LICENSING BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1927, Page 1

LICENSING BILL

members WATT on premier. WELLINGTON, Dec. 0. Midi another session ol the present Parliament in prospect, the no-license majority in (lie Lower House has not lost hope of securing the passage of a measure substantially including the amendments which it made in the Prime Minister's Licensing Amendment Bill. A large deputation of Government members who hold these views interviewed the Prime Minister within a

lew hours of the session’s close to discuss plans for next session. They said that the no-license group in the House of Representatives includes a majority of the Government party, and that, unless proper opportunity is afforded of enabling them to fulfil their pledges a situation will arise within the Government party which must be embarrassing to its leader. While the Prime .Minister could not be expected to give an immediate reply under the conditions following the end of an extremely difficult session, he promised to go carefully into the matter.

j The problem fating the no-license | group is that tile measure they demand i involves a number of clauses involving ! public appropriations. These can ! only be submitted to Parliament by ! Governor-General's message, and the Governor-General can act only on the recommendation of his Ministerial advisers. Thus Ministerial aid is essential to a Licensing Act Amendment Hill. The situation may ultimately call for a special caucus of the Government party in the recess, but nothing is likely to develop until the Xetv Year.