LIQOUR QUESTION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 2 December 1927, Page 8

LIQOUR QUESTION

BILL IN UPPER HOUSE SECOND READING CARRIED. THE BARE MAJORITY. Wellington December 1. The Licensing Amendment Bill came up for the second reading discussion in the Legislative Council to-night. In moving the second reading, the Hon. J B. Gow urged members to have regard for the fact that the elective Chamber had passed the bill. The Hon. W. H. Triggs thought the measure should be sent back to the House to give members another opportunity to consider it. He opposed the bare majority and said a 55-46 majority was little enough, but he was willing to agree to a compromise at The Hon. E. Newman also opposed the bare majority, which, he considered, would lead to trouble and confusion. T» ensure success there must be a substantial majority. He deplored the taking of polls every three years, believing that the issue clouded the general elections. He also opposed State control and the extension of tenure, arguing that while opinion was so evenly divided it was not right to deprive people of the right to express their opinion every three .years. The Hon. J. A. Hanan maintained that the Council had no right to alter what had been decided bv tl.a House, for the members of the House had voted according to pledges to the people. The Council had no mandate on the licensing question. Sir Robert Stout advocated the bare majority, which, he said, was democratic and had been recognised for 50 years in New Zealand. It was restriction of liberty to pass a law requiring the abolition of a thing injurious to the people by a two-, thirds majority. Tlie Hon. H. L. Michel opposed the principle of State control, which he said was not a live issue. He also opposed the bare majority, and and the people could not be deprived of the right to vote every three years The Hon. Sir Frederic Lang declared that he would vote for a bare majority if he thought everybody would exercise his vote. He supported the retention of the third 1 issue.

Hie Hon. M. Cohen said he would never advocate the bare majority. He supported the two-issue ballot paper and six-vear tenure, ano refererd to the need for improvements in hotel accommodation. 'Hie Hon. L, M. Isitt declared that above all the prohibitionists had fought for the bare majority, ana as they had a majority in the House, concessions should be made by their opponents. The Hon. C. J. Carington spoke in favour of a substantial majority and six-year tenure. The second reading was carried on the voices, and the Council adjourned at 10.35 p.m until 10.30 a.m. to-morrow. DISAGREEMENT - ANTICIPATED. Wellington, December 1. To-morrow the Legislative Council will deal with the Licensing Bill in committee. There has been much counting of heads in the Council during the past two,or three days, and the general opinion is that the clauses amended in the Lower House will be re-amended in the Legislativ Council, with the result that there will be a disagreement between the two Houses, resulting eventually in the dropping of the bill.