THE LICENSING BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3720, 22 November 1927, Page 3

THE LICENSING BILL.

Twenty-seven members of his own party, including six members of his Cabinet—Messrs Anderson, Nosworthy, Rolleston, Stewart, Weight, and Young—voted against Mr. Coates on the Licensing Bill when it was passing through its committee stage, but this does not indicate any disruption of the Reform Party. Mr. Coates’ course of action in connection with the Bill is awaited with interest. When the negotiations have come to a dead-end it will be for Mr. Coates to decide upon the future course of action. There will apparently then be only one course open, namely, to bring the Bill again on to the floor of the House and if the House so decides pass it on to the Legislative Council. There is no certainty of what its fate will be there. There is a strong impression that the Council may either throw out the Bill (which is unlikely) or amend it .(which is likely). Possibly in the Legislative Council one or other of the principal clauses may be reinserted, or a modified clause in l cgard to the majority issue may be agreed to. In this case there will be a dead-lock between the two Houses and the Bill will be killed.