WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

LICENSING PROBLEAIS. SUGGESTED SOLUTION. (Special to “ Guardian ”.) WELLINGTON, July 9. Li the course of the Addross-in-Reply in tlie House of Representatives on Friday Mr J. McCombs, the member for Lyttolton, attempted to d I:4V/ from the Prime Minister some indication of the character of the Licensing Bill the Government has in mind. He was no more successful than previous imptirers had been. A benignant smile and a passing interjection were the only acknowledgments the Minister vouchsafed to his catechist.. “It has been definitely asserted,” Mr McCombs stated, “that the Government thinks it lias a solution of the points upon which the two Houses disagreed last session—the period between the polls and the question of the majority —by submitting them to a plebiscite of the people.” To this Mr Coates retorted, “I am sorry. Was the honourable gentleman speaking to me?” and the House laughed. Of course the Minister is under no obligation to disclose the intentions of the Government in regarding to licensing at this stage in the session; hut it is to ho hoped that lie will take the public into his confidence early enough to permit of an adequate discussion. PREFERENTIAL VOTING. In concluding his allusion to the licensing question, Mr McCombs referred to preferential voting in such a way ns to suggest that he and the Labour Party generally, take a somewhat broader view of this complex problem than do the executive officers of the New Zealand Alliance. The

Labour Party’s proposal for preferential voting, he claimed, was the only logical solution of the licensing question. Preferential voting in its application to the licensing poll would moan that the three issues now on the ballot paper could be retained with the

certainty of ascertaining the wishes a majority of the voters. Under the the present system fifty cr sixty thousand votes are thrown away upon the issue of Purchase and State Control which under the preferential system would be distributed between License and No License and so determine which of these issues was desired by a- majority of the community. The Prohibitionists have got it into their heads that this system would militate

against their progress, and tbo Moderates, into theirs, that it would bring about their overthrow. AVI lat higher testimony to its impartiality could be desired. s LAN D SETTI .EM ENT. The 11011. A, D. McLeod, the Mioister for Lands, the most cheery and yet tlie most bellicose member of the Cabinet, found himself beset by the ' whole front rank of the Labour Party during his contribution to the Address-in-Reply debate in the House at the week end. He is hearing the burdens prepared for him by several of his

predecessors in office, and it is to bis credit that lie shoulders the whole 'load without making any allusion 1o this fact. Charged with neglecting the promotion of the small settlement the Labour Party had urged upon him, lie reminded his critics that over a million had to be written off soldier settlements on asronnt of tlie smallness of the divisions.' His policy was rather to keep men on the land than to find new' ones to take their place, and he was satisfied this policy would secure better results than would any of the hare-brained schemes of his critics. The Leader of the Opposition thought the Minister's reply offensive, and said so, but it would have been feeble without its emphasis. PUBLIC SERVICE AND POLITICS. The members of tlio deputation representing tho various labour organisations that waited upon the Prime Minister on Saturday, to urge that legislation providing that members of tho Civil Service might enter the House of Representatives without prejudicing their ofleial status, had every reason to be well pleased with their reception by the head of the Government. Mr Contes could not give the denutation a definite answer, as he had to consult liis,colleagues about tlie matter; but be wanted its members to understand that personally lie was averse to imposing disabilities upon public servants simply because they figured as candidates for Parliament. There were difficulties in tho way, but they might be overcome. At any rate a definite answer would be given as early as possible. Ijalf a dozen senior officers’ of the service interviewed to-day were practically unanimous in

opposition to Government employee; seeking election to Parliament. Onl\ one of thorn would go to the length of conceding leave cf absence for an election campaign op the Huderstay.ding that resignation would follow immediately in the ease of success.