LICENSING LAWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1921, Page 10

LICENSING LAWS.

NEED FOR AMENDMENT. COMMITTEE MAY INVESTIGATE. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Nov. IS. Last year the Prime Minister undertook to set up a committee of the House of Representatives during the present session for the consideration of the licensing laws. He said at the time that he realised the licensing laws required amendment and that the Government would have to undertake the task in the event o-f prohibition not being carried at the next licensing poll-

Mr. R. McCallum (Wairau) mentioned this matter in the House of Representatives to-day. He asked if the Prime Minister still intended to make a move towards the improvement, of the licensing legislation- The people of the Dominion were suffering an enormous amount of inconvenience at present owing to lack of accommodation for travellers in almost all parts of the country, and the remedy'seemed to depend upon an amendment of the licensing laws. The shortage was going from bad to worse. The Prime Minister said he had promised that a committee would be set up to consider licensing matters. He had not forgotten his promise and he intended to keep it. He was fully aware that there was plenty of room for improvement in the licensing laws of the Dominion. (Hear, Hear.) Members could have the committee this session if they desired it. There had been very little time to spare so far and the House had busy weeks ahead of it, but if members thought that a committee could do useful work he was prepared to iset it up. He did not think that . there would be any licensing legislation this session. The House had more business thaq it could possibly complete within a reasonable time without taking up a Licensing Bill this year. Mr. Lysnar (Gisborne) : Will you take it up next session? Mr. Massey: No, I want the committee set up. I promised to set up the committee during this session and I am prepared to keep my promise- I was pleased to read in an English paper the other day that “the Prime Minister of New Zealand never breaks his word.” Mr. Fraser (Wellington Central): Did the writer ever read . your election speeches ? (Laugh ter.) ' Mr. Massey: I am prepared to put the platform on which we went to the

country last election before the House and prove that every pledge 1 then made has been kept or is in process of being kept. The Prime Minister added that he would like the member for Wairau and the member for Gisborne and other members specially concerned to consult together. He would be glad to meet their wishes this session or next session. Mr. Witty (Riccarton): Will you make it a recess committee? Mr. Massey: No, I don’t like recess committees. in the afternoon Mr. L. MLitt (Christchurch North) had a question for the Prime Minister on the subject. He asked what would be the constitution of the proposed committee. Would it be a one-sided body. The Racing Commission had consisted, entirely of racing men, and when he had tried to represent the moral side of the gambling question to the commission he had been told that this was outside the order of reference. He hoped that the licensing committee would be evenly balanced. Mr. Massey: It will be my business to see that the committee, when set up, will be thoroughly representative of the House. Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) rose to protest against the suggestion that the Racing Commission had been one-sided. The Prime Minister said that he thought the members of the commission had the confidence of the' community. It would have been uselss to place upon the commission ifien who know nothing about racing. The commission had done its work thoroughly and made a good report. “I believe from what I have heard during the last few days that the ; House has not heard the last of the report of the Racing Commission,” add- : ed the Minister. “I am not saying that the Government will introduce any more racing legislation this session, because it will not. But I believe the report will be useful in other directions.” i