The Licensing Bill.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 215, 15 September 1904, Page 4

The Licensing Bill.

CHIPS FROM THE DEBATE. "O n e of the most important cities in the South Island," was the Premier's playful allusion to Nelson, wluch was about to hold a public meeting In support of State control on the liquor question. Referring to State control, Mr Massey murmured plaintively ; "Think of a department of licensed houses under the control of the Premier ! What a picnic the Government supporters would have at the next election ! Where would the Opposition supporters come from f' The Premier (in regard to clause 9) : "I take it that a person votitigi No-license will vote No-li'quor."— Mr James Allen : ''No, no."—The Premier : "Then it amounts to this : the prohibitionists say 'Do as we tell - you, but don't do as we do.' " It was claimed that the Premier was the first to introduce bringing the sale of liquors under the authority of State officers. Reply was made hat Mr Taylor, in his bill of 1899, proposed the same thing. Mr Taylor's proposal was national option. Mr Mas~ey compares the Licensing Bill to a Saturday newspaper supplement, in that contains a little of something for everybody. I "If the House will pass clauses 10 and 11 (says Mr Feddon,)' a blow will for the first time in our legislation be struck at sly grog-selling in no-license districts and at the evils which lead to an increase of the prison records.''

"The Bill in no way infringes the rights of the people, R\ut we have in several respects extended their rights and privileges."—The Premier.

"I am getting tired of thtfa hybrid 'Wnd of referendum—of referring tjuestions to the people at the instanc« of the Government—in order to get rid of knotty questions."—Mr Bedford.

"The Reduction vote should be eliminated from the ballot paper as being a duplication of the No-license vote."—Mr Scddon on the proposal to have a straight-out vote, license or no-license.

Mr Sedidon says that to attempt to please the extreme Prohibition party would mean wasted energy. They have said : "We want no, licensing legislation except regulation of elections." The "trade" was equally extreme, and its demands could not be conceded.

The only section of the community who have agitated for clause 9 (according to Mr Bedford) are the brewers and the publicans. "There are persons who from personal and political motives do not wish any licensing legislation on the Statute Bo o k. Strife and turmoil, and not temperance, is their aim."— The Premier. ,

"Some of the clauses in thß Liquor Bill now before the House were subscribed to by the New Zealand Alliance last session, and are now objected to by that body. Such is their desire to have any licensing legislation passed."—Mr Seddon. The Premier was claiming that the Prohibitionists gave him the idea of the elimination of the Reduction vote, when Mr Taylor interjected : "What nonsense ; it came to you from your friends."—The Premier : The No-licetec people are my friends. —Mr Taylor (sneeringly) : They would bo glad to see the back of you if it cost £2500 a year. The senior member for Christchurch referred to the proposed salary (or the High Commissioner.

The Premier jokingly olbJ;erved that he felt optimistic in regard to the Bill. He Imagined himself speaking, to the third reading and being complimented on Its passage.—"' What about the Legislative Council '!" asked Mr Ell, and the Premier replied that there was no ground for the bogey held up that the Council would materially amend the Bill in the interests of ''the trade." If it were largely altered he would stand by the representatives of the people, as he had done in the past." "The ultimate goal of the No-li-cense party in the House—l care not how much they attempt to disguise itr-is Prohibition."—The Premier.

Mr James Allen has given notice of a series of amendments to the Bill providing for fresh licensing polls in Bruce and Newtown. The Premier claimed that the igreat bulk of the voters were the "moderates."—Mr Ell inclined where WaS their organisation. The Premier : "They have tho organisation of common sense. The desire' to do right requires no organisation."