LICENSING BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1928, Page 2

LICENSING BILL

TO BE INTRODUCED IN COAIING SESSION.

PROAHSE BY AIR COATES

WELLINGTON, Alav 24

Tho president of the New Zealand Alliance, Air Charles Todd, was spokesman of a deputation several hundreds strong which waited on tho Prime Alinistcr to-day and presented tho resolutions of the annual conference of the Alliance. He said the organisation was composed of people from all sections of the community and of all shades of political and religious views. They stood for the principle of tho bare majority. Mr Coates hiinriolf had eovil’essed Just session that tho third issue on the ballot paper was not now a live one. They considered that the electors of New Zealand should he able to settle the liquor traffic question on a straight “Yes” or “No” vote. Air Todd expressed the opinion that last year’s Bill had not had a fair deal. They were robbed of victory in the Upper House. Last year’s Bill had pro]K>sed a 55—■Id per cent majority for carrying prohibition. That was a tremendous handicap. They also looked with disfavour on the suggestion that polls on the liquor question should be held at alternate general elections. The speaker pointed out that, if the life of Parliament were increased to four or five years, there would then be eight or ten years between polls on the liquor question and in the event of a. dissolution a poll might not be taken for twelve years. That would mean disfranchisement of a quarter of a million new voters. “AYo wish you to understand, sir, that wo are in deadly earnest,” he said. “This thing is going to be ended. We demand that in a democratic country like New Zealand this very important question he settled by a plain A T es or No vote.”

Mrs T. iB. Taylor. Dominion, president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and the general secretary of tlio Alliance (-Mr C. E. Edmonds) also spoke. <

Replying to the deputation, the Prime Minister assured them that he did not take lightly what they said. The.ro were two points of view on the question. He had his own views on the matter, and he recognised the sincerity of those who advocated the prohibition cause. Someone had to introduce a Bill, and ho had done so. He had been criticised in regard to it, the interpretation placed on itbeing that it was a Bill favouring the liquor traffic. He assured them that it had been introduced with the object of raising the whole question, and possibly permitting a compromise to ho reached on certain points. In no sense was it a party measure, nor was it considered from a party point of view. Tu the Upper House Sir Francis Bell had taken the same ah, titude. The measure represented an effort on h.is (Mr Coates’s) part to bring .in legislation which, in his view, was in the interests of the community, and he was not repentant m regard to that. He had wished, after reporting progress, to call a series of- conferences, but the rival factions were unable to agree. He then clearly indicated to Parliament thathe coiild no longer be associated with th© Bill, and he had left it to Parliament to indicate its will. Proceeding, Mr Coates said that, it there was to he a re-adjustment in the liquor laws, he believed it was necesaiy to have sufficient public support behind them to ensure that the law was given effect to. He trusted that •whatever was done would he done with a dear determination on the part of the people to see that the law was maintained. Tn regard to the'introduction of a BUI this year. Mr Coates said he thought it was almost- the general dexire "of members of Parliament and of the greater number of the people that some attempt should be made acnin to see whether or not the question could he settled. While quite a number of people were opposed to a Bill being introduced, he thought it was his duty to give Parliament a fjurther opportunity to consider the question. (Applause.) In conclusion, Air Coates referred to the need for reforms in the licensing laws. He declared that he thought there was ample room for reforms which would redound to the credit of' Now Zealand.