THE LICENSING BILL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5029, 20 September 1926, Page 2

THE LICENSING BILL.

DENUNCIATION OF PREMIER.

'UNREASONABLE ADVOCATES

“Frenzied denunciation of the Prime Minister will not help to settle the licensing problem,” says the Welling'on Evening Post, which characterises the suggestion that Mr Coates has be,en “duped or doped” or is likely to act in obedience to the .liquor interests e.s quite unreasonable and wholly unworthy of advocates who boast the righteousness of their cause, and thank He,aven that they are not as other men, “evep as. the publican.” Our contemporary points out that for the puipcse of licensing legislation the Prime Minister is a.n ordinary member of Parliament. He, promised to introduce legislation, and he has kept his promise. We would have preferred J:o see a Bill brought down e.arlier in the session, and with more adequate proposals for reform of the liquor traffic, but we recognise that the Bill as piesented is only a framework. Parliament has full liberty to take anything out of it or put anything in. The party whip will not be use.d. The “Post” adds: “Indeed, it could not be used, for opinion upon the licensing issue cuts right across party lines. ,If the amende.d law as it emerges from Parliament is a distorted and unreasonable measure Mr Coates must accept his share of the blame; but that share will be no more than that of any other member of the Legislature. If the legislation is not wha.t the public desire and have the right to expect, the fault will He with the members of Parliament and the advocates'o'utside who are wasting time and making' calm consideration impossible by substituting unjustifiable abuse for reasonable argument.”