LICENSING AMENDMENT BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3719, 19 November 1927, Page 3

LICENSING AMENDMENT BILL.

MAIN PROPOSALS DEFEATED.

PRIME MINISTER DISAPPOINTED. HOW MEMBERS VOTED. The Licensing Amendment Bill introduced by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G. Coates), which passed its- second reading, emerged from its committee stage on Thursday evening after a prolonged land tense debate and several divisions, a very different measure from its original. Mr. Coates expressed' ihis disappointment at the turn things had taken. Much was made by the antiProhibitionists of the pre-election pledges given by members, but the majority of lth,ose members Iwho opposed the vital clauses in Mr. Coates’ Bill would have acted similarly independent of such pledges. The substantial majorities in favour of amending the Bill to make it conform to the three main planks of the Prohibitionists indicated a .firm stand for a fair deal.

The proposal that licensing polls be held every alternate election was rejected by 51 votes to 23, which means that the present three years’ tenure remains. The division list was as follows : For the clause (23): —

Coates, Eliott, Field, Glenn, Henare, Horn, Hudson, Hunter, Luke, Lysnar, McLeod, Macmillan, J. Mason, Ngata, Pomare, C. J. Rolleston, Seddon, Smith, Uru, Veiteh, Ward, Wiiford, Williams.

Against the clause (51): — Anderson, Armstrong, Atinore, Bartram, Bellringer, Bitchener, Buddo, Burnett, Campbell, Dickie, McC. J. Dickson, S. J. Dickson, Forbes, Fraser, Girling, A. Hamilton, R. J. Hamilton, Harris, Hawken, H. Holland, E. H. Holland, Howard, D. Jones, W. Jones, Kyle, P. E. Lee, A. J. Lee, Linklattr, • McCombs, McKeen, McLennan, Martin, R. G. H. Mason, Nash, Nosworthy, Parry, Potter, Ransom, Reid, Rhodes, J. F. Rolleston, Savage, Sidey, Stewart, , Sullivan, Sykes, Tapley, Waite, Walter, Wright, Young. “The result of the division,” said the Prime Minister later, “is very unpleasant to me, but I have to put up with it in deference to one or two other points in the Bill. . STATE CONTROL REJECTED.

Next debated_ was the proposition set out in the Bill that a two issue i ballot be submitted to the electors.

Much time was spent on the proposal of the Leader of the Opposition to incorporate the State control issue.

A division was taken on Mr. Holland’s proposal, which was„rejected by 55 votes to 20. The division list was as under: — \ For (20) Atmorc, Bartram, Buddo, S. J. Dickson, Eliott, Field, Forbes, Glenn, E. H. Holland, Horn, A. J. Lee, Luke, Parry, C. J. Rolleston, Savage, Seddon, ; Smith, Veiteh, Ward, Wiiford. Against (55): — Anderson, Armstrong, Bell, Bellringer, Bitchener, (Burnett, Campbell, Coates, Dickie, C.Mc J. Dickson, Fraser, Girling, A. Hamilton, R. J. Hamilton, Harris, Hawken, Henare, H. Holland, Howard, Hudson, Hunter, D. Jones, W. Jones, Kyle, P. E. Lee, Linklater, Lysnar, McCombs, McKeen, McKennan, McLeod, Macmillan, Martin, R. G. H. Mason, J. Mason, Nash, Ngata, Nosworthy, Pomare, Potter, Ransom, Reid Rhodes, J. F. Rolleston, Sidey, Stewart, Sullivan, SykesT Tapley, Uru, Waite, Walter, Wil- / liams, Wright, Young. TWO ISSUES CARRIED. After further discussion, the (Committee divided on the etwo-is-sue ballot paper question, and the clause making this provision was carried by 53 votes to 21. The division list was as under: — For the clause’ (53): —

Anderson, Armstrong, Bellringer, Bitchener, Burnett, Coates, Dickie, C.Mc. J. Dickson, Fraser, Girling, A. Hamilton, R. J. Hamilton, Harris, Hawken, Henare, H. Holland, Howard 1 , Hudson, Hunter, D. Jones, W. Jones, Kyle, P. E. Lee, Linklater, Luke, Lysnar, McCombs, McKeen, McLennan, McLeod, Macmillan, Martin, J. Mason, R. G. H. Mason, Ngata, Nos worthy, Pomare, Potter, Ransom, Reid, Rhodes, J. F. Rolleston, Sidey, Stewart, Sullivan, Sykes, Tapley, Uru, Waite, Walter, Williams, Wright, Young. Against the clause (21): — Atmore, Bartram, Bell Buddo, Campbell, S. J. Dickson, Eliott, Field, Forbes, Glenn, H. E. Holland, Horn, A. J. Lee, Parry, C. J. Rolleston, Savage, Seddon, Smith, Veitch, Ward, Wilford. A BARE MAJORITY.

Then Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton) moved his amendment providing for a bare majprity, instead of the fifty-five per cent, majority proposed in the Bill. The Prime Minister said he could not accept the amendment. “The Bill,” he added, “was drafted with a definite policy. I have alread’y lost one clause —an important 'one. This amendment, if carried, will leave me with a bare majority —without a safeguard. A safeguard is essential and vital to the Bill.” The amendment was carried by 43 votes to 32. The division list was as under: — In favour of bare majority (43):Anderson, Armstrong, Bartram, Bellringer, Bitchener, Buddo, Burnett, Dickie, J. M‘C. Dickson, Fra-

ser, Girling, A Hamilton, J. R. Hamilton, (Harris, 11. Holland, IT. E. Holland, Howard, D. Jones, W. Jones, Kyle, E. P. Lee, .J. A. Lee, M'Combs, M'Keen, Martin, H. G. R. Mason, Ngata, Nosworthy, Parry, Potter, Ransom, Reid, F. J. Rolleston, Savage, Sidey, Stewart, Sullivan, Sykes, Tapley, Waite, Walter, Wright, Young. Against bare majority (32) : Atinore, Bell, Campbell, Coates, J. S. Dickson, Eliott, Field, Forbes, Glenn, Hawken, Henare, Horn, Hudson, Hunter, Linklater, Luke, Lysnar, M'Lennan, M'Leod, Macmillan, ,J. Mason, Nash, Pomare, Rhodes, J. C. Rolleston, Seddon, Smith, Uru, Veiteh, Ward, Wiiford, Williams. REPORTING PROGRESS. Immediately the result of the division was announced the Prime Minister moved that progress be reported. On an assurance being given that he would agree to seek leave to sit again and that the Bill would not be killed, the motion was carried by 41 votes to 24. As it now stands the Bill is completely changed from the measure introduced by Mr. Coates. The provision for a poll every six years has been deleted, anti the,law remains as at present—a poll every three years. The abolition of the State Control issue and the reduction of the issues to two( Prohibition or Continuance) has been carried; and 55 per cent, majority has been thrown out and a bare majority substituted. Mr. Coates can mow drop the Bill or bow to the will of the majority anl throw the onus on Parliament or by a conference with the two parties endeavour to arrange a compromise. The Bill if passed will then go to the Upper House where further amendlead to a,disagreement between the two Houses.