THE LICENSING BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10135, 4 November 1910, Page 5

THE LICENSING BILL.

SECOND READING. EXPLANATION BY THE PREMIER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the House of Representatives ' this afternoon, Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill. Tho measure drafted last year had, he said, been set aside owing to the disagreement of the parties; but it furnished a useful guide for action. Unless the great parties in the House agreed to sink minor differences, and co-operated with a view to getting important licensing legislation carried, there would be little chance of the Bill being put through this session. The Bill represented what the Government • considered was best in the interests of the people. The, I chief innovation was a provision for a vote on national prohibition. Tt war, inevitable that this question must be submitted to the people sooner or later. Jf the State Mas not to assume control of the liquor traffic, the logical outcome of Nolicense was prohibition. Upon the broad principle of democratic Government, if the people desired national prohibition they should be given the opportunity of voting for it. The financial aspect i f the matter had to be borne in mind, in view of the possibility of prohibition being carried, and the consequent necessity for a re-adjustment -of taxation. Ho believed £BOO,OOO of revenue would be required to.be made up in four years in the event of prohibition being carried. He recognised there was much in the. Bill which sectional interests might object to, 'but unless the Bill was approached in a spirit of compromise, it would be hopeless to expect it to go through any session ol : Parliament. Some important amendments to the Bill would be necessary, and more would be demanded; but he hoped that members who considered there was much good in the measure would not lose the good for the sake of minor objections. The doing away with the half poll should commend itself generally. Continuing, Sir Joseph Ward said the broad principles of the Bill were provisions for voting for and against national prohibition, the abolition of , bottle licenses and barmaids, prohi- ( biting the sale of liquor to persons ! under 21, and the abolition of the half poll. He was prepared to consider whether the issues should he put more clearly*later on. He moved the second reading of the Bill. Mr Massey said he had listened carefully to the Premier's speech, in which very little had been said in favour of the Bill. Sir Joseph Ward had carefully avoided reference to some Of the more important provisions of the measure. The bringing down of the Bill at this late hour of the session must have come as a surprise to most people. He had come to the conclusion that the Bill was of a class the Government was very fond of—a Bill cunningly drafted, and (me about which it was difficult to express an opinion. The Government was anxious to make it appear that the Bill was in the interest of each party concerned. The great body of people outside these parties ought to be considered. The most important principle in licensing legislation was that the people had a right, by their votes, to control the liquor traffic irrespective of the interests of any one section. The great body of people, who might be called the "moderates," were not sufficiently considered in the Bill. The question of the majorities on the various issues was the principal one to be considered in committee. He recognised that the arguments in favour of a bare majority were increasing daily, as in every district where No-license was carried the, trade also demanded a bare majority, in the hope of securing restoration of the licenses. The most important clause in the Bill was clause 3, which provided that the vote for national prohibition would count for local prohibition, and vice versa. He did not think this clause would go beyond the committee stage. For himself, he preferred local option, and intended to abide by it. Many people of moderate opinion voted No-license, who would never vote for national prohibition. The Bill was a new departure, and the House ought not to bo asked to agree to it in view of the fact that a majority of the members were pledged to abide by the existing legislation. Sir Joseph Ward made a mistake in introducing the Licensing Bill this session. He chd not object to the second reading of the Bill, Avhieh contained some objectionable principles. The latter might be weeded out in committee.

Sir Joseph Ward, replying, claimed that lie had dealt with every proposal contained in the Bill. When the Bill was in the committee stage he would be prepared to amend it so as to allow the moderate party to cast its vote otherwise than for national prohibition. He would not ask any member to break his pledges on the liquor problem. There was nothing to gain by postponing licensing legislation. He was of opinion that State control would not become a live issue in the Dominion for many years to come. The Bill was read a second time on the voices, and set down for committee to-morrow.