license candidates to ensure the required attendance on -"' polling day. , ' J <'i ' During national prohibition, liquor is not to be ,im•ported, manufactured, or sold in New Zealand. Local restoration is to be carried by fifty-five per cent, of voters, and shall take effect after one year. ' ; After local or national restoration is carried, the num- .., ber of publicans' 'licenses granted shall not exceed one for every complete four hundred electors 1 , or less than one for every eight hundred. * 'No bottle license is to be granted or renewed, after ' ' ' • • 4he passing of the Bill. ' ' Employment of barmaids is prohibited after June, 1911, > except in the case of "(a) the wife or daughter of the - ( .'licensee of the premises, (b) ( the licensee Being a woman, , (c) person-registered as a barmaid by. that date. The age under which iit is illegal to serve youths is • ' extended to twenty-one. /, - The Governor may proclaim districts within which v _ , Equor may not be supplied to a'Native. It is an offence to supply liquor to. an intoxicated male Native or to a iemale Native (with certain reservations). Licenses are not to be granted in respect to breweries within five miles of no-license districts, and brewery depots are not to be established within the same radius. The reduction issue at present on the ballot-papers is , abolished.'

shall be taken as.if.'-the-granVof'.licehses was - prohibited', 'throughout^■'tho"-,', whole .of:jtheynewX3istricf/.,y ; ;y ,:y y', "-"•: ; ' ;■ fln any: pther';: case,: the: 'first' such --poll shall jbeytaken-as''if;;the grant ;pf ■■;li-'. censesy was-nptiprbhibiteid . ih;' any,part of ithe new:district.;'/;.'': j: ; y'X'yj/y.; m'; ' NATIONAC-PROHiBiTION. > X'; ";:"'At;pyery .licensing^'ppll-.there-shall, be submitted for tlie 'determinatioh' of 'the el&tors of-yeachilioensihg district the .questiony:'Ayhether.'-;.natio'nal i prohibition shall' (x>meyiiit'O i 'fprce ; -7 ; thi'ough'out New ,2^aland.;'"".y : ; < yyy-y 'f';.->-..-.-;':J' ' ■':!'•'• J-V-' ' ' ; .'Jivery.,vofe,rccorddd'm favour:of'na-.tional.prohibitipn-shallalso be recorded ' thegraht or restpratipii,.'as ,tho jdase'-rnaj;.;be; ; of: liceris'es'"'iny the. district. . iii: which; the , vote Vis!'•! recorded..;'..'.. . ■:;.; Every •- vote'recprded'.against- national prohibition;., shall" also;' bo yrecordeu in fayour-' of .-the'- grant.' or: restoration :. of 'licenses'-'in the.district..'";." y -; -y :: t.;" -'_ -The.-'proposal, for nationaliprohibitibh ,is Vto'.'be"; carried ;if'.ss-'per 'cent of the voters;; ar'oyih-'fartJur. thefeof.y . . The. determinatioriV in;''favour of na-. tional prohibition is, not ':, to come into, force' for.;foiir .years., .. '.'.:. yy '•.'-..National:,prohibition.-is to remain in force until,., superseded, by .the restora'tioil'of licenses.. :v ; ~'.', .'. .'.On'-the coming into..force of any-de- . termination'--.in'--fayou'r;' of '■ uatipnal; pro,hibition,yall (licenses. shall,;, unless sooner determined yinycourseyof laSv,' 'contimte. in. force: f or ''the respeetivo periods for which'' they were, theretofore, granted, and: shall then, lapse! ■";. ■ .While any: such determination remains in force, it, shall; hot'be lawful to grant or renew in any part of New Zealand.? any: publican's license, New Zealand-wine l - license, accommodation license, packet license,- wholesale-license, conditional license, charter of any! club, or license to sell liquor at a railway refreshment-room. - .During national prohibition, liquor is not to be imported, manufactured, or sold in New Zealand; except for medicinal, scientific, sacramental, or indus-trial-purposes. •'■'.""■• ■':■';' :, The penalty, for breach of this section is a fine not exceeding oho hundred pounds in the case of a first offence, .and;to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months ,in the case of a second or any; subsequent offenco. Where the. defendant is a body corporate tho penalty sliall be,a fine not . exceeding two hundred pounds in the " case of a offence, and a fine not exceeding one thousand pounds for a second or any subsequent offenco. NATIONAL RESTORATION. i No licensing polls are to bo held i while national prohibition is in force, 1 except, a poll as to national restoration, i 'Die first poll aa to restoration is to be taken at the first general election held > three years after the coming into opera- ; tion of the determination in favour of j national prohibition, and at ; every f election thereafter. 11-'I 1 -' If the result of thejjolls thiouchout

W?fc yTWV'questipn^shiaUVbe-/so' ; 'sii&mitted [ r ftgy:;;l<»ncurwntly.\with' y-the'' question'.;'as:i;to -.! . VJl'y [national': ..prohibition.; : :.Every.'-voteigiven ,■ ': 1^:% in!! : -favbur; of vnationai;:prbniDifcibn': shall': ( fy;;;gl:be';:<Wemedyto' ; ;be:ya -votey■'in;-:' : fav^ur'vof : . : y ' tiie;(distnct'//-'an(l'.;every. *: y. ;K:§'fbf ; ( vyA.'VKAWhoh-; the .-.number; of. 'votes': recorded .-' PvAVy!lin"!faypTir,';pf ;Nb-Licerise'is ■riotilesfethan' '< -orall.the : ■ ,'<;%;:,;: rrecprded/i.tho': deemed ■':' :' shall 'comp ■'< ■ ; !/rj-' .jintoAforcetafctho -expiration' of .one -year, -', >.. i into -;force of;any;such ■■: '] ?v£#|descr'iption; then .existing in- the district' j fifeS;tshall^ -'unless"^sootier, \ ;':^V?/'|^SpVn€d-:in!'jdtio.course"..of-law,;continue ' 'XP/fi fin■ -..''force"'•!;.until;.' : the~;'expiration-'ofAthe , : K-??V ; i'lperipds-fM; ; ; :">:. :;V:.,:.'AA.y-:: ■■ ;: 'A ; 'y'"A -be .lawful.'in;a : Nb-Licensb toy: grantApr:renew, any.- pub-' \ t> -i-J-J J '■. Bioan!s' ; :i;V lacensej ;i New.'(.Zealand, .'■' ■ wine : >^il'<|i^^6,-. ; acwnimodationV.licensejy.packet '. S!^:ji'picense;y\yholesaleAlicense,:.-.'conditional' .- license;''charter...of;, aAclubjyor-:';license. -^Antofsellyliquor-Vatva-TaUway;refreshment . y'yyAlrcwnfeAoy 1 yyyAy'Ayyy.y.';.' -AAAy V-.'.'•■;-: AA, A; A;', yyy 'j.i';./'yEvery'-'.vote l - given in -favour ;-of yna-vKy'-fiipnalsprohibitipn, shall be .deemed'to be [ licenses ' v .and;: eyery given, against national : prohibition 'V'Ay -'isliall : be deemed to -be a vpto in. favour y-<rs;',6fytho .proposal that licenses bo , rey;V:AA - (stored/. ':'.■; A ;•.-,'.•'--: -A'- ■■-• A:-' .-' '''■_ When .-.the 'number yof, votes lecorded %A Ay ;HnA favour -of 'the proposal .that licenses VAAyyVibei restored' in. the .district, less p fifty-five ; per centum of: all;the £- : 'y'V-.'--|>yo;tos': recorded,-, the proposal shall., bo Ayy '■-■■) (deemed to :be carried.' - . .'■": '•'■'■! :'£';',;.,•' vyEvery such determination shall come ?;''yy ; ' On licensing committees; being set,up -'.: v !' ' 'the' number of", publicans' licenses grant- ; 'V' ; y' : ■; 'ed' shall not 'exceed one for every com-'•=-■■''"'"-A'vploto' four'-"- hundred, electors. of the disX ;i v.: Strict at the -date of the., poll and -AAA^''(shall not bo less- (if a 'sufficient number : '.'v'-'' , of. such, licenses; are. duly applied .for) A- :■"■' '■ rthan' one for every complete eight huny/'X .-fdredelectpr's.y'v. ■..;-■,.'■ v. :■- P": CHANCE OF BOUNDARIES. Provision' is ; mado' that in, the event f '■■'■ '-'■ ■"■ pof-a" change of boundaries' of- licensing '■' ./. 'districts until the first licensing poll ! ''■-■ ■ ■''■-. hi ' the new'. 'district .comes into. force !■>',."'-.•:■■':-y-giOTein the result of the.licensing poll E -i- ' -In 'force in the. original district shall »"'',continue in force throughout, the whole !-. : . "'j of the area thereof. ' . . y ..-'x'Jy If. :when the first; licensing poll is to ' ibe taken in. the new district, the grant i.'.' ; -,'".'of licenses is'pr6hibited throughout any £v?' '/area thereof containing more than half I■; 'the population of.the district/the poll

New Zealand is that the total number of votes recorded in ' favour of tho proposal that licenses bo restored; is not less than fifty-five per 'centum of all the votes recorded, then that proposal shall be deemed .to be carried, but not otherwise.

Any such determination of the electors shall come into force throughout New Zealand on the expiration of three months after the day.of the poll. On the coming into forco of that .'determination,': a Licensing ' Committee shall_ bo constituted, in each licensing district,, and' shall grant licenses. • The number of publicans' licenses granted shall not exceed one for every complete four hundred electors of- tho district at the date of. the .coming into, force..'.of tho determination, in-favour of the restoration of licenses, and shall not be less (if a sufficient number of such licenses is applied for), than'one for every eight hundred electors, - : " Licensing..; polls' aro to be : taken periodically after tho determination to restore licenses. ;'. ;' -,- ,--' REGISTRATION OF BARMAIDS. .Except the wife or daughter of., the licensee 'of the premises, the licensee being a woman,, °r any; person duly registered as.a barmaid.under this Actj no; female; shall;. after June,; 1911, be employed in, any capacity, or; permitted to./serve in any capacity, in or about tho bar of any licensed. premises at any..time while.the'.'bar is open for the sale of!liquor. '■- ; . Every, person;' who, 'at any time within one year-before the passing of this Act, has been" employed as a barmaid in: any licensed premises for any ' continuous period not less than three .months,-, shall be entitled' to bo registered as. a : barmaid- under this Act, if application for registration is made, by her on or .before tho first day of June,' ;:1911.; °.'i- : :u •■;.■ ::;:V' : :-:■;:'■.' "".'' VALIDITY OF THE POLL The provision -that no poll shall:be valid ''unless- at least one-half the tors' vote:is.repealed.■■' j : . CITY-LICENSINC DISTRICTS. ; (1) : The following districts are hereby; declared to':'be city licensing;' districts under; the principal.. Act:— ■ ■ ',' The Auckland licensing district, com-, prising the 'three electoral; districts of' 'Auckland East, Auckland West,; and Auckland. Central.;'..• .;'.•',-.'■-./,'.'■.•'•; ';'":The .Wellington, licensing district, comprising the.'.three electoral districts of Wellington East;, Wellington .' : Nprfn : , and- Wellington; Central;'.' '.. '•'■ : .; The Christyiurcn;licensing., district, .comprising .the.! three -electoral, 'districts ; pf . Christclrureh: East, . Christchurck North,: arid Christchvifoh South; and"■ '. -.The Dunedin- licensing 'districts, comprising the three: electoral districts' of DunecTih .North,; Dunedin■/West;; arid Dunedin; Central ;.:'.. : ;,;;• • '.-• ■■.'■'■ ';'■■ ;-:';;• ; serving J liquor fb; youths. ;■; The;;age; under which; youths ; ; ;must pot:bo served is raised .to wenty-one..';. '■/<"■' ■■'■■■'..ij^-''-:-■' /"''-■'..'>''. ; ;

-SUPPLYING:; JO NATIVES. • .-.Every person'who in'any district proclaimed.' by' :tbe'. Governor-' supplies. liquor, .to; any:Native;shall .be;;liable;;on summary conviction, to ;a'fine not ex-'.c'eedihjgy£so,:-'.;:i ;«; 'fc-fi ■K',',.' /:; ! -; ; .This section, shall.: not..'apply' to: '..''' ;. : . (a); The ; supply. of; liquor on licensed : premises, for consumption on those premises:'::- :• . ; : j ; : ':'.'.';' ■;'': v --:r ■""'•■■ ■''■';.'. ;(b) 'The' supply of./liquorVfor,medicinal , purposes, on 'the 'authority of; a registered medical practitioner. [ t : . (o) The.'supply of liquor to-any Native who :is ■ married : to.; any. , ! person 'other .than a;" Native- -, ';> '■?"--:':■ \ -i■"'.■■ •■; ; For' the. purposes; of-tliis. section the term ■; "Native" '•includes -; : t : half-caste 'and a, person; intermediate in blood 1 between half-castes'; and persons of .pure descent from;;that' race.■'■'.•.; ■■'■; '■■ :. ■ '..-•,;•■■. , , ; AU .parts'of; New &aland which have' heretofore, .been.'defined; ;.;by the" Gov-ernor-in-Council; in >pursuance, of '. the said Section■ 270,,and.t0-which,tho provisions of tho said /section are applicable aij the, passing., of, this ,Act,-.shall be deemed to have been.proclaimed un.derthis section., and'the provisions : bf this section, shall apply thereto accord;ingly.;;.;: ;>;;:" ':..N;-. ; ;;;;-:;;:'■;■",- ":-•;. .; Every '.person ', (whether.: a -,■■• licensed person••._■ or not) is ■ liable- m summary' conviction to,a fine-riot-exceeding £507 ,who/.:in any.part; of;Neiv Zealand—:' .".(a); Supplies;, liquor 'to an' intoxicated male,-Native;, or. • ..' ;' : r .'. .;':'... >- (b) Supplies liquor- to /any'-' female Native:unless' that Native is : the wife of a .person other, than :,a: Native, ■ or except 1 for medicinal:purposes upon : the authority.'of .a- registered .medical .'praotitiorier. .'':■■:::'-?-i ■:;.-■'.>; :: ,. .-.' : . ■': ■'.:'.-

y The provisions of Section 147 of they principal- Act; shally.applyy within Vail' areas proclaimed..in: ; pursuahco of-Sec-tion 272.0f: that,. Act ,; ih.thp'same man-ner-.as-.-if,-such;yprcclaime'd.'areas ■ :were districts m .which, by reason of the'de^ 1 termination.of.tbe electors,'at a licens-1 ;mg ; poll,, no, licenses lexistj'. and.' those' provisions;- shall -be-construed as being: supplementary to and' not as beiiif'in abrogation/of-theiprbvisions of Section ■iU of,the : principal Act. -4..' -,-:• .-.;; '-~.. ■::.■; :V:;V.Vy'-yGENEE^.'- r :;V-/.y.Vy ■'..'■■ 'iV^'v 4ll6 '-the'" Act' no : Dottle license, shall be granted or ''-re--uewed:'':''::.:■ I ■'"';":■ ■:.-..-.-;■■ ■ ' ■ ~

No'licenamg [.-poll -shall '•'.■ affect tu« operation pf any proclamation in force : under ,Section.; 272 of the .'principal Act (relating to: Native land):', ; ■-.:' .-■'.,-■ r New puHicans' ; license's - aro . not to ,bo granted, hereafter, except in special Cases.,:.-; ■■■■:■: ;y- ■:'. ,-. / ~;....-..;; ; ;; ;-.> ;- :.. . .;. :■; Paragraph';, (dj of; Section (7)' of -the principal Act is repealed,: This 'section' provided; that so. much of. Section 12 as required ■-, my.certain -cases' a' -maio„nty of, voters on the Toll to vote- to constitute a poll,'shall riot apply in ] anyoase,. where an electoral poll is taken .in; any. one of; the electoral dis-: t-ricts _ior-the. time being .comprised in the city, licensing district. "'■ Trovided tliat'in such' caso the licensing poll shall be taken-in .tho'licensing district, notwithstanding no 'electoral poll was required'.to be taken. .- . -

■■'. ; .No premises .(not•'.being\licensed premises) shall be kept or used as a place of resort; for,the consumption of intoxicating liquor,on those premises... , Nothing' in this, section-'shall extend to the consumption of liqiior by any person .on, any. premises in which 'he dwells or is resident, or to tho consumption of liquor supplied to any person by way of gift .by, any person who so dwells on the':premises.- ■ If any premises are. kept as a place of resort for the consumption of liquor,;the occupier and every person' taking part in'the care.of the.same, are severally, liable to a; fine not exceeding twenty .pounds for every day on which the premises are 'so used. , Every person (other than a constable) found on any premises used -in breach of .this section shall bo liable to a fine not exceeding five'pounds. • prosecution for an offence against this section shall be ■commenced-with-out the consent of tho Attorney-Gen-eral.'' ■•■.'■'■ *.'■.. . .

Any justice of the peace, if satisfied by information on oath that there is reasonable ground to suspect that premises are used for the consumption of liquor in breach of this section, may grant a. search warrant. '< .

Licenses not to be granted in respect of breweries within five miles of No-License districts; Brewery depots are not to bo established ■ within five milos of No-License districts.

Section, 145 'which provides that no increase of licenses shall ho allowed untir after tho census is taken is repealed. Section 8 of the principal Act which made provision governing changes in the boundaries of licensing districts is repealed. (Section 11 which provided that the grant of licenses was to'he subject to the vote of electors is also repaalod. Section 24 as to tho power of .ascertain.jind

dotermino the result of the poll is also repealed. Section 25, dealing with the declaration of the poll is also withdrawn. Section 28 which provides that licenses shall-not be granted in a NoLicense'district is repealed.' FIRST SCHEDULE. The first schedule of the Bill, which prescribes tho form of ballot-paper; is as follows: — ■ . ■ .. Licensing Poll in Districts Where ■ ' Licenses Exist. Licensing District of I vote against National Prohibition. (This vote is also counted in favour of the grant of licenses in th© dis- ; trict.) I vote for National Prohibition. (This , vote is. also counted against tho grant of licenses in the district.) . The voter, must strike out the proposal for which he does not wish vote... If the, voter strikes'out-both or fails to/strike out one of the proposalsj the voting-paper will be,void, and his'vote will not bo recorded../, ~■ ■'~.'..■■'. : The voting-paper so marked ;is.to/be dropped by the voter into the separate ballot-bos'prepared for it, and not into the same /box as that into which' he drops his electoral,ballot-paper. -',/■ The voter is -not allowed to take this voting-paper out of the polling-booth.' EXPLANATION BY THE PREMIER. Sir Joseph .Ward briefly explained the main provisions of.the Bill.(.He said it, proposed a .system of national prohibition upoh a basis of 55 per cent.; of the votes in favour of or against the proposal. .. The Prime Minister.. detailed the 1 provisions' regarding the 1 two issues for or against national prohibition as' explained.' in- the synopsis of the .Bill 'given above.'' /In the .event of national .prohibition' being carried,' it would not be operative, till .four- years after the date on which it was carried,' and during national prohibition liquor was not to be imported, manufactured, or, sold in-New Zealand. ..' ".;.-.- v ■Mir. Massey asked if it proposed to alter' the ternvfor■'local option. ;. ,The ; Prime- Minister: No, it remains.' Explaining the Bill further, he said that no' liquor was to be sold to --anyone under 21; years of age. ; The employment of barmaids .was, to be prevented except on 'conditions' named.': The-- law in regard to- supplying, liquor to Natives remained as .'at present.. :The".-flaw 'in' connection with city.: electorates' had -been removed.; : ; : -;/.' ./■ '.-■/'•

K .;'.THe"bIL!L : GRITICIISED. \ INTERVIEWED^ - •■ i. MRi T. ■ E:.- TAYLOR'S ■,VIEWS. .',..' , ;Mr., T.;:E;' Taylorj in 'the f course of a' brief interview, said he> had- been; abb. to -'go,-', through the .Bill, and judg-: ■ing.< from-.a' very,cursory examination; he could;say it;.was the, most -progressive measure had been offered-'to' the Reform: Party ..of' this, country.'up. to date. -•; If the people: of : New :Zeala'nd' desired to:test the question of national prohibition thiß. Bill, if. passed,', would, afford '- them v,every : opportunity.'.'•■ of doing so;. 'There .were.-many' of' 'the.de-: tails -that -would, no doubt prove:'material for ■■_ considerable. 'discussion, But:the Dominion;'so far as' He "could judge, had .'never'- bee'n.'offercd.'a ;Bill','so 'free from deyicqs .calculated: to- Binder,:';democracy/from exercising' its . power ■ on' the question.,", Probably, within' the next day or. so an;informal;meeting of members _ would, gq/ithrough the Bill iu detail. :The proposal to give the "people an .opportunity -of voting for : .tho;abbli--/tiph-'.of. the ; "trade,"- lock, stock, rand, barrel, did not prevent, No-Lioense.from 1 being?secured': in : any : Parliamentaryarea -if-; the: ',majority . iwas' polled.; - Tho; reduction - of, * the -majority, ; if carried, would take • half: the burden': from the shoulders .of the" No-, License■ party',, viz., ; the; burden, which was -. .placed on ■;'.' them, v sixteen.'; '; years :ag<>,,.:. and ;,'. which V has', -.not : >only hindered ''the ..progress ;of the ".No-, License,:' V move'nie'nt, ' but : which,... if ■continued, ' .would !render j'the further progress of- No-Liceiise very'slow !^ and; difficult. iWhile; he. was: a-.'■ strong ■ sup-, porter; of' the bare "majority , he;'would ■welcome, the : instalments, of .justice which- the Bill' proposed: io:give us.:;

MOST ADVANCED REFORM.. ; !vv.. ';■ MR: ELL'SrOTINIONv;;,::, ; ' Mr. H. .6.. EU, when approached;; ' said he ', could 'not- coinmeht in detail on the proposals;, but:-be could say-that ~tho.'Bilk *as. thb■!most advanced piece' : of, licensing, reform;legislation ever;..in-,[ trbduced into Parliament.' ;' .This. -JBill, ' ;with the Gamiiig Bill,'.would.help!;.'to. mark tho session as one .of. the. .most memorable; and;-important 'sessions'.in : the.history,' pf.Parliament.'.'■■// The Inew ■ .majority,-provided .would, he .thought, meet with thevapproval. of. the. .nolicense advocates.as a step , "A PURELY PROHIBITION BlLi;." ; •: WHAT MB; J.:V. BROWN:: ;'-■;■■'.::•';;:.;, THINKS.-- ';:". ■■ -.-'-'X ■ -'■■', "As-far..as I.can. see, it is a,purely prohibition Bill," said Mi\ J. V. Brown, M.P.. for :: Napiei - . : ' "Ho-ftWer," -'he added,.'"it 'is .far better fe : have" the matter settled, and'■;to know' what we are to do than to have the continualstate, of -'uncertainty that ■ has exi3tcd in .the past," 'Mr. Brown'was not'.inclined to 'discuss' the '• Bill: further, •-. except, to, express '■ his satisfaction, in /regard to tho clause; which' raises tho' age of youths to whom drink'could'be sold ! to: 21; years. / This was quite in accordance with his views.:; ;, , ,: I, / NOT ON THE LINES OF THE •;.'X.\. ■■", : "COMPACT."! ; :, ;.:;.:' : , MR. MYEKS SURPRISED. :; .', Mr. Myers said he must express his surprise, when the Premier ; introduced the Bill .that' evening in. finding that it was not: on 'the lines promised- oh what was known as', the .'"compact;" From the explanation- given by: the Prime. Minister,; it 'was quite'clear.that he had altered some of the main features,, in so far that in the;; event of national prohibition- being carried for tho. Dominion/its effect would be in four years'instead of' whilst if local option were carried .the respite was only twelve months instead of two. years.. -On -the other, hand, he' was' glad the colony would have thei oppor r tunity of deciding, whether it is really in favour of local Or national prohibition. On the whole the Bill appeared to him to make many concessions to the prohibitionists, and ,until'be, had had an opportunity of going carefully through the various proposals which repealed, as they did, quite a' number of sections,' he could. not say whether he was inclined to support the Bill or otherwise. "SOME EXCELLENT PROVrStONS." AND "A FATAL DEFECT." . Mr. Wright said the Bill contained some excellent provisions. Tho' clauses prohibiting the locker system, preventing the establishment of brewery depots ; within fivo miles of No-License districts, and the abolition of barmaids wore sufficiently radical to please the most ardent No-License advocate. -, The Bill contained, however, tho same fatal defect which disfigured the famous "compact." The elector, in order to secure No-License, must vote for njitional prohibition. Ho had no option. This was undoubtedly ' a grave blot upon au .otherwise- promising measure. ,It was true the three-fifths madoriltf

was reduced to '55 per cent., but, even so, the pill, was a very bitter one. Ho could only hope that the Bill iu Committee would be so amended as to make it more acceptable to that section of the No-License party which objects to the combination of tho local and national option issues. A LABOUR VIEW. -VIEWS'OF MR. M'LAEEN. "There will be difference of opinion in the Labour ranks on several minor features of the Bill," said Mr. M'Laren, "but the general principles are on the lines which the New Zealand Labour party had adopted. The plauk on the liquor question in our party's programme roads "The right of the 'people to restrict or abolish the liquor traffic by-a bare majority vote at local an<J Dominion Option Polls.' : Some will consider it a mistake to have the Dominion and local issues combined, as they are in the questions stated in tho' Bill, but my impression is that the general mass of ■ the workers will prefer to. have the -liquor issue decided on a national basis: The general opinion we hold is that the trial. of ;No-License is not being fairly tested when applied within restricted areas.: For, democratic reasons we desire a, free expression of the mind of the whole people, and a fair trial of whatever decision'is arrived at."