IS IT WAR?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1473, 28 June 1912, Page 4

IS IT WAR?

PREMIER AND N.Z. ALLIANCE. BARE MAJORITY, •' WILL NOT MARK TIME ANY LONGER." The New Zetland. AUianto formally declared war upon the I'rimo .Minister lafct evening. Mr. Mackenzie was waited upon by a deputation consistinj of about one hundred delegates to the Alliance Convention, which has been sitting in Wellington. It was introdieed hy Air. L. 31. Isitt, JI.P., and amongst these who crowded the l'rimo Minister's office tp its utuiosfc capacity were Mr. Wesley Spragge (president) and other officials of tho New /iealan-,1 Alliance. Seventy electorates were represented. The spokesmen for the deputation wero tho Key. W. J. Comrio ami Mr. W; J. Speight (chairman of tho convention for political matters). Great Voting Power. Mr. Conirie said that they represented tho parh- that, polled 200,000 votes for National Prohibition at ,tho last election. Having grown steadily 'during twenty-fivo years, tho Alliance now had a majority of 54,000 voters in tho Dominion as a whole, and a majority of votes cast in 67 electorates out of 70 electorates at last election: They asked that the licensing law provision which required that 60 per cent, of votes should bo cast in favour of local option on National Prohibition should be repealed and that a ba;-o majority should be made sufficient to secure the determination of licenses or tho restoration of license.?, as the caso might be. They also asked that the period of four years which must elapse under existing law boforo a National Prohibition voto becamo effective should be substantially reduced so that tho effect of National Prohibition might not be so long delayed. An Act had recently been passed for tho registration of barniaids ; It was found in practice that nn unlimited numbtr of rooms in a hotel might be utilised as private bars and unregistered barmaids employed therein. The intention of t'ho legislation, tho speaker contended, had been defeated. They asked that only one bar in a hotel should . bo recognised. and also that legislation should be introduced, if necessary, to make tho registration provisions effective. The Alliance considered that some steps should be taken to bring the regulations restricting the sale of liquor in No-License areas into effect in tho King Country. A solemn obligation had been entered into with tho Maori people that no liquor should l>e introduced into the King Country. Tho promise, if kept in tho letter, had not been kept in the spirit. They asked that legislation should be introduced, if necessary, 'to put tho King Country on tho same footing as a No-License area. Another thing desired by the Alliance was that if an election (consequent upon a dissolution of Parliament) took place more than eighteen months after the previous election, a licensing poll should bo held coincidently. Provision should bo mado to guard that against the danger that successive elections might be held over a term of years witlfout a licensing poll being taken.

Boundaries and Licenses. As to licenses affected by boundaries, they asked that the effect of the existing law should not bo interfered with. AVhoro portion of a license district was included in a A'o-Licenso district, tho smaller area should conform to tho conditions as to license obtaining in thfc largo area, and vice versa. The law on this point, as it stood, should not Iμ altered, . A New Party. Mr. W. J. Speight (Auckland) said that the deputation represented every party in the Dominion, and people who were members of no party. They felt that they were speaking on behalf,,of A majority ,of voters in the Domiriknjj , ' They ed no party, but the' gradual trend of ■thought with members-of tho Alliance was that unless tho existing parties met tho' desires of the'Alliancej it would bo neces l sary to form an entirely distinct party', and sacrifice the existing-parties. ' _lt'had' been said that the anti'liquor agitation was a disturbing influence in politics. This was true, and the disturbance would continue until the reforms advocated by the Alliance had been carried into effect. "A Democratic Right." Mr. Spoight strongly championed tho bare majority proposal, contending that it was wrong to adopt any other method in a referendum than in electing members of Parliament. The Alliance would lie a disturbing) influenco in politics until it received the meed of justice it was a?2dng for—an equal value for.every vote. They claimed this os a democratic right. It might be fair to claim that licenses should only be restored in Xo-License areas by a three-fifths vote, but so anxious were they to make tho voice of the people effective, that they would forego this point. Whether the present Ministry or any other helped them they would proceed, ami seo, rbis thing through to the end. PRIME MINISTER'S ATTITUDE, AGAINST A BARE MAJORITY. . Tho Prime Minister said that he did not think it was possible to tnke up licensing legislation during tho present session of Parliament, but he would agoin lay all that hod been said before Cabinet. It was more a question for Cabinet than for tlio Prinio Minister. He personally could not undertake, to introduce legislation giving a. bare majority at the present time. As to barmaids, the intention of tho Legislature undoubtedly had been Hint no barmaids other than those employed when the Act was passed should be employed cither in public or private bars. If he introduced any legislation he would be glad to make this [joint clear. Tho matter of the King Country should be gone into, and liquor regulations should extend to trains passing through the King Country. (Hear, hear.) He understood the disturbance' that had taken placo in the political world as a. result ■of temperance agitation. Parliament had met many requests, and the legislation pnssed had been progressive, though perhaps it had not quite satisfied tho reformers. . " , A Candid Statement. "Personally," concluded Mt. Mackenzie, "I will bo quite candid with the deputation, I am not in favour of the bare majority." Mr. Comrifi asked whether it would 1fair to ask what was the mind of Cabinet in TCgavd to licenses affected by bounduiies.

, Mr. Mackenzie said that Cabinet, had decided that legislation should not bo introduced to restore the licenses in question. This meant that the whole question of licensing legislation was to be left unopened. Mr. Comrio asked whether the Government would giyo facilities for a private Bill dealing with the single question of bare majority. Tho Prime Minister sniA that (hb oulj thing the 'Government could do v.'as not to obtrude public business beforo legislation that w:is given notice of by private members. They wort entirely Ixiinul b< the Standing Orders. "A Kindly Notice." Mr.. Wesley Spragge: Are we to understand that you represent the spirit of your Government in opposing tho application for a democratic vote upon this as upon other questions? Mr. Mackenzie: Oh. no, I have express*! my own personal opinions. Mr. Spragge: Wo have differed i> rW deal as to parties in tho paet, rtnd havo been anxious not to force ourselves to the injury of othor parties, but it is. the universal feeling of out members that the time has come when 'wo must not mark time any longer. If (litre h no other way, wo shall at'once put ourselves in a position to make our demand felt at tho ballot box. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Speight: That U not in the nature of a threat. It is in the nature of a kindly notice! (Laughter.) Mr. Mackenzie. Mr. Speight comes from a country where they follow up n kindly notice with .1 stick. (More laughter.) Mr. Speight: Wo find it the only efficacious way. (Renewed laughter.) Mr. Sprngge: Tho statement mode by Mr. Speight must not rob our statement of its full significance or rob it of its appearance of sincerity. Mr. Speight and others: Hear, hejtr. ■ The depjtatioH'thaukcd the Prime: Sf.injsje? and withdjrewi - '" ■"}',