LIQUOR POLL MARGINS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1990, 21 February 1914, Page 6

LIQUOR POLL MARGINS.

.REDUCE THEM BOTH?

DEPUTATION TO PREMIER.

(ROM GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(By Teleffraßii.-PMH Association.) Auckland, February 20. A deputation representing the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church waited upon tho Prime Minister (tho Right Hon. W. F. Massey) to-day. The various speakers stated that they were desirous that, not only should a reduction to 55 per cent; be provided for in determining tho question of National Prohibition, but that a similar reduction should be made respecting the vote- necessary to carry local NoLicense. They recognised, at tho samo time, that .the two issues should bo kept separate, so that the vote for the one should not imperil the decision relating to the other. Another question that needed attention was the observanco by hotels of a weekly half-holiday. With open hotels on half-holidays too many temptations were presented, especially to young men, and so it was hoped that the compulsory observance by hotels of the weekly half-holiday would be legislated for.

Prime Minister's Answer,' The Prime Minister, in reply, said that tho Bill of last session had been circulated after careful consideration by the Government, and after hearing the views of various deputations oh the subject. Mr. Massey proceeded to/ urge the.members of the deputation to regard the matter from another point of/view. Hβ reminded them that a Bill was brought down by a private member proposing a reduction from 60 to 55 per cent, in the required majority on both issues. Tho .issues were joined together in that Bill, and he was in.cliried to think that a similar fate would befall such a measure as was proposed by the deputation as that private Bill met. "Leave It At That." It was proposed, in the Bill circulated by the Government (continued the Prime Minister), to reduce the : national majority to 55 per cent.,' and he advised them strongly to leave it at that. "Although," he remarked, "in your na'se' the two; questions would be: separate in' the Bill, they would bo considered' at 'the same reading by the House, On a 'previous occasion, I think I informed you:that liquor Bills and perhaps some other measures differ from ordinary Government' measures, inasmuch as |we never consider, them as party questions. I have no prejudices myself on liquor question) but I suppose that nine out, of ten members in the House are. pledged to vote in a certain direction on -the- question. If the occasion is dffered, and if a _ man has pledged himself to vote in a certain way, he does not break that pledge once in a thousand times. That is the position.., Iwant you. to. understand that, although this Bill jnay be,introduced by tho Government, there are oyen members of the Government itself pledged to vote for tho throe-fifths majority,. and such lnembors would vote accordance with their pledges." The Two Issues and Members'"Pledges. A member'of the deputation ' said that ho understood that most of the members are pledged only on the local issue. • Mr. Massey: I understand that there are a number of members in the House pledged to a .certain majority on the national issue, and to a different majority, on the local option issue. I was surprised when I learnt it, but that I be!ievo is the posiWon. The Prime Minister went on to say that all he could do was to submit the .representations of the deputation to tho' Government, but he was very strongly of opinion that tho Government would adhere to tho present form of the Bill, and leave it for amendments to be introducod when it reached the committee stage. It would then be open, for any member, private or otherwise, to .move amendments. Probably ho himself would, at tho second reading of the Bill, make a statement that it was competent for any member to move an amendment to the Bill in committee, and take the opinion of the House on the question. Hotels and the Half-Holiday. With regard to hotels . closing, he would not go tho length of saying that it was impossible to deal with'tho halfholiday in a Licensing Bill, but it would bo most unusual. Anything affecting the weekly half-holiday and the hours of business places ought to bo introduced by an amendment to the Shops and Offices Act. The Government had never considered that particular issue up to the present, but he would submit their representations to Cabinet at tho proper time before Parliament met again. .(•..-' GOVERNMENT BILL. FIFTY-FIVE PER CENT. MARGIN. Chrlstchurchj February 20. Replying to a deputation at Kaiapoi to-night, the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that a Licensing Bill providing for a 55 per cent, majority would be brought down during tho coming session. The Bill, however, would bo entirely for tho House- to deal with, and in no sense would it bo a party measure.