THE LICENSING BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1926, Page 1

THE LICENSING BILL.

WELLINGTON, Aug. 25. QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. When the Licensing Bill was introduced into the House to-day, by Gov-ernor-General’s message, mention of > tlio Bill was sufficient to make the t whale House interested, and the Prime - Minister, who is in charge of the Bill, was called on to answer a running fire ; of questions. ’ The Leader of the Opposition, Mr - H. E. Holland, wanted to know whetli- > or the Prime Minister proposed to put the Bill through this session. I Mr George Forbes: A'es. Mr Holland: I was asking the Prime i Minister. I did not know lie had a i deputy on this side. (Laughter). 1 ■ suppose also he will tell us what the t provisions of the Bill are. AVe are pari ticulai'ly -anxious to know if he pro- > poses to place tlio Bill on the Statute s Book this session. AVe would like to - know if lie proposes to leave the House > in session after he leaves for the Imperial Conference. Apparently it would i be necessary for tlio session to go on ' three or four weeks after the date fixed ’ for the sailing of tlie Prime Minister. ; Mr Coates smilingly said that the ; question was so long that he hardly i knew where to begin in answering it. 1 “As to the Bill,” he began, “person- : alfV don’t see anything controversial ! in it at all.” (Laughter). AVbat memI bers may bring up is another matter. . of course. , Mr Holland : Did the Party Caucus i knock -all the controversy out of it? Mr Fraser: Are all the parties agreed ? i Mr Coates: I hope they are. Mr Glen (to the Labour benches) : Your Party is not. Afr Sullivan: Is there anything about the referendum in it? Mr Coates: Yes, it is in two parts. There has been really no opportunity to consider a Bill of this kind up to the present. The House has worked hard and well. Members who have been in the House more years than T have, recognise that the House has been kept very busy. Mr Parry: A very hard boss! Mr Coates: As to the extension of the polls, this Bill proposes to leave it in the hands of the electors. They have an opportunity to vote whether the poll bo taken every three years or six years. Clause 3 gives an opportunity, in the event ol' National Prohibition being carried, for tlie electors to vote on the question of restoration. Mr Sullivan: Is that a special referendum ? Mr Coates ; A'es. Afr Holland: AVhen you put that through there will bo only two alternatives, three years and six years? Afr Coates: A'es. A member: AVill that be taken beboro the ordinary poll? Afr Coates: No, at the general election. Air Smith : Does it provide for a poll in the King Country, as to whether they shall have (liquor or not? Afr Coates: This P.ill does not provide for that. Afr Coates said that. Clause 4 of the Bill provided for an electoral poll respecting the cases of hotels which lost their licenses through changes of electoral boundaries. It would be for the electorates to say whether those licenses should be reissued. Another clause defined the age at which young men or women could be supplied with liquor. Mr Fraser: Does it prevent the employment of people under 21 in bars and breweries? _ Afr Coates: Tn bars, certainly. He added that Clause 20 referred to the restriction as to tlie employment of women. Aft- Forbes: Another barmaid clause, Afr Coates: It probably makes it a little more clear as to who shall act as a barmaid. Air Coates said also that the Bill would allow chemists to sell liquor, hut it must he on the. recommendation ol a medical man. Afr Rhodes: Throughout the Dominion ? Afr Coates: Yes. Afr Jordan: Is the ballot paper amended? Afr Coates: This Bill only allows of a further ballot paper, that the electors may sav whether tliev want three yeavs or six years. Mr Holland: Suppose tlio Parliament sits onlv two years? Mr Coates: There is provision for that. In reply to Air Holland. AJr Coates said ho hoped to put the Bill on the Statute Book this session,_ ATembers: A'ou are always optimistic ! Air Jordan: If there are five year Parliaments, does that mean ten year polls ? Afr Coates: Twice three are six. Though the Licensing Bill is not ex- - pected to become law during the: pre- : sent session, it is likely to go to its second reading, so that some discussion • upon it may bo expected before it is i dropped. Atembers generally seem to : think there will not be time, to put it > through all its stages this session. • Possibly it may not reach the division • stage on the second reading.