LICENSING BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1927, Page 4

LICENSING BILL

AIR. COATES REPLIES TO DEPUTATION. WELLINGTON, June 17. An undertaking to give Parliament an opportunity ill the coining session to express its opinion upon the liquor issue Mats given to a deputation from the New Zealand Alliance to-day by the Prime .Minister. Air Coates expressed the opinion that the Bill brought before the House last year did not have, a fair run. The attitude adopted by "the Alliance when it was introduced without doubt had the effect- of preventing the Bill being fully considered by Parliament. ' The deputation numbered about -66 strong. Among those present were; Tho Right Hon. Sir Robert Stout. M 1 C the Holt. Alt' I'owlds and the Yen. Archdeacon Russell (Oainaiu). j Afr T. Forsyth, ALP., introduced the deputation. j MR COATES IN REPI.A'. In reply the Prime Minister said: “The speakers covered a great deal ol ground but I do not intend to follow them in regard to all the points they have raised. However I know the burden of your request, ami here T would like to just point out to the New Zealarnl Alliance that to my mind the attitude taken up by the Alliance when the Government introduced a Licensing Bill hist year had. without doubt, film effect of preventing to some extent the Bill being fully considered by Parliament. That Bill was trounced. It seemed to be nobody s child: it did not se.em to meet with anyone's favour. 1 am. certain that if Parliament had had alt opportunity of considering tile proposals contained in the Bill it would have been found that it was not a party measure in any sense and that there was valuable machinery in lie Bill for effecting reforms in Hie trade, particularly in tlm retail 1 ratio. “j ( Jo not know whether Mr 1-u----monds lias gone carefully through the proposals of that Bill. Personally T doubt it. very much. I am afraid lie dul rot. take a. broad view of it. I am in deadly earnest, and what. T say is—anil every member of the Cabinet is id Urn same, opinion—that the Bill was never looked at from the poini of view of improving the trade.' Air Coates said the Bill introduced last session Mas never regarded Irom the point of view of the trade itself. There Mere points in it udiich affected the business ol ever;. 1 indy. including the trade. Tho groat burden of complaint came, from those opposed to the movement represented by the deputation. They said it would cripple their business. Persomtllv he did not bcliv.e it would do anything of the kind. Whatever legislation Mils brought before Parliament should contain principles of enforcement by properly regulated I a M's in regard to the trade. He Mas pleased to hear from Air Edmonds and Air Todd that whatever legislation was brought before Parliament it should contain reforms in regard to ike ordinary carrying out of the liquor business in the Dominion. He would not traverse the question Irom many points of vicm" that had been raised, because there were other views as well and ho could not subscribe to them

“] <: ;ui subscribe to this, lmu ever,” lie said, "to endeavour to draft a Bill and bring it before Parliament and in order that Parliament .shall have an opportunity to express its opinion upon the various matters you have brought, up this morning. In this respect 1 hope an opportunity will present itself during the session by which Parliament can give its attention and consideration to a. matter udiich to you I hope, is ond of great and vital importance.” Tin, Prime .Minister said lie did not intend to take up any more time in discussing the question. In due course he -would reply to their requests by pr. senliug a Bill to Parliament which, ho hoped, would give the Legislature the opportunity they Mere asking lor to express its views on t'ne various questions that were in the minds of tho people to-day.

THE THIRD ISSUE. AYELLINGTOX, June 17. The. Dominion executive of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Associationpassed the. following resolutions:— ‘•That :i vigorous protest bo i mined 1.. atclv voiced against the attempt ot the New Zealand Alliance to dragoon Parliament into deleting the third issue on the licensing ballot paper.' "That the various sections opposed to Prohibition. and the several branches of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association, be called together in eoul'erence to decide on a courses of united action and to place before i.lic Prime Alinister and I'arliairtent their views.”