The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, June 25, 1910. THE NO-LICENSE PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 857, 25 June 1910, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, June 25, 1910. THE NO-LICENSE PARLIAMENT.

The Parliament of the N.Z. NoEicense Party has just completed its annual convention in Wellington. The principal business centred on the recent arrangement between the Alliance Executive and the Government. It will be remembered that last year, on the suggestion of the Government, the Hon. Dr. Findlay, Attorney - General and Minister for Justice, made certain suggestions to the No-Eicense Party and the Trade in respect to further legislation on the liquor question. Prior to this, mass meetings had been held in the four large centres demanding the settlement of the licensing question on the democratic principle of the bare majority, as against the present iniquitous threefifths. The Prime Minister was subsequently deputationised, then followed the negotiations carried on by the Minister above referred to. After the details of the proposed bill were considered by both the liquor party and the Eicense Executive a compromise was reached. The leaders of the NoEicense party signed the compact conditionally on their action being endorsed by the party , who, be it remembered, were ignorant not only of what was taking place but of the nature of the proposed legislation. When the press telegraphed the news broadcast and setting forth the details, the NoEicense party throughout the Dominion were thunderstruck, and at a hastily summoned convention held last November, refused absolutely to give the arrangement their endorsement, which was required in order to make the compact binding. This decision was forwarded to the Hon. Dr. Findlay, who held then and now, that no cornqact was sanctioned between the Eiquor and No-Eicense parties. As a large number of the latter party were anxious to reintroduce the question at the recent conference, and after two and a half days’ debate on the proposal to revive the arrangement regarding licensing legislation, which was made with the Government last November, an amendment condemning the combination of the issues of No-Eicense and Dominion Prohibition was rejected by 76 votes to 60. It was then agreed to treat the decision as affirming the compromise, but to proceed no further with the matter, owing to the closeness of the division. A policy was formulated and unanimously agreed upon which will be explained on every platform throughout the Dominion, and the demands for legislation on such lines placed b»fore the Ministry, It is difficult to say whether effect will be given to the demands of the party by the Government during the coming session. Certainly nothing will be done if the reforms asked for are set out in a private member’s bill. If the Government take up the suggested legislation the NoEicense Party will have to compromise.