THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1913. THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 6 May 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1913. THE LICENSING QUESTION.

The Prime Minister is being pressed by the No-license Party "to bring down legislation in the coming session to enable the national and local licensing issues to be decided b v a bare majority. Other minor alterations in the law are also demanded. Mr Massey, unlike his predecessors m office, does not pander to sectional interests. He told an Auckland deputation candidly, that there was very -important business to be transacted in the coming session, and he did not think there would be time to deal with the licensing question. One agitated member of the deputation sought to influence the Prime Minister with a threat; but Mr Massey refused to be coerced or brow-beaten. He stated that, if a Licensing Bill wore brought down by the present Government, it would be a non-party measure, and members would be freeto vote uporo it as they thought fit. He farther informed the deputation that the views of the present Parliament had already been ascertained, and there was a majority of ten against the proposal to reduce the No-lioense majority from three-fifth* to 56 per cent. In view of this fact, it would be sheer waste of time to introduce a measure providing for the bare majority. From a democratic point of view, this majority may be regarded aa just. There are a great many ardent reformers, however, and a host of moderate-thinkers, who hold to the opinion that if there is to be any permanency or stability on this important social question,, a majority of at least three-fifths should I be nececssary to reverse as well as «axry '» poll. Th 8 No-license party

hay© made a tactical blunder in introducing, tho National Prohibition issue. Thin has made it morally impossible to carry local JN'o-license in those electorate* which havo hitherto docidod for continuance. The whole of the onergi-s of tho party will require to lxs directed to tho National issue, if there is to bo any hope of its being canied. If local no-licen»o removed entirely from the ballot-paper, tho chances of success would bo greater. This, however, would involve temporary restoration in those districts which have carried no-license, it seems to us, after closely examining the whole question, that in graspins f'»r the sluulow the No-license party are likely to lose the substance. Tho fact that they are asking for a reduction in the majority is clear evidence that they do not expect to increase their adherents in the same ratio as in years that artpast. So far as the present Parliament is concerned, there would appear to be no hope of the bare majority being conceded, and it is useless for deputations to threaten Ministers or private members, most of whom have already recorded their votes according to the pledges made to their constituents. Tho demand that hotels should be closed on the weekly half-holiday seems to us to be reasonable. This reform could possibly be brought about by an amendment to . the Shops and Offices Act. If it cannot he done in this way, wo should prefer to see the matter stand over until tho licensing question comes again, under Parliamentary review, which will not be for a year or two ; to come. The No-license party, hav- ': ing set itself the task of securing National Prohibition am the basis of a three-fifths majority, should not relent so early in tho day. Nor it weaken its position by making impossible requests to Ministers of the . Crown.