THE LICENSING BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 914, 5 November 1910, Page 3

THE LICENSING BILL.

read a second time. In the House of Representatives, on Thursday, Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Licensing Amendment Bill. He briefly outlined the contents of the Bill, The present Bill had been drawn without reference to either the Liquor or No-License parties and was purely a Government Bill. He made reference to the revenue at present derived from the tax on liquors and if Prohibition were carried, readjustment of taxation would be necessary. He recognised, however, that if prohibition were carried there would be a considerable increase in the avenues of revenue which did not at present exist. Mr W. F. Massey considered the Bill was cunningly and insidiously drafted, so as to make it almost impossible to give an opinion as to what its actual effect would be when passed into law. A large proportion of the Members of the House were bound by election pledges to the present condition of things. There were no other speakers and after Sir Joseph Ward had replied the Bill was read a second time and set down for committal “ next sitting day.”