HOTEL HOURS.
SIX O'CLOCK CARRIED. BY 44 TO 23. PREMIER;. ACCEPTS AMENDMENT.
By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night, The House went into committee on the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill. ; MW Payne raised; a point of order thai as tlio Bill would result in Jobs' ol revenue, and consequently increased tax* ( ation must.be imposed, the 'Bill should have been introduced by Governor's nies-; sage. ■ ;
The Speaker ruled that it was by no; moans clear what the result of the Bill would be. so its method of introduction was in order.
Mr. Anderson moved in clause 2 to strike out the word "eight" with a view to inserting '■' six."
The amendment was, carried by 41 to 2«.
Mr. Massey said that when ho moved the second reading he, promised the House that no pressure would be brought to boar on members, and that on a division being taken every member would 1>? free to vote as ho pleased. Tho result had been that the principal provision of the Bill had .been struck out. He accepted the .position on behalf' of the Government, and lie now moved to insert ''six" o'clock. (Cheers.) Continuing, he said ho hoped the result would" set at rest the uneasiness which had existed for some time on this question. He had previously expressed the opinion that this question would have to be dealt with in some manner that would be final, and his opiniofc was that this step would have to go somewhat in the direction suggested by ~ the Efficiency Board. Either there must be continuance or total prohibition on the basis of compensation. He was not prepared to go into details as yet, because the position had not been considered by Cabinet, but lie hoped to make a statement in the course,,of a very few days. Sir Joseph Ward said that as the House was evidently determined • to make a drastic alteration in hotel hours, he desired, as Minister of Finance, to make it clear that the position must be seriously considered by the country, and the liquor traffic put upon some more permanent basis one way or the other. It was impossible for any man to carry on the finances of the country unless he could depend upon his sources of revenue. It was no use members striking nut sources of revenue and airily tolling him he could get revenue in this way or that way. lie had, to know where ho was, and he. therefore,, agreed with the Premier that the liquor traffic should bo dealt with on the lines suggested by the Efficiency Board, and that within six months, or at. least before tho war was over. He personally favored that course, but the position must be dealt with one way or tho other.
Mr. Webb said he had not heard any reason why the hours should bo reduced at all. He therefore proposed to vote j against the Premier's proposal to insert six o'clock in the Bill. t Mr. Pcarce declared that tho Minister of Finance was unnecessarily sensitive about the loss of revenue. He did not think six o'clock closing would result in an}' serious loss, nor did he think the present position warranted any extreme action in the direction of total prohibition.
Mr. Payne contended that the only proper course for the Government to pursue was to institute State control.
Mr.'Massey's proposal to insert sis o'clock in the Bill was then put, and a division called for. the amendment being carried by 44 to 20. Mr. Wilkinson moved an, amendment to clause 3, the effect of which was that tho hours of closing as fixed in the'Bill should stand until altered by the people at the poll.
Mi'. Massey said he could not accept, the amendment. This wa s a war measure, and it looked "like "rubbing it in" try to get an extension of tirao in ; this way. Like all other war measures it should end with tho war. Speaking as a country member, he was of opinion that, if the Bill passed it would bo illegal to be on licensed premises after six o'clock, and, if so, it might create a hardship. It might, therefore, be necessary to amend it after some experience "of it. Ho said that Mr. Wilkinson and his friends had had _a good win and ought to bo satisfied "with the progress made. He therefore suggested the withdrawal of the. amendment, to which Mr. Wilkinson agreed. Mr. Witty moved a new clause having for its purpose tho repeal of the antishouting .provision in the War' Regulations Amendment Act, 1910.
Messrs iPcarcc, Hornsby, Webb, Voitch, Glover, Payne, and Parata spoke in favor.of the amendment while Mr. Jsitt, Mr. Hudson, Sir James Allen, Messrs Hunter and Dickey spoko against it. A division was called, the amendment being lost by 47 to 21. DIVISION LIST ON SIX O'CLOCK.
The' following is the division list on the amendment that six o'clock 'be inserted in the Bill:
,Ayos (44): Sir James Allen, Messrs Anderson, Anstey, Buddo, Craigie; Dickson, J. M. Dickson,. J, S. Ell, Field, T. A. H. Field, W. il, Fraser, Guthrie, Hanani j Harris, Hmdmarsh, Hornsby, Hunter, Isitt, Lee, McComfos, Mander, Massey, Myers, Newman, Dr. A. K. Newman, E. Noswortliy, Qkey, Parr, Pearce, Poland, Poole. Rhodes, R. H. Rhodes, G, W, KusI sell, Sidey, Smith, G. H. Sykes, Talbot, Thomson, Veiteh, Walker, Wilkinson, Wright, and Young. Noes (36): Messrs Bollard, Brown, Buiek, Sir James Carroll, Messrs Colvin, Dickie, Fletcher, Forbes, Glover, Henare, Herdman, Herries, Hudson, McCallum, Parata, Payne, Pomare, Reed, Scott, K. W. Smith, Statham, Thacker, Ward, Webb, Witty. Pairs.—Ayes: Sir J. Findlay, Noes: Mr. Jennings. DIVISION LIST ON ANTI-SHOUTING. The following is the division list on Mr. Witty's amendment to repeal the anti-shouting clause:— For the amendment (21): ,Mr. Brown, Mr. Bui:k, Sir James Carroll, Messrs Colvin, rioksoii, J. S. Fletcher, Forbes, Glover, Hcuiman, Herries, Hornsby, McCallum, Mae'Donald, Parata, Payne, Pearce, Thacker, Veitch, Sir Joseph jWard, Messrs Webb and Witty.
Against the amendment ('47j: Sir' J. Allen, Messrs Anderson, Anstey, Bollard, Biiddo, Craigie, Dickie, ©ickson, J, M. Ell, Field, T. A 11. Field, W. It. Guthrie, Harris, Henare, Hindmarsh, Hudson, Hunter, Isitt, Lee, McConihs, Mander, Ma.ssw, Miers, Newjnaj.A. K. New-
man, E, Noswortty, Okey £ Parr, Pehpi l Pomare, Poole, Reed, Rhodei, K T j| - Rhodes, T. W, Russell, Scott gM*L ' l g. h. smith, e. w, sum, mwm Sykes, Talbot, Thomson, 'W»U;# Jjßr" kiason, Wright, and Ypune. JIEADJUSTMENT OF fiENTS AMD ' (RATES, ■ Mr. Massey moved a lengthy clause providing for a readjusting rents, etc., of licensed promises ha le* twoen landlords and tenants. « K In the disoussion sterol otit jected to the Licensing Committee ftqjngconstituted a tribun* 1 } f«r thia punpoijej : : Mr, Massey expressed 'his wUliognM? to substitute «, magistrate and, assessors in the. place, of' the iicanslng Committee, He would, ftsk the Revision. Committee at tie, iogfelftttre* Gowncil to look carefully into tsaijUß*v ;.tion, and, if necessary, suggest IjWs i casos should <b,e d})ajt wHk >/j' * 1 The clause w to. n ■: Mr. Massey moved another new vla,xfae; ' s providing that in m»% where the' renijr ;was ieduced by the tribunal, the o<jcu> pier may obtaija a refund of rates paid' to local bodies'; This was agreed to. * At the request of Mr.\ Hornsfby, th© '' Premier promised to consider tie introduction of a clause to restrict tfce.vperi atious of sly grog se]Spr>. THE BILJi P4SSE3?, . ' The Bill was reported, with' anteudments. Tito amendments were agreed to, and the Sill was re'ad a and passed without debate, The House rose at'&GO pop., "•"""
DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS.
MEMBERS GET TO QSIPS IMMED&i i - ately;
KEFEREuXiDiUai ON UQUOR-TfIAEEHJ.
.WITHIN SIX MONTHS,
By Wire.—Our Parliamentary Rejiortay
Wellington, lent Night . The sis o'clock closing movement reached its climax with almost dramalfo suddenness. The committee stage of tP Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill had beam made the first order of the day, and toa House reached it shortly after 3 tun; Members had made np their mimta *p» parently that they would come to gcffl I ftt once. There wae no cUMUwfeaqni the title clause, arid within a, few moment.? Mr. Anderson (M&tanjfE) bad moved liis amendment to stri&e out <ajgh* ■ o'clock. No member rose.tothe inevitable call being made for a division, the Ml began to tiakls, %«, keen excitement that showed- itsjelf wasi evidence that even then the issue w»a not assured, though the sis o'olock. were'evidently in good spirits. J There was a tense pause whije the chairman examined the lists, and pon* ' ferred with tho tellers over ths that Mr. \Yobb (Grey) had voted bgtfi ways. When Mr. Webb had explaujedl that ho had meant to vote for th* amendment with the object <?f MteUdW the existing hours, the chairman (ny. flounced that eight o f fil<xtlc had beenS struck out by 29 votes to 41. Then Mr. Massey sufprjsod tho House." 1 - '1 promised that no influence would be- - Used by the Government in connection;. with the voting on this Bill," he said. '•That promise has been kept. The vote' lias gone against the proposal in th» Bill. I accept that proposal on behalf" P.f the Government, and will endeavor to give effect to it. I propose now to &»• • sert six."
The announcement was greeted with applause.
Mr. Massey proceeded to say that the Bill -would allay the unrest that had troubled tho House and country during the last fovv weeks, but he would say again that something must be dona to end the continual agitation on the liquor question. He believed it would be necessary to submit) the liquor question to',: the people, on the lines suggested by tha. Efficiency Board. He would suggest, ' without giving a definite opinion, that ' the bare majority should decide. Cabi-". net would consider the matter, tad if his colleagues agreed with him, a refayeadnra • would he taken in the iiofc distant future.' Sir Joseph Ward followed wtta ■am . equally emphatic speech. He said\sMja» hers had decided to make a very im«' portaut change in the licensing law. lie believed that the reiereudum mqsfc bf» taken within bis months, it wa? ifn., perative that the people should gW»' a definite decision on the "tesw-of prohibi-'. tion or lionjprohibitibii, but it. was no • use when the country was in a hysterical *. • condition, as it was at tha .present time. •" running away with the idea that the*' money the Treasury was going to los»>„ through reliction of the liquor traffic J,, could be made up in any general way."Tho Minister for Finance, irhoqvor hj», / might 'be, would certainly have to get'' authority for the collection of reVehu*" ■ to make up the loss of customs duty,* , Ho was. in'completo accord With, the ««<' ' commendations tf the Efficiency Board/*- ; Tho people should assume responsibilityfor the change to be made. "Vy 'Tho House, which appeared a trifle'', breathless after these sudden develop*'' ' lhents, did' Dot wish to talk, and went'? to a division on Mr. Massey's motion i ' for six o'clock, which was carried, b*"* 44 votes, to :>O, Several members", inv ' eluding Mr. Okey and Mr. Wilford, h&J' ", not expected U division until the ev*a,»'i.' ing and were out of tho House. > - The remainder of the afternoon's ?r(ps\ ccedings was relatively tame. Mr. MaA.'t ' sey refused to accept Mr. Wilkinson'**-' amendment that the $iU should extendi until next iiconaing poll, when the hours'",' question should he submitted to %ifV' people. He mentioned it might be neees* J • jsary to amend'tho law in the interests's -j of travellers, drovers, and others, yb.o"\£ would be unable under the early closing V. , to get meals at country hotels after ax,': o'olock. - Mr. Witty moved to repeal anti-*;-shouting now, but this amendment wasf , rejected emphatically. ■ ' "i> Then the House-turned to the con-f, sidcration of a new clause introduced!'' by Mr. Massey, providing for the adjust-J *] ment of rents and tenancies of licensed'; .'' premises where trade was seriously af-tj. , footed by the early closing rule. " t , SATISFACTION EXPRESSED. "' '- Dnnedin, Last Night, i A meeting held under the auspices c*,. the Temperance Reform Council passerf-v" a resolution expressing satisfaction thai", the Premier had moved the insertion ol'i* six o'clock as the closing hour of hotels after eight o'clock had been struck o\S of the Licensing Bill, and thanking mem< «. ■bars who voted in support of the de< mand f electrs, and demanding that \ I Government proceed with ft bill without, dolay, and that it bring in a separate bill to embody any proposal of the d4v* "> ernment to give ell'oet to the recomnwu. "' vlstions o| the Efficiency Board, * >'' /
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Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1917, Page 5
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2,082HOTEL HOURS. Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1917, Page 5
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