A Parliamentary Note-Book

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 204, 17 November 1927, Page 10

A Parliamentary Note-Book

Licensing Bill Out

(THE SUE’S Parliamentary Srpmt \\ ELLINGTON, Tm, The House of Representative ' until 4.25 this morning discosM 1 Prime Minister’s Licensing Bill* - suffered such mutilation in com-*-that Mr. Coates declared that ft impossible for him to proceed *** the measure. The House votes' * favour of a two-issue ballot paper ° a bare majority and against tension of the period between L?' Mr. Coates voted to report and the Bill is thus removed Order Paper. 31 *^ e

In the Legislative Council the Importation BUI was read a seeoA time, pro forma, and referred to tv Stock Committee. The Council proved of the amendments made , the Rural Intermediate Credit rc The Main Highways Amendment E- : was passed.

Hospitality “I have never been in a place whe-. the whisky bottle is poked under raZ nose more than it is in the districts of New Zealand.” said v." H. T. Armstrong, Christchurch East A Government Member: That their hospitality. Hfc *r School Hours As the Wellington Education Board has received several letters as to th legality of opening schools later - the morning the board decided to itform all committees that no depart ture from the by-laws will be allows* These permit the schools being open*at any time up to 9.30 a.m. Facing His Job In his attitude toward the licensor question, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates says that he is prepared to stand by what he has attempted in his amending Bill, and places himself in the hands of his constituents so far as his position in the House is concerned "My constituents will deal with me 11 good time,” he said in the House last evening, “and I am quite prepared to put up with the result whatever that might be. I have this job and none is the House can relieve me of it. I have tried to face it, and I hope members will realise that it is an effort to overcome what I think will always he a difficult problem.” 5E 33s ifc One of the “Wets” “Some members do not know when they stand on this Bill,” declared Mr. H. E. HoUand in the House when speaking on the Licensing BUI. "Why, the member for Taranaki has tried to' explain the Prime Minister's positio* and has fallen in the soup!” Mr. Wilford: “He’s one of the ‘wed! then.”

x as « Tanks in Action

In a little interlude in explanation of the ingredients of “shandy,” Mr. J, A. Lee confessed to the House of Representatives that he did not have u extensive knowledge of alcoholic fasts, his only experience of elbow-bendiig being when he chose it in France as an alternative to sleeping in a piystye. Mr. T. M. Wilford interjected: “Is that where you saw the. New Zealand tanks in action?" rK Warning to Visitors In their enthusiasm over the cowtentious question of licensing, some o( those interested have found themselves figuratively off side with the rules of Parliament through intercepting members as they passed from the lobbies into the Chamber. Mr. Speaker, Sir Charles Statham, when he heard of this, expressed surprise, and informed the House that strict instructions had been gnven the Sergeant-at-Arms and the orderly staff to see that those who had tickets for the floor of the House passed to and from the business lobby to the chamber and vice versa without remaining in or about the lobby. He promised Mr. V. H. Potter, member for Roskill, that he would inquire into the position, and see whether the strict instructions had been neglected. There were certain exceptions, he pointed out; for instance departmental heads, and distinguished visitors who were permitted to sit in the place of honour at the side of the Speaker’s chair were allowed a certain amount of latitude in the lobbies —always providing the business of members was not interfered with. In reply to the Speaker, Mr. Potter said members had been intercepted on their entry to and egress from the House yesterday. “And it might happen again to-day,” added Mr. Potter, with a significant glance at the distinguished visitors’ gallery, where the members of the Trade sat on one side and the stalwarts of the New Zealand Alliance on the other side.