LICENSING BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3849, 25 September 1928, Page 3

LICENSING BILL.

QUESTION OF PAIRS. MR. NOS WORTHY’S REQUEST. An allegation was made on Saturday by the member for Lyttelton, Mr. J. McCombs, that the Prime Minister had dishonoured a promise he w T as said to have macm in regard to the “pairing” of the Hon. W. Nosworthy on the third reading of the Licensing Bill. A letter written by Mr. Nosworthy to Mr. Coates .makes it clear, however, that nc> specific request was made with regard to “pairs” on the final division. In a statement issued to the Press, Mr. McCombs set out that before leaving Auckland for Canada with the Empire Parliamentary Association delegation, Mr. Nosworthy asked Mr. Coates in a letter that his “vote should be recorded in favour of: (1) decision by bare majority; (2) polls every three years as at present; (3) elimination of the State control issue.” “Mr. Nosworthy’s request was most explicit, and it was reasonable to assume that when the Bill was altered exactly as he wished it to be altered, he would wish his vote recorded in favour of the third reading—more especially as Mr. Nosworthy had voted for the thrd reading of the Licensing Bill last session,” said Mr. McCombs. “On the afternoon of the day on which the third reading division was taken, the Prime Minister, in the presence of a witness, promised the president of the New Zealand Alliance that Mr. Nosworthy would be paired on the third reading. This arrangement was dishonoured, and so far as I have been able to learn Mr. Nosworthy has not been paired on any of the other three divisions that he left written instructions about.” Mr. McCombs added that Mr. Nosworthy’s secretary informed him that he had asked to have Mr. Noswortjhy paired in favour of the third reading. “There was one vote the Prime Minister was absolute master his own vote,” Mr. McCombs said. “He could have paired his colleague who Avas absent on Empire Parliamentary business. . . The Prime Minister could have ensured the carrying of the third reading; and by pairing with Mr. Nosworthy his vote would be recorded against the Bill. Opportunity would have been thus given to explore every avenue for a settlement. The Prime Minister’s action this session is as clumsy and unstatesmanlike as his action last session when he petulantly moved to ‘report progress’ and involved himself and his party in considerable trouble.” PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. Mr. McCombs’s allegations were submitted to the Prime Minister, who replied that at an interview with the president of the New Zealand Alliance when a request was made for pair for Mr. Nosworthy, he (the Prime Minister) answered that Mr. Nosworthy would be paired in accordance with his own requests. Then he was asked if Mr. Nosworthy Avould be paired on the third reading. “I replied,” added Mr. Coates, “that I thought so, but when I saw Mr. NosAVorthy’s letter I found he Avas not to be paired on the third reading. In any case, Mr. Rhodes, Avho Avas away, Avas not a bare majority man.” The Prime Minister declined to deal Avith any other aspects of the statement, declaring that he Avas prepared to leave it at that. MR. NOSWORTHY’S LETTER. The letter sent by the Hon. W. NosAVortliy to the Prime Minister was in the folloAving terms:— ' Auckland, July 30, 1928. Dear Mr. Coates, — When the Licensing Bill comes before the House this session I should be greatly obliged if you could arrange for another Minister or someone else to pair Avith me should there be a vote on any of the three main issues. I should like my vote recorded in favour of: 1. Decision by bare majority. 2. Polls every three years as at present. 3. Elimination of the State Control issue. If arrangements can be made for this to be done I shall regard it as a personal fa Amur. With kind regards. Yours sincerely.—(Signed) W. NosAvorthy.