The Licensing Bill.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 24, 21 September 1894, Page 2

The Licensing Bill.

Wellington, September 13. At five minutes past nine last night the Premier rose, amid cheers, to move the second reading of the Licensing Bill. “ The long-expected has arrived at last," he exclaimed at the beginning of his speech, at which Captain Russell murmured, “ Welcome, little Stranger.” “Yes,” replied the Premier, “they would find the little stranger well developed and strong.’ Mr E. M. Smith intervened to say that it would get more kicks than halfpence. After these pleasantries, the Premier went on to say that although it was impossible to please extremists of either side, he believed the Bill would give satisfaction to those who desired to see the liquor traffic brought under control. The first question to v be asked was whether there was any necessity for the introduction of the Bill. The Act of last session had proved defective in some respects, and the public had a right to demand that these defects should be remedied. The sooner we get this liquor question settled, continued the Premier, and out of the way, the better for members and the better for the country, for so long as it blocks the way the progress of all other business is trammelled. Passing to the Bill, the Premier declared that the Government wished to see the measure passed. “Seriously,” interjected Mr T. McKenzie ? “ Yes, seriously,” answered the Premier. Many members were pledged to reform, and if the Government did not give the members an opportunity of discussing the question, they might conclude that the Government were not desirous of dealing with the subject. Many people required a, simplification of the issues submitted to them, and the Government were prepared to meet this. A defect in the other Bill was that too many elections were void, because half had not voted, and this would be remedied. Another serious defect was that there was no provision made for national prohibition. The prohibitionists asserted that if a national vote was taken prohibition would be carried. The publicans also wanted a national vote taken, and this could now be done. If the House could see the correspondence from the trade, the moderates, the prohibitionists, and all concerned on this point, it would be most interesting reading. The Bill before the House met with the approval of the majority of the country, and he would be very much surprised if the amendments were not approved by the House without much discussion. The question of party would not be brought forward, and members could vote as they pleased. The issues to be submitted j wore very simble, being (1) reduction, (2) national prohibition, (3) local prohibition. Fault had been found with the questions, that they were not even yet simple enough, and if any further means of simplifying the questions coul 1 be found touching the principle, the Government would be glad to consider it in committee. It had also been urged that the selection of the day for the general election being made the day for the licensing election, would be mixing up politics with it, but for the next twenty years such questions would into general politics, and therefore it was the boldest policy to take, for what all wanted was to have the largest number of votes recorded, and that could be best done on election day. There was nothing to fear from this, and everything to be gained. Those who wished to have a special day set apart did not wish to have the voice of the people on the question. There was also the question of expense to be considered. By having it on election day economy would he practised, for it would not cost half as much by having it on that day. The election of committees was another important point* It might he fairly argued that as the committees now simply car- " ried out the instructions of the elections, and had no option, it was not necessary to have elective committees. With regard to the constitution at the Board, the Government did not hold any strong opinions. As constituted, it was thought that the committee was fairly representative, but some had suggested that the commit- * tee should he abolished altogether, and that the Stipendiary Magistrate should do all the work, though this did not altogether commend itself to the Cabinet. There were other amendments, though not of the same magnitude. The bottle licenses had been a scourge, and the sooner they were abolished the better, as also the power of two of the committees to grant conditional licenses. The question of New Zealand wine licenses was also dealt with. It was feared that in too many cases such shops sold wine in the front, but behind the counter were stronger liquors. It had been urged that the Government should have brought down one or two amending clauses, and not a consolidation Bill, but it would not take more time to pass a consolidation Bill, and the latter would be more satisfactory. He believed that a very proper amendwas that no new native licensing district could be made, and that the packet licenses should fce restricted, for it had come to the notice of the Government that many small steamers and boats near Auckland were little better than floating hotels. With regard to clubs, members would remember that the Government had made an honest attempt to get restriction, and he failed to one law should obtain for hotels arid another for clubs. If this difference existed, the licensing law was simply a sham. After dealing with the amendments the Premier went on to say that the Government had been twitted with being insincere on the licensing question, and no more grave accusation could have been made. They had _ fairly endeavoured to grapple with the question. After several members had spoken, the second reading was carried.