LIQUOR QUESTION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 2 December 1927, Page 5

LIQUOR QUESTION

BILL IN UPPER HOUSE — 47| MAJORITY. HON. REED’S- AMENDMENT CARRIED. (Per Press Association). Farit, Buildings, Dec. 2. The Legislative Council resumed discussion this morning on the Licensing Amendment Bill, going straight into the committee stage. The Hon. V. 11. Heed moved an amendment to provide for a 52j-«.47| majority for the carriage of prohibition. The Hon. G. J. Smith defended the principle of the bare majority, which obtained as a recognised principle in New Zealand. The 11 on L. M. Isitt maintained that prohibitionists had fought for a bare majority and could not give ground now that they had secured it in the bill. There was no possibility of their making such a sacrifice. ASKED FOR A FAIR TRIAL. The Hon. Reed said he was in favour of some handicap being given to prohibitionists and he asked for a fair trial of what he proposed. The Hon. Sir W. Hall-Jones submitted that a wrong would be done to the people if the decision of the people’s representatives in the House was altered in any respect and he declared that the bill should be passed in its'present form. The Hon. J. B. Gow urged that tihe amendment would impose a greater handicap on file prohibitionists than they already had and lie proceeded to argue tb it tile abolition of the third issue would be to the benefit of the Continuance party As against this tire Hon. Reed quoted figures in support of his contention that the prohibitionists would malic the biggest gain, receiving a majority of over 1000 on the basis of tlie voting at the last poll.

Several speakers deprecated H’o juggling of figures and use of the supposition flint a nine-tenths majority of the state control votes would go to continuance. The Hon A. S Malcolm argued that the majority of those who supported state control did so because they wanted licensing reform. The amendment was carried by 21 votes to eleven. The division list is as follows:— FOR (21). Bell Michel Alison Mitehclson Carrington * Newman Clark Reed Cohen Scott Collins Scott Garland Snodgrass Lang Triggs Mackenzie Weston Mclntyre Witty Mander AGAINST (11). Craigie Gow Malcolm Hall-Jones Moore Hanan Smith Hawke Thompson Isitt On the motion of Sir Francis Bell, the clause providing for the registration of barmen was deleted from the Bill after a- brief discussion. SIX-YEAR POLLS. The Hon. V. H. Reed then moved a new clause providing for six-vear polls, in order to give some stability and enable licensees to make improvements to their premises. The Hon. A. S. Malcolm raised the objection that once that it was conceded that there would be demands for an extension to nine -or 12 years. The Hon. L. M. Isitt said that the proposal would result in further loss in the hold on the trade. The Hon. J. B Gow argued that the period should not be increased until the period between the. general elections was extended. The Hon. Reed further explained that he did not aim at assisting the trade so much as the moderate licensee who wished to improve ms premises. He referred to the dilapidated condition of many of the hotels. Sir Robert Sout also opposed extension. Sir Francis Bell said that if prohibition were carried he wanted the siix-years’ interval to see the reform established. The Hon. Malcolm declared that extension would enable the trade to amass greater funds with which to fight polling campaigns. The Council adjourned at this stage until 2.30. HIX-YEARLY POLLS PASSED. The Legislative Council passed the six-yearly polls by 18 votes to 13.