LICENSING REFORM.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 211, 25 November 1909, Page 5

LICENSING REFORM.

Despite the controversy which has raged in every part of the dominion in regard to the licensing reform compromise. the amending Bill will come down before the House in a few days' time on the exact lines already indicated in the terms of the agreement Council are at present engaged in working out details of the new Bill, Mr C. P. Skerritt (for the trade) "oltoborating with Mr A. S. Adams (for the No-License party) in the preparation of the amending legislation. Members of Praliament still maintain a taciturn attitude as far as the interviewer is concerned, but the more one talks ovwr the prospect of the new licensing legislation going through the mcr* one is impressed with the fact that there is a great diversity o? opinion amongst legislators. No-license advocates maintain that the desired reform would be inimical to the best interests of the party, in that it would for all time estrange the great "moderate" section of supporters. For this reason they declare that they will strenuously oppose the amending Bill, and add that they are confident it will never go through. On the other band, a large number of members on both sides of the House state that they will willingly agree to the passing of any reform which has the sanction of rep- | resentatives from both the parties inI terested. Such a compromise, one ! said, would relieve them from the un- ! satisfactory position which is at prof- : rnt throst upon them. The weight of j responsibility in regard to licensing ' matters, and the question would he re- | moved, and the question would no > longer loom largely on the horizon as ; likely to effect genreal election issue. : For that reason alone there are many members of the House who will gladly i welcome any legislation based upon a compromise arrived at between the two parlies. "Why should we object if tnose parties most interetsed are satisfied?" asked one prominent member. "I. for my part, will be only too willing to wash my hands of the whole business. It has been an endless source of worry in the past. If those who are most concerned come to an agreement, why should we be so foolish as to throw any obstacle in the way of their joint desire becoming law? I for one will not do it." Another well-known member considers the compromise arrived at a most satisfactory one. and says be doc* not think that any but the strong nolicense members in the Chamber can raise any objection. Even in the CBse of these representatives, the gentleman in question contends that the full value of the concessions gained by them is not realised. He urges that the point they most object to. the pro- ; viso that if no-license is carried it will not operate for five years, is the stron- 1 gest card in their favour, inasmuch as 1 the hotelkeepers will not now be able ' to eppeal to the sympathies of the electors* on to the ground that their ' means of livelihood is to be taken from them without notice.

If the compromise does not become law this session, the compact falls through. The n»»-liecnse advocates in the House express the opinion that the Bill will not go through. There arc other members who hops and believe that it will.