PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 14 September 1917, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

SALE OP LIQUOR RESTRICTION BELL. INTRODUCED YESTERDAY. EIGHT O'CLOCK NOT SIX MEMBERS GIVEN A FREE HAND. WELLINGTON, Sept. 12. In the House of Representatives this afternoon the Premier moved For leave to introduce the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill. Mr. Wright asked the Premier to give the House some information regarding the Bill. Mr. Isitt said if all he had heard -was true, it was evident that again the National Cabinet was not going to give effect to the prayer of the people to restrict the sale of liquor between the hours of G p.m. and 9 a.m. He hoped the Government would not once more fail to realise the aspirations of the people. If so, he could only compare the Cabinet to an unfaithful jockey pulling a -willing house, and consequently New Zealand was lagging behind other countries in the procession towards a reform which would bring this Dominio to the highest point of efficiency. Mr. Payne combated Mr. Isitt's arguments, contending that the liquor traffic did not injuriously affect the poorer classes, nor would it affect the commercial war which would follow the world-war. This country had done all that was expected of it with the liquor traffic and therefore there was no need to interfere with it. Dr. Thacker advocated State control as th e best means of removing objections to the liquor traffic. Mr. Harris declared that 80 per cent, of the people demanded 6 o'clock closing. He appealed to the Government to give members a free deal with the Bill as they thought fit. If 6 o 'clock closing were not agreed to, then the question should be referred to a referendum.

The Hon. Ngata did not agree with the argument that because the people in 1914 declared against national prohibition, there should not be an alteration in the law. This was not a Bill in favour of national prohibition, but merely the shortening of hours. He had never seen any good in drink, but he had seen a great deal of harm, and he could say that in reform work, amongst the Maoris drink was the great-

est handicap. Mr. Webb asked the Premier to say it in the event of the Bill being carried ho proposed to introduce a Bill adjusting the rents of hotels. Mr. Poole and Mr. McCoombs discussed the Bill from the Labour point of view, urging the curtailment of hours.

Mr. Massey said he did not propose to make a second reading speech, but merely to explain the provisions of the Bill. As to hours, they were reduced from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., and from 10 p.m. to 8 p,m„ or a reduction of five hours, Chartered clubs wer e placed on the same footing as licensed houses, and Bellamy's also would have to close during the same hours as the clubs. The Government did not propose to make the Bill a party question, but every member would have a free hand to vote as he pleased. There was no proposal in the Bill to take a referendum on the question of the reduction of hours. The Cabinet had not considered the question of adjusting the rents of hotels in the eVent of a reduction of hours being carried, but he would probably refer that matter to his colleagues befor e the Bill went into committee. There was no proposal to repeal the anti-shouting law; the Bill would come into force on the Ist of November. The debate on the second reading wo'iiia take place on Tuesday night. - 'ihc Bill was introduced and read a first time on the voices. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. The following answers were given to questions by Ministers:— That the Government were again considering the possibility of allowing Slavs to proceed to the front. That early last month representations were made to the Imperial authorities with the object of deflecting a steamer for the purpose of loading case oil for the Dominion. Negotiations had been proceeding, and the Government were hopeful that the necessary arrangements would be made. That the statement that the Union Steamship Company or other shipping '" companies gave first choice when engaging labour to unnaturaliscd Germans, has no foundation, nor i s there any reason for believing that gangers chosen are often Germans. and get higher wages than British subjects. Instructions were given some time ago that no unnaturalfsed enemy alien was to be employed on the wharves or about the shipping. That it was not considered necessary to set up a "board to investigate inventions bearing onfhe war. That a son of an Anglican Bishop -competed at the recent qualifying ex-

animations for commissions at Trentham. This candidate, alt-hough young, passed sixteenth in the examination. Six were selected, and amongst those he stood second in order of recommendation.

That the question of granting extra duty pay to members of the New-Zea-land Medical Service employed in New Zealand is under consideration. That increases cannot be provided for South African war pensioners and superannuated State employees. That the' difficulties of friendly societies regarding the making, good to their benefit fund s of contributions of soldier-members on active service, are appreciated by the Government, and will receive prompt consideration. The House rose at 7.30.

EFFICIENCY BOARD. SIR JOSEPH WARD TO BE A MEMBER. Mr Massey announced that he had consulted the Minister ,of Finance since the House rose, and he had agreed to go on the Efficiency Board with him (Mr Massey). There would thus be two Ministers and five members on tire new board, which he hoped, would do goon" work in that form. Some of tfie present members of the Board were retiring, but others would take their places. THE GENERAL ELECTION. NOT TO BE HELD THIS YEAR. BILL KILLED IN PARLIAMENT, WELLINGTON, Sept. 12. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, on a motion that the Parliamentary Election Postponement Amendment Bill, providing that a General Election be held this year instead of next be read a second time, the Premier raise a point of order that inasmuch as the Bill, if passed, would bring about a general election sooner than contemplated, it was an appropriation Bill and therefore it could not come before the House as a private member's Bill. ■-mtt Mr. Witty, who introduced the Bill complained that the Premier's objection was purely technical, and challenged him to let it go to a division. . The Speaker upheld Mr. Massey's objection and the Bill was ruled out.