Clubs and the Licensing Law.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7918, 26 September 1904, Page 6

Clubs and the Licensing Law.

(Ha-wke'u Bay Herald Correspondent).

WELLINGTON,, September 23. It must have been .with a feeling akin to consternation that a considerable number of New Zealanders : who are members of clubs learnt from -their morning newspapers that the House of Representatives had agreed to the clause in the Licensing Bill bringing all club 3 tinder the provisions of ' the Licensing Acts. The voting on the question came as a surprise to moßt people. ' . , The following is the division list :— .For the clause i'Ayes, 48— E ." .<£. Allen (Chalmers); Arnold, Barber, Bedford, Bennet, Bollard, Buddo. Carroll, Colvin, Davey, Duncan, Ell, JPisher, Platman, Fowlda. Graham, Hall, HallJones, Hanan, HardiDg, Hardy, Hawkins; Heke, Hogg, Houston, Jennings, Kidd, Laurenson, Mander, McKenssie, MoLachlan, MoNab, Parata, Pere, Kerningcon, Rutherford, Seddon, Sidey, Smith Stoward, Symes, Taylor, J. 0. Thomson, Vile, Waid, Willis, Witty, Wood

Agamßfc the Clause,: Noes, 21—Alison, J. Allen, Baume, Buchanan, Diithie, Field, W. Fraser, Herdman, Lang, Lawry, Lathbcidge, Lewis, Major, Massey, T. Mackenzie, Beid, Bhodes, Russeli, J. W. Thomson, Wilford, Witheford. In Wellington city the question was a subject oi conversation, and there Wfl3 much adverse comment. I interviewed two of three-prominent members of the House ..with regard to the matter. ■ The first of these, who haa always been opposed to Prohibition, said he realised fully now what had gradually been dawning upon, him, that those he had to fight were not co much the Prohibitionists as the trade, who apparently were dst; named to omit no opportunity of outraging public opinion and creating opposition to their own interests. Asked what the clause would really mean^ to the clubs, another, equally prominent member of Parliament, who has hitherto been a supporter of the trade, said that one of its effects would be to mate it unlawful for club members to play at penny whist, bridge, cribbage, snooker, pyramids, or pool, for even infinitesimal stakes within the four walls of their own clubs. Neither would members be able to obtain a drink in their own clubs after the •usual closing hours of the public-houses in their.districts A clause providing that club charters should, share the same fate as public-house licenses m cases were No-license was carried would said this authority, have been agreed to by this House with scarcely a dissentient voice';--The pasition has been neatly summed up by another member, who said that a clause such,as this would have " married the clubs to the pubs," whereas the clause passed by the House had absolutely divorced them. In answer to a qu«stion as-to what would be the effect of the passing of the clause,, a member of the Lower House said that while clubmen would have cheerfully submitted to a Sunday clause the clause passed would undoubtedly have the effect.oE. converting the vast majority. of them into No-license voters. If the clause were calculated to do the hotels any good, it. would have been different, but it was really the outcome of spiteful jealousy. There were, he added, upwards of 20,000 members of clubs in the colony, and of these the large majority would now vote. Holicense, because their clubs had to all intents and purposes been destroyed by the vote of the House last night. "la appears,' added my informant, " utterly useless to make any efforc to assist those who -deliberately bring about Buch resulis as' these. Meantime the Prohibitionist members of the House are chuckling at the result of wnao they deem their skilful generalship in using the liquor members to obtain the end they had in view. The moderates," on the other hand, do not see any great generalship m tho matter, and urge that the clause was < only passed because of the inane stupidity of the opponents of Prohibition." ...;._-.

Some members are very severe on Mr Kidd, who, after a long period of corcparfttive silence as. a representative of thß people,.last night suddenly biossomed out as an orator on limiting the rights of clubmen.