The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, NOVEMBER 12, 1903. A GREAT SURPRISE.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1045, 12 November 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, NOVEMBER 12, 1903. A GREAT SURPRISE.

The people of the colony had so made up their minds for a protracted fight over the Licensing Bill that few thought it would be killed even •before it reached the interesting committee stage. On both sid_es remarkable .preparations had been made for the. carrying on of the battle on the' Bill reaching committee. By, our telegrams this morning it will be ,secn that by the small majority ot •two votes tlie House refused to allow the committal of tlie Bill. .The fact that Mr Seddon intimated that supporters of the Government could vote as they pleased independent of ordinary party allegiance was a sure indication that the Premier knew a storm was impending that would •have caused chaos in tlie ranks if lie had insisted on the measure- being treated as a party one. The introduction of 'the Bill promises' to have the effect of organising a solid temperance party for electioneering purposes. 11l tlie past the struggle by the Prohibitionists to carry their point at the local option polls has overshadowed, but not greatly interfered .with the contests for the election of members. Now, as declared on many platforms throughout the colony last week, the warfare is to be carried into the political arena—which we all know means an intensifying of the baetle at the next elecAs for the licensing Bill, it is not likely that the Premier will seek to avert the defeats by, having the' measure brought on in some other form.- He has succeeded in incurring the displeasure of both ,sides. If there is any truth in the •oil-repeated reports that the Premier had promised to bring down a measure casing the lot p£ those engaged in the “ trade,” it will need some explaining to show why the only chance of getting such legislation—making the Bill a party measure—.was cast aside.