PARLIAMENTARY.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1927, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Telegraph—Per Press Association. THE COUNCIL. DISCUSSES LICENSING BILL. SECOND READING CARRIED. WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. The Licensing Amendment Bill came up for its second reading and discussion in the Legislative Council tonight. In moving the second reading Hon. Gow urged members to have regal'd for the fact that the elective Chamber had passed the Bill. Hon. Triggs thought the measure should he sent hack to the House to give members another opportunity to consider it. lie opposed a bare majority and said a 55-15 majority was little enough, but lie was willing to agree to a compromise at 521-175. Hon. Newman also opposed the bare majority, which lie considered would lead to trouble and confusion. To ensure success, there must he a- substantial majority, lie deplored the taking of polls every three years, believing that the issue clouded the general elections. He also was opposed to State Control and the extension of tenure, arguing that while opinion was so evenly divided, it was not right to deprive the people of the right to express their opinion every three years.

Hon. J. A. Hannan maintained that the Council had no right to alter what had been decided by the House, for members of the House had voted according to their pledges to the people. The Council had no mandate oil the licensing question. Sir Robert Stout advocated a bare majority, which, he said, was democratic and had been reconsidered for fifty years in New Zealand. It was a restriction of liberty fo pass a law requiring the abolition of a thing injurious to the people by a two-thirds majority.

Hon. H. L. Michel opposed the principle of State Control, which he said was not a live issue. He also opposed a hare majority, and said the people could not be deprived of the right to vote every three years. Sir F. Lang declared he would vote for a bare majority if lie thought everybody would exercise bis vote. He supported the retention of the third issue. Hon. M. Cohen said he would never advocate a bare majority. He supported a two-issue ballot paper and a six-year tenure, and referred to the need for improvements in hotel accommodation. Hon. L. M. Isitt declared that above all, prohibitionists had' fought for a bare majority and as they bad a majority in the House, concessions should be made by their opponents. Hon. Carrington spoke in favour of a substatial majority and a six years’ tenure.

The second reading was carried on the voices, and the Council adjourned at 10.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. to-day. COUNCIL ALTERS RATIO. TO 52i TO 47i. WELLINGTON, Dec. .2. The Council met at 10.30 a.m. In committee on the Licensing Bill, the 521-471 majority on a division was carried by 21 to 11. For.—Bell, Rhodes, Alison, Carrington, Clark, Cohen, Collins, Garland, Lang, Mackenzie, Mclntyre. Mander, Michel, Mitehellson, Newman, Reed, Scott, Snodgrass, Triggs, Weston, Witty.

Against.—CYaigie, Gow, Hall-Jones, Hnnan, Hawke, lsitt, McGregor, Malcolm, Moore, Smith, Thompson. THE HOUSE. The House went into committee on the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill and discussed the first clause until 1.20 a.m., when the Prime Minister agreed to report progress, on the understanding that a conference of representatives of the parties in the House be held in the morning to discuss details of the Bill. The House rose at 1.14 a.m. till 11 a.m.