LICENSING BILL COMING.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1923, Page 4

LICENSING BILL COMING.

WELLINGTON, July 24. A select committee was appointed by the House to-day “to consider in the interests of the public, and generally tor its more satisfactory working, what amendments are required in the present Licensing Act.” The committee proposed by the Prime .Minister wsa Messrs Bitehener. Glenn, Harris. JLockIcy. Horn, Isitt. Lysnar, Savage, AYitty Wright. Sir John Luke and the mover. After the motion had been moved without comment. Air Wilford asked what was the leitscn for this body. A committee (licensing) had taken evidence and reported lest sc-Hon. Licensing legislation pc. party legislation, and he took it tr.ai the duty of the Goventmcnt wa- to formulatc the Rill, leaving it to the House flic libei.s-n a. He could not uniier-tand Die Ibime Minister getting up am thei committee, and he did not think any committee had any more right to make suggestions than the whole Hou.-e. This was a ‘free for c|| handicap" and the House could pass what recommendations of the last committee it approved and reject the remainder. There wrs no point in

setting up a committee of continuance ami prohibition advocate.- when everyone was competent to form his own opinion. He presumed the gentlemen on the wonld have a wrangle, hceuiisi- it was as impossible to get oil and water to mix as to get them to agree. Ills advice was to introduce a B'H on ihe line- of the last committee’s recmnmcmlctions j.inl Lliat the resultant Bill should he the product of .Parliament.

Mr Isitt said he could nut understand Ike reason for re-lorming last se-sion's committee, on which tie temperance parly w,y-> heavily overweighted. Now it had lost one temper.Pico man, Mr Lee, who- place was taken by all exceedingly moderate gentleman, l-ut not a keen temperance advocate. It was a ease of four to eight:, and they would simply bare to sit and watch wluit Die other man did. sit anil watch what the oilier man did and record their vote in protest. Several important petitions had come before the House on the Ii c-.u-ing question. tine protested against the viola-

tion of Do promise of a former Goi'erunienl that liquor would not I" ini reduced iuin the King ( niinlry. anil there was a pemion hi ivrtcin Anglicans favetiripg State control. .Vend er- : No. C .u poratimi ccntrcl. Air isitt : It is Dio same thin;:, aii-i-thei imiii of State eoiitrej. He thought that in so shr-ri a session the-e petitions conid veil go la the ordinary petitions ennimiite-. v.diieli lertaiuly wiiulid not l-> so- om-sided a- tie I h en -ing commi t tee. Mr Side'.' thought ihar lit.- r o for the eummittee might h, to t 'e evidence on these pci it ions. DM the Prime Minister intend to legi-l te this session together wit.h the |r---t *.v 1 >i order already in hand? Lie- r.-ic.g v.athat one questi-.ni on which members were allowed a flee hand. Mr Holland -aid there vvs c gcuerrl

understanding when the last licensing committee reported that it would be reconstructed this session'. If legislation had to he passed this session, and legislation relating to the control of the trade was needed, the session should be continued for this purpose after the Prime Alinister’s departure. Mr Hclland concluded a humorous suggestion that possibly Die best committee would he a committee of two, Air Isitt and Mr Lysnar. (Laughter, and “Alakc them sit till they come to an agreement.”)

T he Hon. A. T. Ngata suggested that "s the Native viewpoint had to ho considered in connection with the King Country petition and a Native member, preferably Mr Hcimre, should be on the c nimittce. It might be a ease oi !, : rnpeni:- u-ing. a sect ion of the Natives for their own purposes. Air Aia-'cy replied mat lie would have no objciiku to adding a. Native im-mber late". He bad no intention of miking the m v-ure a party one. .Mend ers would be entitled to vote as tnov pleased. His object in setting i.p the committee was to deal with petition- presented to the House. lie bad promi-c.l a deputation that t .is would I--' done, and last session's licensing committee was appropriate. Mr Isitt: Very one-sided. Air AL'-ey: 1 am prepared to put. ii: ii right if the balance is too strong in any one. direction. The Prime Minister added that lie doubted whether the Hill could he passed tilts -e-sii ii. but it could be got. into legislative shape and considered next sos.jj ■ a afier evid in e had been taken by Die r iciimit: e:\ There was nothing ulterior or AKchievelinn in his purpose.