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LICENSING REFORM

A PROPOSED BILL

WITH LITTLE CHANCE OF PASSING

Reform of tho licensing system is one of the subjects on which the member for Wairau (Mr. M'Callum) speaks in tho Houso as often as tho liquor question in any shape is beforo the Legislature. Ho raised the question yesterday himself by introducing a Bill—the State Control of Licensing Bill—and speaking to it. Ho said that al'-liough a great many people- voted for prohibition ni the two licensing polls last year, a big percentage of them were not in favour of prohibition. They merely voted for it to strike a blow at tho liquor monopoly. These moderates had no voko under tho present law. Ho urged that tho Government should take up the Bill he had prepared, and should, in terms of the Bilf, appoint a Minister to control licenses.

Mr. Isitt: A special Minister? Mr. M'Callum said that he did not insist upon a special Minister, but the Government might appoint tho member for Christchuroh North, Mr. lsitt, who would, he though-, carry out the duties very well. Mr. Massey: Would not vou like. it yourself? Mr. M'Callum: "No. I am not ambitious in that direction. I havo rather higher aims than that." Ho pointed out some of tho abuses of the present system, by which licenses were held by nouses which were 'mero grog shanties. Men could not be compelled under tho present law to build houses giving proper accommodation for tho public, an.l tho prohibition party had mado no attempt to amend this law. Also, it would bo unfair to compel a man to build a big hotel when he ran the risk of losing overything if prohibition were carried. To get over this difficulty compensation would have to be paid, ■ and tho compensation could bo provided by a fund to bo" established from increases in license fees. Ho urged tho Government to set up either' a ltoyal Committee or a committee of tho Eouso to investigate the matter. Mr. L. M. Isitt did not speak to tho general question, but he suggestod that in view of the shortage of paper tho author of such a Bill ought to pay for the cost of the paper and the expense of printing it. (Hear, hear.) Dr. Thacker agreed with tho proposals for reform. He thought the Government should provide good hotels at important railway centres. He had a suggestion also for the classification of hotels according to their character, and the tariffs prescribed for the classes. Mr. R. A. .Wright resented a charge of fanaticism and intolerance made against prohibitionists by tho mover of the Bill. The truth was that Mr. M'Callum belonged to the Hip Van Winkle school. His Bill was years and years out of date. The peoplo did not want State control of licenses 1 . The issue now was a straight-out fight between the prohibitionists and the liquor traffic. The trade had been saved by the State purchase issue on the ballot paper last year, and now the member for Wairau thought to bring in a Bill to introduce yet another issue, The Bill was, in fact, a trade Bill.

Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) mid ho hoped the Government would take some notice of the suggestions made, because as things .were at present the moderates were compelled either to vote for the trade as it was now, or'to rote for its abolition, although they might not wish to vote for either, but for reform of the liquor business. Other speakers were Messrs. Witty, M'Conibs, Hanan, Young, Atmore, and Edie. Mr. Witty urged the repeal of th) anti-shouting kw and Mr. Hanan told him this on that matter: "The honourable monibcr has about as much chance of getting Parliament to repeal the autishouting law as ho has of going to — a place where ho would like to y,a to. If he thinks this House ,will go..tack, on what it lias affirmed in connection with anti-shouting ho is much mistaken." The Bill was introduced and set down for second reading after MrJ M'Calhmr had explained some of its provisions to an obviously -unsympathetic House.

CONFIDENTIAL The Minister of Lands was asked in the House yesterday by Mr. R. M'Callum whether there were any insuperable difficulties in the way of letting! applicants for soldier settlement _ sections know, in ease of their applications being refused, the reasons for the refusal. Mr. M'Calluni said that lie could understand that there might' be' reasons for withholding this information, but as the matter was one giving concern to returned soldier applicants for land, he thought it would .bo well for_ the Minister to ninke a statement on it.

The Minister (Mr. Guthrie) said that it was not the custom of the Department to mako known the reasons' for tho refusal of an application, and tho reason was that it would involve publication of details about an applicant that might, not be in his interests. He approved of this policy, for certainly he did not approve of tho publication abroad of information that might not be in the interests of soldier-applicants. Tho sol' diers coming before the board to apply for land knew that they had to give cep tain information concerning themselves, and they were nlways given to understand that this information was to, be treated as confidential.

A WORD TO LABOUR NO SOVIETS. "I want to say a word or two to our friends on tho cross benches, who' have been referred to as 'rods' or 'extremists' or Socialists," said tho Prime Minister. "I want to ask tlieni where fliey think they nro getting to. Can they think of any country in tho world that has been built upon a Socialistic system?" Mr. Massey referred to tho failure of the "New Australia" Socialist colony in South America. - Mr. Sullivan (Avon): Why dont you individualist) your railways and post office P -Mr. Massey: That is not Socialism. I siy this, if ever anything like the Soviet system becomes established in New Zealand, then Heaven help New Zwiland. No other help will l>o of any avail. Mr. Howard: No ono has yet advocated it for New Zealand. Mr. Massey: I am very glad to have that statement. BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY REPORTS Sir John SijcMr proposes to ask in the Upper House whether the Government will mike arrangements with the Colonial Ofiito to prceuro for sale in New Zealand by the Government printed copies of reports of British Parliamentary Committees and British Commissions dealing with problems that have n common interest for tho various parts of tho Empire. The Hon. J. MacGiegor yesterday gave notion in the Upper Houso of the Crimes Act Amendment Bill. It is understood that, the Bill aims at the abolition of the Grand Jury.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19200709.2.68

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 244, 9 July 1920, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,125

LICENSING REFORM Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 244, 9 July 1920, Page 8

LICENSING REFORM Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 244, 9 July 1920, Page 8

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