“REFORM PARTY’S TASK”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 206, 19 November 1927, Page 1

“REFORM PARTY’S TASK”

Holland On Licensing Bill DECISION RESTS WITH PRIME MINISTER

THAT decision as to the fate of the Licensing Bill is the task of the Reform Party is the opinion of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, who has issued a statement to the Press explaining the position to those persons and organisations who have deluged him with requests to have the bill re-introduced.

Press Association. WELLINGTON. To-day. Mr. H. E. Holland. Leader of the Opposition, lias handed the following statement to the Press: “As Leader of the Opposition. I am being inundated with telegrams and other messages urging me to bring pressure to bear upon the Prime Minister to proceed with the Licensing Bill. Some of the messages contain

the demand that the Bill he reintroduced, and all of the bodies, and individual correspondents, who protest against the Prime Minister’s action lose sight of a fact which should be obvious. “To those who insist that the Bill should be introduced I would point out that it is still on the Order Paper, and the Prime Minister can place it first on the .list whenever he wishes. I regret 1 have no influence with the Prime Minister in the matter of arranging the order of business, but I would point out that the members of the Government party are in altogether a different position. “The Reform Party includes a substantial majority of prohibitionists, and if these members are really sincere in desiring the Bill to come on again they should have no difficulty ih achieving their object. Everything depends on the extent to which they are prepared to exercise the power which they possess within their own party. j “If the Bill is not allowed to proceed 1 it will only be because the prohibi- I tionists in the ranks of the Reform ' Party do not desire it to proceed. DELAYING DECISION PRIME MINISTER’S ATTITUDE SHEAVES OF TELEGRAMS (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, To-day. Having invited both sides on the Licensing issue to form committees to see if a compromise can be effected on the majority question, the Prime Minister, the Rt. I Hon. J. G. Coates, can delay coming to a decision in the meantime. “Only one man can deal with the Bill,” he says. When the difficulties of the Prime Minister are taken into account there is little wonder that Mr. Coates is a

(little peeved at the sheaves of tele- , grams which continue to arrive front people outside Parliament, representing the opinions of those who do count land those who do not count on the licensing question. I “The people outside Parliament j seem to be disturbed.” he said in the [House of Representatives yesterday: “but I assure them there is no need to send me a lot of telegrams. 1 am perfectly seized of the position.” Mr. E. J. Howard: It helps the Post Office. Mr. Coates: Yes, but I do not want to take advantage of that. Mr. T. M. Wilford: They are circular telegrams. We all get them. Mr. Coates: I know; but it is liable to prejudice the minds of some men if they get too many things like this. Mr. W. D. Lysnar: It is only the propaganda of the no-licence people. Mr. Coates: Oh, is it? These are not only from one section. There is only one man who can decide what is to be done with the Bill. I.am seized of the position and have interpreted the feelings in the minds of members. The Prime Minister informed Mr. J. A. Lee that he had invited the two sides on the majority question to form their committees and meet, with the idea of effecting a compromise on this feature of the Bill. “I wanted to see how far I could go toward effecting a compromise, and I cannot decide this till I have thought it out.” he said. PROHIBITIONISTS TO HOLD DEMONSTRATION MEETING IN TOWN HALL Prohibition voters will hold a public demonstration in the Town Hall to-morrow to protest against the dropping of the Licensing Bill. Taking advantage of the fact that the Prime Minister himself will be in the city during the week-end, it is hoped by the Auckland area of the New Zealand Alliance, under whose auspices the meeting is to be held, to impress him with the feeling of the Prohibition movement against the delay of the measure. The recommittal of the Bill will be urged. The Hon. George Fowlds will occupy the chair at the meeting. Mr. W. R. Tuck, president of the Alliance, has been in Wellington during the time the Licensing Bill was being considered. He will give a resume of this year’s chapter of licensing legislation and make an important statement in the course of his speech. Mr. Robert Laidlaw and Mr. A. C. Sexton will also take the platform.