LICENSING BILL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19156, 12 November 1927, Page 18

LICENSING BILL.

NOT ACCEPTABLE TO TRADE. :an official statement. [THE PRESS Special Service.] "WELLINGTON, November 11. The licensed trade is unable to give the Licensing Rill ite support according to an official statement issued tonight following a conference held in Wellington by representatives of all sections of the trade. The statement eays: ''While a large majority of the people of the Dominion may consider that the Prime Minister is to be commended for his courage and optimism in placing before Parliament a Bill prepared on lines which he feels are in the public interest, although contrary to the views expressed by he licensed trade, the License Reform Association and the Prohibition Party, but so far as the lk-e.ised trade is concorned it has decided that it is unable to give its support to the Bill. The substitution of a two issues ballot paper for the present three issues ballot paper is, in the opinion of the licensed trade, a retrograde step, being a reversion to the ballot paper provided for in the Licensing Amendment Act. 1914. which was superseded in 1918 by the three issues ballot paper now in force, that two issues ballot paper was then conceded by all partis to be an unfair one for the purpose of enabling a proper expression To be given by the electors on the licensing question, hence the three issues ballot paper now in force being nerced upon and substituted. The licensed trade lias always consistently supported this ballot paper as one under which all electors can conscientiously record their views, and has frequently pointed out that under this ballot paper the Prohibitionists are flble to carry the abolition of liquor if ihey can secure a majority of one vote ever the combined votes on the other two issues which are unquestionably cast, for liquor retention. The licensed trade can sec no reason ivliy some thousands of voters should be compelled, through the substitution of a two issues ballot paper for the present three issues ballot paper either to abstain from voting on the licensing question or to record their votes for an issue contrary to their conscientious views on the subject. As the same two issues ballot paper now proposed in the Bill is similar in all respects to the two issues ballot paper jettisoned by Parliament in 1918 as one not truly providing for the position and found to j be ineffective, the action of the Prime Minister in proposing to re-enact the same appears to the Trade to be an. attempt on his part to pander to the everchanging demands of the Prohibition Party for experimental opportunities to be afforded them by law to achieve their objective, namely, the abolition of liquor, which haß Been consistently voted against by the electors for so many 1 years. Tenure. As regards tenure, the licensed trade views with alarm the powers which the Prime Minister has given to Licer * ig Committees to compel the expenditure •f a vast amount of money in alterations to and improvements of hotel buildings as a compensation to the public for the small concession, of tenure, namely, six years, which he proposes to give under the Bill. To justify any such powers being given to such authorities the Trade feels that the tenure should not have been less than- nine years, and they think that the Prime Minister has dealt with owners of hotel'properties in a most drastic manner by imposing such heavy responsibilities for such an inadequate increase ©f tenure. No-License Areas. It will be apparent that the above comprise two of the main principles of the Bill, but there arc other main features in the Bill to which the licensed trade takes strong exception One of these is that respecting the inclusion by the Representation Commissioner of licensed premises within the boundaries of no-license districts. It appears to the Trade that grave injustice is likely to be inflicted on licensed owners if the clause as drawn is retained in the Bill. Another of these is that the rights of the electors in noliccnse districts which they now have of recording votes in favour of restoration of licenses appear to have been taken from them. This may .be an oversight on the part of the law draughtsman and the licensed trade feels that although provided for in the Bill as now drawn, it was never the intention of the Prime Minister to deprive the electors of no-license districts of any voting privileges which they have hitherto enjoyed. Pledges. While it may be conceded that the Bill includes reforms which possess merits in the interests of tho administration of the licensing law, it deplores the fact that the practico resorted to by the Prohibition Party of extracting pledges from members of Parliament on the licensing question is likely to prevent the free expression of the true opinion of those members on essential administrative reforms, and so jeopardise tho passage of any Licensing Bill through Parliament. ATTITUDE OF ALLIANCE. (trzbs association telsgbam.) WELLINGTON, November 11. The New Zealand Alliance issues the following statement: "As it has been suggested in some quarters that tho Alliance is not desirous of tho Licensing Bill now before Parliament being allowed to proceed, because it contains some provisions to which the Alliance is definitely opposed, we desire to make its position quite clear. "The Alliance has repeatedly asked the Prime Minister to bring down the Licensing Bill and give it a fair run. The Prime .Minister has given us tho assurance that Parliament will have every opportunity of reaching finality on the matter of licensing legislation this spssion. "This"statement, we consider, is entirely satisfactory. While the Alliance is definitely opposed to some of the mam provisions of the Bill, particularly the extension of tho time between I the polls, and the 55 per cent, major- ■ ity, w© are of the opinion that tho ■, members of Parliament should.be given j tho opportunity of deciding -these ; momentous issues in. accord with the | pledges faven to their constituents at | last election. I "It has been stated that an attempt ' will be made to kill the Bill in its second reading. If such an attempt is made, the people of the Dominion will understand that such a move is dictated by the liquor interests, and not by those who are desirous of securing a two-issue ballot paper, on the basis of a bare majority, and who are opposed to the extension of the time between licensing polls.''