LICENSING BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1927, Page 4

LICENSING BILL

AMENDMENTS IX C< >.M M'ITTEK. WELLINGTON. Xov. :<(>. Thiit the tension in the House of Represcnta lives amused over the Licensing Bill has eased was evident to-day when the Committee stage on the remaining clauses was resumed. Members were in cheerful mood, and the clauses and the amendments were calmly discussed. At lirst there was a hint of trouble when the Header ol the Opposition (.Mr 11. K. Holland) declared with emphasis that he did not think there was the least intention of the Hill being sdlowed to l:ec ome law. It he were correct in his surmise then the House wtis simpy fooling with the position and they were wasting time and public money. He invited the I’rime Minister to give a definite assurance one way or another that he would permit the liill definitely to go through all its stages and to pass to the Statute Hook.

PRIME M IXIS.TF.K’S ATTITUDE. ‘•I thought I made the position quite clear in the statement I made to the House last night." replied the I’rime Minister. “With’ the exception of those providing for the bare majority f am in favour of the amendments which have been made to the Bill. Ho long as the Bill contains the hare majority clauses I shall be opposed to it—."

Mr Holland: Will you allow it to go on the Statute Book? Mr Coates:—and I will not vote for the third reading? Mr Holland: But will you allow it to go on the Statute Hook ? The Prime Minister: And I will not move the third reading. It the House desires that the Bill should go through and to the Cpper House it will go there. If the Cpper House passes it we have then to consider it when it comes back. My advice to members is that they should keep an open mind. T repeat that 1 am entirely opposed to the principle of the bare majority in cases of this kind. Mr Coates went on to say numerous conferences had been held and if had l>eou made quite clear that a great majority of the members desired the Bill to come back where it had been left off. It was a matter for his own judgment. The Bill could have stopped exactly where it was. Mr W. T). T.ysnnr (Gisborne) : It would have been better to have left it there too. (Laughter). The Prime Minister went on to say that if the Bill went to the Upper House the members of that Chamber would have an opportunity of overhauling it as they thought fit. What they would do with the Bill he was unable to sav. He did not know. “WAIT A XT) SEE.” Sir'Joseph Ward (Invercargill) asked the Prime Minister it the Bill passed the third reading with the bare majority and he was not in charge of it and it- then went through the Legislative Council, would he sign the recommendation to the Gov-ernor-General that tin' Bill should he put on the Statute Book? The Prime Minister: There has been a certain phrase in use for the past fifteen years, and without any disrespect to the right lion, member, and without any intention of appealing to ho rude, I would ask him to ."wait and see.”

The Prime Minister then proceeded to explain the amendments which it had been agreed should he made to the Bill and which he introduced. RFSTOR VTIOX POLLS. The first of these provided that restoration polls shall be held in the same manner as the present licensing polls, that is at every General Ejection. with the existing safeguard against elections held on a. dissolution of Parliament within its normal life. The Prime Minister mentioned that only once during the last thirty years had Parliament dissolved within the normal period of three years, hut it was necessary' to safeguard against such an eventuality. A member: The chances are thirty to one against. The Prime Minister (laughing): Yes, Hint's' not bad odds. The amendment was agreed to. as was also another providing that Restoration should he carried by a fare majority decison instead of the fifty-live per cent originally provided for in tlie Bill. There was some discussion concerning another amendment which provided that if Restoration was carried the number of licenses he granted should not he more than one for every "CO electors in the district concerned, and not less than one tor every loth). The Bill suggested that tlm minimum number of licenses should he one for every 1000 electors.

Mr Lvsnar considered that there was lie- justification for +.IIO alteration, which tie described as a weakening t:> the Prohibition Party. j\Fr T). C. Sullivan (Avon): Tf you only know the effect of the alteration you would support it as strongly as you are opposing it. A member: Tt will give you another two hundred hotels. The amendment was agreed to. The section in the Bill governing the Hiking of special polls on the requisition of ten per cent of the electors and on determination by a hare majority for the granting of licenses to hotels which are restored to licensed areas by changes in the electoral boundaries was passed without alteration. • An important amendment that was accepted provided that if National Restoration is carried at the first

“Restoration” poll, licenses shall not be granted in a former no-license district unless Local Restoration is also carried at a special poll (ondurted simultaneously with the national palf. To obtain such a special poll the electors must follow the same procedure as in the case where it is desired to restore the license of a hotel which has been put back into a licensed area by renson of boundary changes. Tn addition to machinery chi uses governing the issue of licenses il National Restoration is carried the House agreed t ■ another provision that, if Restoration i- carried at the first poll the number of licenses to he

issued shall not exceed the number of those in force in the respective districts 011 the date Prohibition was carried. A minor clause in the Bill which was accepted provided that irregular voting papers are not to he reiected as informal if the intention of the voter is clearly indicated. PRIVATE BARS. The definition of a private bar was made more clear, the definition now being “private bar means any part of licensed premises other than a public bar which is principally or exclusively used for the sale, supply, or consumption of intoxicating liquor. The other provisions in ibis section relating to the endorsement on licenses of the number of private bars which may he used and requiring the payment. cf a fee of £lO for each private bar were agreed to. ACCOMMODATION TN HOTELS.

The House accepted the Prime Minister's amendments deleting from the Bill the clauses relating to the provision of a minimum amount of accommodation in new hotels, of an adequate hot water service' and the right of a licensing coinmitteo to impose conditions that repairs, additions, and alterations to the premises and fur-

nishings must he made within a specified time. Several members expressed their concern regarding the accommodation now provided in hotels in country districts. and they appealed to the Prime Minister to keep the clauses in the Bill. The Prime Minister explained that it was considered that the matter could well be left to the Licensing Committees, and tlint as a matter of ordinary fair play directions should not Ik- given to committees.

Mr IT. Atmorc (Nelson) said there bad been a complete turn round by tin* Prime Minister at the instance of the men wdio bad been infesting the lobbies in the House. Members repicseiited the general public and should not pay undue attention to the vested interests on any side. Mr fl. AY. Forbes (Hurunui) said that in the ease of every person who experienced unsatisfactory accommodation at an hotel it meant a vote for Prohibition. He thought- the minimum accommodation might be cut down from 20 rooms for the public to 1.1. The Prime Minister said that if the six years’ tenure had been carried they might have insisted with some reason on licensees bringing their accommodation up to date. Mr E. P. Lee (Oaniaru) pointed out that the danse as to the minimum accommodation applied only to now premises licensed alter the passing of the Act.

The Prime Minister said he would have tile act ommodntion question looked into again, and perhaps he would have the clause reintroduced in an amended form. Little time was lost in putting through, the clauses in tlie Bill requiring holders of wine licenses to keep order on their premises, making the transfer of wholesale licenses lawful saving the rights of chemists in nnlicense areas to dispense liquor, restricting the employment of women in bars, and tightening tip the provisions in the principal Act with relation to the unlawful sale of liquor mid tln* supplying of liquor to persons under the age of 21 years without the consent of the parent or guardian. The Committee accepted the clauses giving the Courts discretionary power to endorse licenses and easing the present law so that it. shall he a good defence if licensee proves that an offence on his premises was committed without his knowledge, and that he took all reasonable'practicable measures to prevent the commission ol the offence. BANQUETS IX HOTELS. The clause which sought to extend the hours during which liquor might be sold at banquest in hotels to 10 o’lock was briefly discussed. It was suggested in the Bill that the necessary permit should be obtained from the Superintendent of Police or officers in charge of police districts, hut the Prime Minister moved an amendment designed to give other responsible police officers so authorised by the Commissioner the right to issue the permits This being agreed to. the Prime Minister promised to have n clause added giving the same rights to chartered, clubs as will be enjoyed by the hotels in this respect. ’Mr I.vsnar suggested that the privilege should lx* extended to restaurants.

‘‘They already have it,” said the Prime Minister. ”Xo. they have not,” replied Mr I.vsnar. ‘‘And I. think, too,” ho added ‘‘that 10 o’clock is too early. I have never been at a banquet in my life that link been over at 10 o'clock. (Laughter). Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East), deprecating Air V. 11. Potter’s opposition to the extension of the hours, said lie -could not understand any gathering compelled to drink several of Hie toasts on water and rising to sing ‘ For lie's a .lolly Good Fellow” with any degree of enthusiasm. He could not understand Air Potter doing that. Air Potter: I would not run the risk. (Laughter). Air Lee: They would all have rheumatics. The Prime Minister accepted an amendment moved by Afr T. AT. AYil-fc-rd (Hutt) giving the privilege of having extended hours for banquets to chattered clubs, which have dining-

rooms. The House concurring the clause as amended was then passed. CLAUSE DELETED. Replying to objections raised by Mr Holland with regard to the clause transferring the register of barmaids from tbo Secretary of Labour to the Commissioner of Police, the Prime Minister said the Labour Department was very anxious to get quit of this responsibility which it was thought tile police were quite capable of attending to. It had been said there bad been some trafficking in barmaids’ licenses. “It is an insult to the barmaids,’’ declared Mr 11. G. Annstiong (Christchurch East).* The Prime Minister: Tt is not intended a.s an insult. The police practically do all the work now. •Sir Joseph Ward said that registration would he a stigma 011 every woman who was earning her living as a barmaid. Mr Coates said ho would not waste further time on the matter, and the clause was struck out.

A new clause, dealing with Restoration was added. It provided that at National Restoration polls, Local Restoration polls on bare majority decisions shall also he taken. The effect of the clause is that if National Restoration is carried, local districts, bv reason of their adverse vote on the local poll, will be allowed to remain dry in any ease. Local Restoration will

not come into force unless National Restoration is also carried. REGISTRATION OF BARMEN. The registration of barmen was provided for in another clause which was added to flip Bill. It was stipulated that applications must he made to the police and must he supported by two testimonials as to character. The Courts are to have the power to endorse the certificates of registration or suspend them if- the holders should be convicted for any offence under the licensing laws. The section is to come into force on April Ist next, and after that date unregistered barmen, and their employers will he eaeli liable to a fine cf CIO.

“I think tliis is a definite stop forward in placing the responsibility on the men who retail the liquor,’’ said the Prime Minister in reply to Labour objections. “It is not a revolutionary or reactionary proposal. All that is wanted is that decent men will hold the jobs, men who have the ability and courage to teTl the weak man that ho has had enough; men who will be in the game not merely for the money that is in it.”

Discussion on tlie clause providing for registration of barmen was eontinned till 12.-10 mm., when a division was taken, the clause being agreed to bv 51 votes to 21.

A new clause was also passed to prohid-' that future Restoration polls in a district which voter] licenses out shall be carried by a majority of 55 per cent. Mr J. C. Rolleston (Waitomo) moved a new clause giving the right tn residents in the King Country to take a noil as tn whether there should or should not bo licenses in* that district. Fie suggested that it licenses were carped they should hf for oplj: beer and light wines. Mr McCombs raised the question

tliat as it was a special poll, it would involve additional expenditure', and was therefore an Appropriation clause.

The chairman ruled that as the poll would ho taken simultaneously with the vote on National Prohibition, there would be no extra expenditure, and therefore no appropriation. Afr McCombs asked that the riding of the Speaker be taken on the point. This was clone and the ruling was thatthe taking of the poll would involve expenditure and that being an appropriation the clause could not bo moved. Other amendments were either withdrawn or lost, on the voices, anil at 1 ..‘Jo a.m. the Bill was reported with amendments. Afr Lee moved the third reading of the Bill, and after a long debate, the third reading was carried by 39 to 32. The division list was:—

Ayes *(39): Anderson, Bellringer. Bitchener, Burnett. Dickie. J. AL C. Dickson. Eraser. A. Hamilton. J. R. Hamilton, Harris, H. Holland, Howard, Hunter. D. Jones. A\ . .Tones, Jordan. Kyle, E. P. Lee. Linklat-er. AleCombs, AL-Keen. AlcLennan. AfacAlillan. Alartin. LI. G. Mason. Xosworthy. Potter. Ransom. Reid. Rhodes, F. J. Rolleston. Stewart, Sullivan. Sykes. Tnpley. Walter. AYnite, AVright. and Young. X'oes (32) : Armstrong. Atmorc, Bartram, Bell. Buddo. Campbell. Coates. .T. S. Dickson, Elliott, Field. Forties. Glenn, Hawken. Henare. H. E, Holland. Hock-lv. Horn. .T. H. Fee. Luke . Lysnar. AreLeod. J. Mason. Nash, Parry Pomnre. J. C. Rolleston, (Savage. Seddon, Veil oh. AA ard. Milford. and AYilliams. The Bill was passed.