THE DIRECT VETO.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4403, 10 August 1893, Page 3

THE DIRECT VETO.

Sir Robert Stout's Licensing Sill.

On the House of Representatives resuming at 7.80 last evening, Sir Robert Stout moved that the Hovwe should go into committee to consider the Licensing Aot Amendment Bill. Speaking of the attitude of the Go* verntoent on tbis qneation (says the Times) he pointed out that the Premier and the Minister of Lands had voicd for the second reading of bis Bill, It could hardly have been exacted that this would have been made \ Ministerial question; and no one vould have blamed the Government or allowing it to remain in the hands f a private member. But they hid iven notice or a bill which the Premier promised would be so far as to lease both parties. That was imossible. The question \tas too acconuatedforanyeuoh compromise. The osition was this: That if there was lot a modicum jf local control such s he proposed, there would bono bject in bringing in a Bill at all. If be Government were willing to take ip his Bill he would offer no objeoiiou. Ihey could make whatever atnendneniß they thought necessary, and hat would be lur better than having now Bill, Which would mean urther delay. He submitted to the iovernment that they should allow lis Bill to go through committee, nd it would then be re-committed o oonsidor any amendments which ho Government would propose. ]his question must be dealt with this ossion. The people should have the lower to decide this question, and hey had no power under the present aw, The Government must tako a ide on this matter if they were going o bring in a.bill, The Government ?ould have to decide this session fb.etb.er thoy would be ou tub sido f the temperance reformers or p the side of the liquor party, Hear, hear.) There wa3 no oiddje course to be followed, iop, members too must take sides on he question, Ho did not believe he rumours—circulated, he thought y some who were not members of the emperance party—that the Governaent wanted to shirk this question, f they did, they would find that that m an attitude which would not comiend itself to the people of the Jolcny, The Premier, who was not present (hen Sir Robert Stout spoke, said hat he (Mr Seddon) was consistent ut his action with regard to fl moaß ' ire. He h'ad said that he' believed eforni 'wasneceßßsryj and be saw no! easori to change his vievf nowi As ie had announced they would c'o, he Government had taken the second eading of Sir B, Btout'a Bjil as an ndipation |hat they, should bring lown legislation oh thin question., i he Government recognised that this' luestion must be deajt wjth this set ion, BjrKobert Stout hac) said, that t was impossible to please both iarties.. If he had said that it was mpossibloto please the extremists of

both parties, he would Lave beet quite tight,' Nor diii ho(MrSeddon" think it would be desirable or in the best interests of the country that they should. please either one extreme party or the other, because that meant extreme measures. Several members spoke on both sides of the question, after whioh Sir Robert Stout, in reply, submitted that it was not the duty of tho Ministry to take up this question, and injure lb/ party by so doing, The poly point hh wanted to carry in his Bill was the question, license or no license; and oo Amendment of the licensing law that did not give this question oould satisfy the country, If tho Government would now say that ihpy wero willing to allow the question to ho put to tho people, license or no lioiro ? be would withdraw his Bill. That was a fair offer. If that was not accepted, be did not wish to see his Bill shunted. Then it was said that there was an extreme party.- Was it an extreme measure to say, liceuse or no license? We were wasting two millions and a quarter a year in drink, and what was the return for it ? The return was degradation, poverty, vioo and crime. The Bill was committed on the voices. The Premier moved that progress should be reported. Thoso vim h:linved that the Government should deal with tlio question would vote for this motion. Sir K. Siout would not ugrco with tho moiun, but left the nmtw.in the hands of the Committee. Tfco motion to report progress was carried by 30 voi>-s to 28.