THE TWO PETITIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 31, 31 October 1918, Page 4

THE TWO PETITIONS

A SCEUTINY SUGGESTED, In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon Mr. Harris (AVaitamata) 'raised a question in connection with the liquor trade's petition presented to the Prime Minister in the morning. He said that he had in his hand two letters iiom people who stated they had signed tho 'irade petitiou under a misapprehension iiud. wished their names removed. He asked the Speaker how he should proceed, as the petition had been presented direct- to the Government and was not before "the House. The Speaker eaid thnt the proper course would be to send the names to the committee that would deal with the petition or to the Government. ■ Mr, Buick (Palmerston) taid he had received letters of the same Srind. The Prime Minister later in the afternoon said he had found on ixanumng the petition that it was addressed to Parliament and not to the Government. He would therefore present he Trade netition to Parliament, and the duty would devolve on the Speaker on giving the necessary facilities for bavins the netition subject.to a scrutiny. Mr M'Callum (Wairau): Does that apply to the Prohibition petition as well? Mr Massev: I have no dou'bt it does. I have not examined the Prohibition petition. I shall PTesent the Trade petition to the House, and my responsibility will "Members: Will it? (Laughter.) The Prime Minister took an opportunity during the afternoon to presen: both the Prohibition petition, with 242,000. signatures, and the Trade petihon.wih 306,000 signatures, to the House. He did not produce the actual documents, a sheet from the top of each petition sumo ing. ■