JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1920, Page 1

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

LICENSING ACT. WELLINGTON, August 25. A licensing Amendment Bill which has been introduced Jby Hon Mr Banin the Upper House is intended to render impossible the transfer of licenses beyond the statutory limit. The existing legislation was intended to do this, hut it has been found possible to secure 1 the removal of licenses into new districts by allowing them to lapse and then applying for re-issue. The matter has been discussed fully in connection with some transfers already completed. Sir F. D..8e11, told the Council that Government would not oppose the Bill as long as it was not made a, vehicle for general amendments to the licensing law. He realized that owing to weakness in the law, the intention of Parliament wag being defeated. He urderstood that the trade would not object to the hill. HUNTER’S GAMING BILL.

Mr Hunter’s Gaming Amendment Bill proposing the issue of additional permits in country districts, appears likely to he strongly opposed in the House. Its opponents have given notice of over seventy amendments, intended apparently to facilitate obstruction tactics. Mr Hunter can rely on a majority in a division, but the factor of time will be against him, if the opposition is determined.

A LEASEHOLD QUESTION. Government has introduced a Bill proposing to grant the freehold of To Arolia town leases. This proposal has been before the House before and has been resisted by leaseholders and the issue was saved again to-day when the committee reported that it had considered the Bill and recommended it should proceed without amendment. Mr Witty, (Riccarton) one of the few really stalwart leaseholders here in Parliament, protested that the Bill was giving away the people’s property and that the tenants had no right to secure the unearned increments.

Mr Forbes (Hurunui), who is also a leaseholder told the House that he Would support the Bill, because he believed that the State’s interest was almost neglible. The sections were let on mining leases with the perpetual right of renewail, and the rent at the rate of about three pounds per annum per section went to the local hotly. This local body could do better if it had the right to rale the freeholds and Government could get a substantial sum of money by sales. The report of the committee ,was talked out by the leaseholders, so that the Bill rests in a state o;f suspense for the present.

MORATORIUM EXTENDED. The House agreed to the Amendment made by the Legislative Council in the Statute Repeal and Expiring Laws, Continuance Bill, extending tile operations of the Mortgages Extension Act, for an additional six months from Dec. 31st next to June 30bh. Mr Massey said that money was scarce and the extension of the Moratorium was needed to protect mortgagors. Some people had been able to make their arangements whilst others liad not ,and they had appealed for an extension of the moratorium.

Mr Wilford suggested that the extension was intended to help Government with tho war loan. Hon Massey said this was not so. Government could get money for the loan without help of any kind. WAR REGULATION. The House sat until the early hours of the morning on tlie War Regulations Continuance Bill, .which eventually was put through the Committee stage with minor amendments. The Labour members made a prolonged resistance to extension of the operation of certain war regulations, including those dealing with seditious strikes, control of wharves, passports and permits, and prohibited literature. They demanded the return to prewar freedom. The debate was heated at times, hut Mr Massey insisted on the hill. He said the passport and permit system would be abandoned directly other countries .abandoned it, but until then, New Zealanders going abroad must have their papers. He did not anticipate fitting required to use the regulations relating to prohibition of strikes in essential industries and the right of Government to take control of wharves, but the power must he retained.

PRICE OF BUTTER. The Butter Committee which silt in Wellington yesterday considered an offer from the British Food Controller of 280 s per hundred weight for the exportable surplus of butter up to Jan. Ist next. The committee has asked for a contract until July 31st next and it is awajting an answer which is expected to be favourable. The price is regarded as a particularly good one. It apparently will involve a local retuiil price of about 2s 9d per lb.