SALE OF LIQUOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9794, 18 October 1917, Page 6

SALE OF LIQUOR

THE RESTRICTION BILL COUNCIL AMENDMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE HOUSE. In the House of Representatives last night the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) moved that tho Legislative Council’s amendments to the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill should be agreed to by the House, with the exception of clause la, incorporating in the bill the interpretation section of tho Licensing Act, ISCS: clause 3a, containing provisions for the reduction of rent and for the adjustment of other charges between the lessor and tho lessee of licensed premises by reason of tbo reduction of the hours of solo of intoxicating liquor; clause 3b, requiring the licensee to furnish to the lessor an inventory of the stock-in-trade as on December Ist, 1917; clause 4a, providing that the licensee may, without prejudice to his right to obtain a renewal of bis license, close the licensed premises during' tbo continuance of the Act; clause 4b, restricting the sale and delivery of liquor by the holder of a wholesale license; clause 4c. making a consequential alteration of the Jaw as to chartered clubs; clause Id, making provision as to persons found on licensed promises during hours when, by this Act, those premises are required to bo closed ; and clause 4e, defining licensed premises, etc. Mr Massey said that there was nothing wrong with tho principle of clause la, but he was informed try his legal advisers that it did not give effect to what .was intended by tho Legislative Council, since the clause referred only to tho Licensing Act of 3903, whereas it was necessary that amendments made sinco that date should be included. With regard to clause 3a, there had been a very strong feeling in the House against the licensing committee being the arbitrators. The Legislative Council had made an amendment, and he thoughtthat they,were right. At all events, ho agreed with tho main principle, though not with the whole of tho machinery clauses. Each side would be allowed to appoint an arbitrator and. an umpire also would bo appointed. Tho clause was all right, so far as it went, and it was a very simple provision; but several machinery changes, he wlas informed, would bo necessary. He, therefore, proposed to disagree with the clause in order to get those amendments inserted at tho conference between. the two Houses. He disagreed with clause 4a. Clause 4b, he was informed, required to be redrafted to give effect to what was evidently intended by both Houses, and to avoid a certain amount of hardship to the .people concerned.' Mr L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North): "What alteration do you intend!'" , Mr Massey; "That will be for the conference to decide. The difficulty is that wholesale houses and brewers are in tho habit, and find it necessary as a matter of fact, to deliver beer and spirits to steamers and trains before 9 o’clock.” Mr Isitt: “We make no objection to that. It is fair.” ' Mr Wilford; "But the clause has to (be objected to in order to get the necessary alteration." CLUBS, HOTELS, AND BELLAMY’S ALL INCLUDED. There was, added Mr Massey, some difficulty with regal'd to clause 40, because that was really tho clause which differentiated between clubs and hotels; and now- they proposed to put them both on tho same footing. Mr Isitt; “You promised us that.” Mr A. E. Glover (Auckland Central): "Every club?” Mr Massey: "Every chartered club. It does not apply to clubs without a charter.” Mr J. Vigor Brown (Napier): “Will you explain what it means?" Mr Massey said that tho intention, was to make tho clause apply to the consumption as well as to the supply of liquor in. both clubs and hotels! (The clause provides that in oases against clubs where the license of a hotel would bo endorsed for the supplying of liquor during prohibited bout's, the charter of tho club should be revoked.) Mr Isitt: “Does that affect Bellamy's as well ?” Mr Massey: “The provisions in the bill will apply to Bellamy’s. If it does not apply, it trill he necessary to amend the Act next session. (Hear, hear.) Whatever applied to hotels and clubs would apply to Bellamy's." (Hear, hear.) Mr Vigor Brown : "Will clubs have tbs right to sell and deliver the same as hotels? They pay Jed a year and tho hotels £20.” Mr Massey said that he had not considered tho point, but now that the hon. member had mentioned it he would have it looked into. There would be a new clause to give effect to what had been mentioned. Clause 40, ho added, was one of the most important of the amendments made. Sub-section 3 of .the clause meant that though a lodger in an hotel or club could take liquor himself at a meal during prohibited hours ho could not invite guests to do so. Mr T. M. Wilford (nutt); "Tho only thing would be he would have to invite- teetotallers.” (Laughter.) Mr Massey sJfid that it would bo very inconvenient when, as had happened, he had to entertain visitors from other countries, if ho could not invito them to take liquor in .that way. In most hotels there was a restaurant side, and that had to bo provided for. lie asked tho House to disagree with tbo clause ao it stood, which would cause irritation and inconvenience. He had not intended to disagree with clause 4E, but his attention had been called to a difficulty about the definition of licensed premises, and it was just as well ,t° have it cleared up. It was not quite clear whether it referred to licensed refreshment rooms. If so, it wouldmako such a function as a "Yorkshire dinner" impossible: and, as he was now a Yorkshire man, blaring been given the freedom of the city, he felt for his fellow citizens. (Hear, hear and laughter.) He proposed to agree, ho stated, with tho Council’s amendment that the Act should come into operation on December lid: instead of November Ist. He was informed that it was not possible to complete all the necessary formalities and arrangements before November Ist. Members: "Make it July Ist.” Mr R. McCollum (Wairau): "Will yon take a division on that?" AN AMENDMENT MOVED. Mr T. M. Wilford said be agreed with the Prime Minister’s motion, with the exception of his agreement with the amendment of the Legislative Council that six o’clock closing -should come in on December Ist. He was a great believer in the scrap of paper. The people engaged in the liquor trade had been given a piece of paper which gave them until June Ist to carry on their trade. Ho wanted to say to his no-lieense

friends that they had had a h:g victory and now it appeared only a fair thing to extend the time till June. Mr L. 11. Isitt; "Ba! Ha!” Sir Wilford continued that if thorn had been an election this year and if no-liconsn had been carried the hotels would have been allowed to run on to tho end of June. Would the hnn. gentleman who laughed denv this? No, ho was silent. Tho hon. gentleman would not refrain from denying it if he cauld. (Laughter.) No-iicen?o me-niber* were not going to lose a shilling by six o’clock closing. Thev had never spent a shilling in an hotel and Jtad therefore no sacrifice to make. _ The course ho proposed was only a fair and a straight thing for the men who were going to be ruined by early closing;. Mir Wilford then moved an amendment in the direction outlined. Mr Massey said Mr Wilford must know ho was not in order in moving such an amendment. He must agree with the original motion or disagree. Mr Speaker upheld this contention. Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman asked if it was not possible to mpvq an amendment to Mr Massey's motion. Mr Speaker said members mustagree or disagree, with the original motion. yfr Wilford then moved, that the amendment of the Lyisiativu Council referred to be disagreed with. MB ISXTT PROTESTS, air Isitt said tho hon. member who hod just spoken had delivered an addreso on the collapse of the war. Mr Wilford: "Yon mean of Germany.” Mr Isitt continued that the reason why December had been proposed was to give the liquor trade another month and >o give them tho advantage of Cup week in Christchurch. (Laughter.) Now there was tho proposal to extend tho time till Juno. Tho most pessimistic person would say that tho war would end in a jear, so that it was proposed to fake away hair of vhe miserable portion they had given •tho prohibition-lets. APPEALS FOR FAIR PLAY. Mr P. C. Wobb (Grey) said tho amendment proposed was only in common justice to tha pfopio engaged in tho liquor trade. Mr Q. Witty (Kiecarton) appealed to Mr Massey for fair play. He should allow an opportunity for moving for an extension till June. ■ Mr Massey considered that tho members would not hear of tha amendment—they had .already made up their minds a:.d would not pass any amendment that 'would attempt to nullity the bill already passed. Mr A. E. Glover (Auckland Central) askod members to bo just. The prohibitionists bad the Trade down on tho ground and now they wanted to kick it. AN UNANSWERED QUESTION. Mr J. Payne (Grey Lynn) said that if tho hotels wero allowed to remain open until June next tho country, on estimates made tip, would make £1 75,1)00 -'■venue. This would pay proper allowances to Second Division men. Ho would ask tho prohibitionist members of tho House whether they were more concerned in. shutting.tho hotels than in granting proper pensions. Which was it to be? There was no reply from members. Mr Pavne added that it was plain tl at the allowances had been restricted on account of the depleted revenue which would result from carrying 6 o’clock closing. THE AMENDMENT LOST. Mr Wiiford’s amendment was then put to tho House and a division called tor. The voting was as follows: For the Amendment, 21. Bollard -MacDonald Brown Myers Buick Parata Carroll Payne Colvin Scott Fletcher Smith, E. W. Forbes . Statnam Glover Thacker Herdman Ward Hudson Webb Jennings Wilford McOalliun Witty Against Amendment, 50. Allen Mundor Anderson Massey Anstey Newman, Dr. Buddo Newman, E. Craigie Ngata Dickie Nos worthy Dickson, ,T. M. Okey Dickson, J. S. Parr Ell Pearce Field, T. A. H. Poland Field W. 11. Pomaro Findlay Poole Fraser Rhodes, R. H. Guthrie Rhodes, T. W. llanan Russel! Harris Sidey Henare Smith, G. E. Herries Sykes Hindraarsh Talbot Hornsby Thomson Hunter Veitch Isitlt Walker Lee Wilkinson McCombs Wright Malcolm Young It was then proposed that Mr Massey. Sir John Findlay, and Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Ugmont) be appointed managers to confer with the managers appointed by tho Legislative Council. Mr MoCallum: ‘‘A most unfair committee. It is not playing the game." Mr Wilford; “The Prime Minister has picked a committee, all of whom are six o’clock supporters. .1 ask really and truly whether this is playing the game? I know these are honourable and straight members, but is it fair?” Mr M-assey: 'Tf the hen. gentleman thinks it is not fair I will put another member on the committee. I have always noticed, however, that tho larger the committee the longer it takes to transact the business.” Mr J. Vigor Brown; “I suggest that Sir Joseph Ward be one of the managers.” Mr Massey: “I am quite willing. I had already suggested it to him.” Sir John Findlay: “I am not a prohibitionist, but 1 do affirm tho principle of six o'clock closing as a war measure. That is why I am hero—but it is suggested ” Members; “No, no.” Mr Wilford: ‘‘l would like (o assure the hon. gentleman that I made no reflections on him. During the sixteen years X have been here I might tell him that we have always tried to appoint to special committees men with divergent views.” Mr Witty: ‘T suggest Sir Joseph Ward.”

Mr Massey: ‘T am quit* prepared to do this.”

The list of managers was passed with tho addition of Sir Joseph Ward.