DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1514, 9 August 1912, Page 6

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

MR. MALCOLM'S BILL REJECTED. ADVERSE MAJORITY OF TEN. i. ■ ' WILD WORDS AT WAIHI: STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

Practically the whole of a .sitting-day ' *as devoted by members of the House of Representatives yesterday to a discussion of Mr. Malcolm's Licensing Amendment Bill, a privato mcasnro which aimed ,at ! abolishing tho three-fifths majority -in , licensing polls, and substituting voting on a 55-15 per cent, basis. Tho member for Clutha asked tho friends of tho Bill not f to endanger its chances of passing by talkingabDiitit, and so wasting precious time. ' He set an example himself .by restricting 1 ' his opening speech to a few dozen words. Mr. J. Dickson, member for Parnell, followed tho member for Clutha, and declared himself a straight-out opponent of tho- Bill and a supporter of tho threefifths majority. A number of other membcrs spoke in a similar strain during the afternoon discussion. Mr. Wilford professed himself - perplexed. Ho said that ho ,was pledged to Toto for a 00 per. ' cent, majority on National Prohibition, and for a 55 per cent, majority on tho local issue, and that, he .found it difficult to attain the consistency to which he aspired. Other j members took up a somewhat similar ati titudo; some of them being prepared to apply the 55' per cent, majority to tho Skjlacal issue, but not to the national issue, j. while others' favoured the smaller maj jority in the national poll, but not "'■- 'local issue. A number of these members stated that .under tho circumstances they ■ would vote against tho Bill. ; The Opposition members ,who spoko. blamed the Government for. not making the Bill a Government measure. Mr. Hanan waxed eloquent, on this aspect of ,1 the "subject, and asserted that : an! attempt was being made to." throw, dnst'.iii tho eyes of the electors. '.■'■'"... Towards tho end of the afternoon, Mr. Tsitt was moved to reply to. tho critics ,of the Bill. Ho twitted the gentlemen ' of tender consciences .and analytical j minds who felt unable to support a reJ duced majority in both national and | local polls, and threatened them with tho | wrath and active opposition of tho A T c License party. Tho party, he declared, was tired of temporising " friends, and henceforth . would ■ treat those who were < nofwith it as against it. ■ j A few members complained of the puz- | ,-' zhng naturo of tho voting papers used in \.j ■ licensing polls, and advocated their sim- ■ j phfication. ~' Mullen the dinner adjournment arrived, f Mr. Glover was in tho full tide of an impassioned attack upon tho Bill. ; Speaking in the ovening, the Hon. F. M. B. Eisner defended tho attitude of tho Government in leaving the licensing question to be dealt with .in a private it-em-ber's Bill. Sir Joseph Ward had stated when he was Prime Minister, Mr. J?isho" ! remarked, that tho'only way to *et a Licensing Bill through tho House was to arrange a compromise between tho two ' opposed .parties. ;_ . Later, speeches were made by the two representatives of the liquor interest in .... the' House, Mr. J. Vigor-Brown and Mr. A. M. Myers. Tho former contended that • the property of those interested in the liquor trade should not be subjected to the onslaughts of a baro majority. Mr. Myers , said that ho would liko to see the Gov'ern!*"pnent take up the Bill, and suggested that ; a straight-out poll should bo taken on a proposal to municipalise the liquor tjaffic, I no other compensation being given than i.,- a period of grace. I Mr. Malcolm having replied, a vote was taken on the Bill just after 11 o'clock, and ft was rejected on division by 42 votes to / 3- ' ' A closing incident was the rejection of ; Mr. '.Payne's Graduated Income ' Tax ' Amendment Bill on the ground of its informality. "Mr. Payne remarked loudly _ that the Government would have to answer ; ' for the defeat of the Bill at the next elec- ,: -lion. The House rose at 11.10 p.m. The, Hon. H. D. Bell, leader of tho Legislative Council, introduced into the Chamber tho Government Bill under ~'■ which it'is proposed to amend the constitution of the Council, and. the Bill was read a first time. A short discussion occurred on the motion to set up a committeo to consider the Tcport of the Education Commission/before the motion was finally carried. The Deputy Governors' Powers Bill and tho University Amendment Bill were read i a second time almost without discussion, and the Council rose at 1 p.m. until Aii"ttst 21.