NEW LICENSING BILL REJECTED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1081, 10 August 1912, Page 3

NEW LICENSING BILL REJECTED.

THREE-FIFTHS MAJORITY

RETAINED

In the House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon, Mr A. S. Malcolm, member for Clutha, moved the second reading of the Licensing Amendment Bill, providing that at the next and every subsequent licensing poll the majority required to determine any question submitted to the electors at the poll shall be 55 per centum of the total number of votes recorded in each district or throughout New Zealand, as the case may be, and the Licensing Act, 1908, shall be read and constructed accordingly. He said the principle endorsed by the Bill was so well-known to members that he did not intend to speak much on the measure. All members were pledged to vote one way or the other. He hoped friends of the Bill would refrain from speaking and so help the measure. Mr Dickson (Parnell) said he was pledged to support the threefifths majority, and must oppose the Bill. He mentioned the fact that there was no provision in the voting paper tor natronal continuance. He hoped the error would be rectified. He strongly objected to a private member introducing the Bill. It should be a policy measure of the Government.

Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) said lie was for 55 per cent, on local option and 60 per cent, t u national option. The measure had been badly drafted. He endorsed what Mr Dickson had said, that the measure should have emanated from the Government and no! from a private member. There was no doubt that prohibition would come. It might even come on a bare majority, but if it did it would not be so stable. He belonged to the great ‘‘third party, who were not represented by executives or committees ot any sort. The moderate party was the greatest party, the indifferent many who formed the bulk of the business people of the community, especially ii-,c nrmers. The cause of the lormciuing of temperance legislation was tied houses and the huge prices demanded for the goodwill ot hotels. It made it impossible for the lessee to keep within the four corners of the law and pay interest on his money at the same time. He referred to the great monopoly possessed by brewers and hotelkeepers, simply through being in possession of a small piece of paper issued by the State. He strongly urged the inspection by the Government of all liquor sold in hotels. Mr Bradney (Auckland West) said he also belonged to the great moderates. He was returned to support the three-fifths majority, and he would do it.

Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) said it was not possible to wipe out the National usages of the people by a bare majority vote. Would Par - liament lay it down that all who used alcoholic liquor and had not been hampered by it were to be deprived of it ? He suggested setting up a Royal Commission consisting of all sections ot the community, including scientific men, to be given twelve months to enquire into the whole liquor question, and advise Parliament what was possible in a country like New Zealand. The Commission could also consider the great fiscal issues involved. Virtually the people now drank as much as they did years ago, despite the activities and accomplishments of the No-License party.

Mr Newman (Rangitikei) said he was unwilling compelled to vote against the Bill. Mr Hanan (Invercargill) said the Government had deliberately ignored the Bill. The only deduction was that the Government was not in favour of the Bill. The Premier had ignored a deputation that the Government would not introduce legislation this session. The motive of the Government in handing the Bill over to a private member was to lead the NoLicense members to believe they were shepherding the Bill. The No-License people had now got the measure ot the Government in regard to their candour and honesty. Mr J. Robertson (Otaki) said he would support the Bill because it was a democractic step towards the 'attitude that the majority should rule.

Mr Statbam (Dunedin Central) said he stood for the abolition oi drunkenness, but he was not a , prohibitionist. He favoured the three-fifths majority, which gave proper stability to the question. Mr McCallum (Wairau) did not agree with National Prohibition. He had no objection to 55 per cent. majority lor local option. There was no logic in the miserable compromise of 55 per cent, for National prohibition. Mr £. Isitt (Christchurch N.) said the party had to poll 104,000 votes before it could count one. He would be ashamed as a democrat to defend such a thing. If the, members were anxious to do the fair thing and ensure stability they might impose a reasonable handicap. Mr Campbell (Hawke’s Bay) regretted that the Bill did not contain some clause dealing with tied houses and the quality of liquor sold. . . Mr Glover (Auckland) said that the measure was too drastic and should not be brought forward at this juncture. Mr Coates (Kaipara) said he had told his constituents that he would support the three - fifths majority, and he intended doing it. It was to his mind sound logic to insist on a substantial majority. In this matter he was

in favour of State or municipal control, and preferred the latter. Mr Payne (Grey Lynn) said there were 7,000 people who derived their living from the trade, and who would be thrown out of employment by prohibition. The State should undertake to find employment tor those people before prohibition was carried. Mr A. M. Myers (Auckland E.) reprobated the idea that a man’s trade or calling should be a bar to his eligibility for a seat in the Legislature. The “trgde” would welcome the appointment of inspectors to see to it that the liquor supplied was of the right quality. Mr Malcolm having replied, a division was taken, which resulted : Against 42, for 32. The division list was as lollows : FOR (32) AGAINST (42) Anderson Almore

Bell J. Bollard Buddo R. F. Bollard Buxtou Bradney Clark Browu Cragie Buchanan Ell Buick Escott Campbell Fisber Carroll Hanan Coates Harris Colvin Hindmarsh Davey Hine Dickie Isitt Dickson Lang Forbes " Laurenson Fraser Lee Glover Malcolm Guthrie Mander Herdman Dr. Newman Herries Ngata Hunter Nosworthy MacDonald Okey McCallum Payne R. McKenzie Pearce Myers Poland E. Newman iwhsrtson Pi.c-tt. dyke.-, Pomare . G. M. Thomson Reed Veitch R. H. Rhodes Wilson T. W. Rhodes Young Russell Scott Seddon Sidey F. H. Smith R. W. Smith Stratham J. C. Thompson Ward Wilford Witty

Three members were absent, and Messrs Massey (for) and James Allen (against) were paired.