The Liquor Bill.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 5 December 1918, Page 1

The Liquor Bill.

j PASSES THROUGH THE HOUSE. SIX O'CLOCK CDOSLXG TO BE PERMANENT. The new Licensing Bill passed through all its stages in the House on Tuesday night, it being evident that neither the Liquor nor Prohibition parties were very anxious to make amendments. The Prime Minister the total value of Trade interests (assets and goodwill) was ten millions sterling. A competent accountant, a capable business man, with ppecial facilities for making an estimate, assessed the compensation to; be paid if the first poll was carried at £3,691,000 made up as follows: £ Hotels 1,416,606 Breweries 375,000 Hotel furniture, fittings, etc. 300,000 Winemakers, maltsters etc. 100,000 Goodwill of Trade 1,400,000 Employees 100,000 Total £3,691,606 Mr McCallum moved that the Bill be read six months hence, on the ground that it did not represent the wishes of the moderate section of *Ehe community. The Moderates were a chopping block between what the Prime Minister called "the two great parties. He believed the Liquor Party was a selfish party and the other, with some exceptions, wafi a "party of crank?." He believed the Trade would be well-advised to take the compensation and sell the people. ' The amendment was defeated by 54 votes to 9. Tli© second reading was carried by 55 votes to 8. In committee, Mr Nosworthy moved to strike out the payment of compensation. Thifs was lost by 47 to 14. Mr M'Combs moved an amendment to provide for tihe submission of four issues (Prohibition without compensation, Prohibition with compensation, National ownership and) Continuance), with preferential voting. This wa.c lost ibv 45 to 14. In Part 11. dealing with, the ordinary licensing poll in the event of the special referendum being rejected, Mr Statiham moved that three-fifths of the total votes recorded be re quired to carry Prohibition without compensation. This was defeated by 45 to 9. SIX O'CLOCK orxxsiNG. Mr Wilkinson moved to add a new clause to make 6 o'clock closing 'a permanency. The Prime Minister paid lie would help to ha-e 6 o'clock closing put on the Statute Book permanently at the proper time, but this was not the pro- < ipeir time. If the war ended in April it would remain in force till October, and > Parliament would again meet in June. The division was a tie—27 to 27. • For the amendment: Allen, Anderson. Anstey, Buddo, Craigie, J. M. Dickson, Ell, T. A. U. Field, P. Fraser. Harris, Tsitt, Lee, M'Combp, Mander, A. K. Newman, E. Newman, INosworthy. Parr, Peatce, Poole. jSykes, Talbot, Veitdh, Walker, Wilkinson, Wright and Young. _ _ 1 Against: Bollard,"Brown, Carroll Colfin. Dickie, J. S. Dickson, W. H. Field. Forbes, Sir TT. Fraser, Guthrie, Herries, Hornsby, Hudson, Hunter, Luke, M'Callum", SliacDonald, Ma<=sey, iMyers, Payne, T. W. Rhodes, Scott. S. G. Smith, Thomson, Ward, Wilford 1 , Witty. The Chairman said ihe would vote with the ayes for a second reading of the clause. Another division was immediately taken on the motion to add the proposed clause to the Bill'. The amendment was carried 1 by 28 to 27. The Hon. J. A. Hanan twn* tli'e new voter with the ayes. The third .rending was then carried. The Legislative Council' yesterday read the Bill a second time and referred it to a special committee to deal with. A igood deal .of speculation exists respecting the likelihood or otherwise of the Council cutting out the 6ix o'clock eloping clause, which, it is admitted the House carried by a snap vote.