LICENSING BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1031, 26 October 1903, Page 3

LICENSING BILL.

Tho Auckland Herald correspondent telegraphs:—Members aro wondering whother tho Licensing Bill is to be proceeded with this session, and, if so, how

long tho sossion is likely to last. The prevailing impression seems to bo that if the Bill passes its Becond roadiug, which is not altogether a certainty, it will get one night in committee, and if its opponents make anything like a good start at stonewalling it will not be heard of again this cession. Of the Christchurch papers, the Opposition press is much more favorable to the Premier’s Licensing Bill than tho Government supporter, the Lyttelton Times.

I Tho Press remarks that tho Premier has falsified the predictions of some of bis critics by bringing clown a Licenaiug Bill, althuugii by deierring it till this late period of tho session ho certainly gives color to tho surmise that he is not very anxious to see it on the Statute Book. Unless ho makes it a Government measure and forces it through undor the lash of the whip, which we should say is unlikely, tho chances are that both sides, after a preliminary discussion, will prefer to postpone tho big fight until next session. Tho Wellington Times, in a loading article on the Bicensing Bill, “ Tho Poor Orphan Bill ” as it calls it, says“ The

Premier stated that when the Licensing Bill came down it would neither please tho “ trado ” nor the prohibitionists. Now that the measure is before us wo must confess he has excelled himself and pleased no one. This orphan Bill is a weakling, and is of a piebald character. There are patches of strong 1 trade ’ color, others again of deepest prohibition dye. Tho positive and negative nullify each other, henco no result. There are colors that will not blond, mix them as you will, and although spirits and water in proper proportion act as a stimulant, there can be no legislative enactment which will gratify both trado and prohibitionist. Their views, aspirations, demands, and ( requirements aro as opposite as tho two poles, and both parties in some respects are 'selfish and seek to obtain too much. Tho Bill goes to extremes, both for trade and prohibition, and therefore neither party can reasonably bo expected to take in the waif and give it shelter. The simple reason is that tho Premier, in trying to please moderates, has produced a thing that is neither fish, flesh, nor red herring, but a mixture of all three.”