LICENSING AMENDMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 664, 15 November 1909, Page 8

LICENSING AMENDMENTS.

Sir,—Permit me through your columns to streuuonsly protest against the actions of representatives of the. Trade. ! Upon perusing the names as given they consist of browers only, not a . single wholesale, wine and spirit merchant having'been, consulted in the matter. I, have no doubt whatever but that the new terms would prove disastrous to the Trade.and to the Dominion in general.. The wholesale merchants were never . consulted in regard to these new measures, and it is evident common British' justice will never ensue. ' Taking into consideration the feeling which exists through the evasion of the tied house system there are thousands of votes'cast by moderate. drinkers for the express purpose of wiping out the publicans' licenses, as it is openly asserted that .being the only means of getting at the brewers. Then again, must be considered horrible error, the women's franchise, which has not only brought about great trouble in New ZeaLand, but: is causing such trouble in the Old Country at the present time, but, I am happy to say, too much common sense' prevails amongst the legislators there to ever entertain such drastic measures. With New Zealand at the next poll; the great number of girls and boys. coming of age, of which at least 80 per cent, will have their undeveloped minds prayed on: by agitators. •• I certainly consider the Trade proper .■ should hold a meeting, and meetings if .necessary, to protest against any alterations being enter-. tained this, session, so .as to enable ■; just measures to be introduced at the next meeting of Parliament.—l am, etc., _- • ' INTERESTED. . November 12, 1909. '.. .■ • ■

Sir,—Permit me a small space in your, valuable paper to enter my protest and express my disgust at the compact entered into by • the New Zealand Alliance and the : Liquor party. To my mind, a more diabolical and impudent intrusion on the rights.and liberties of the great body of No-License-voters it would be hard to equal.' Truly,., "the Trade" ; has engineered, with their usual cleverness, • and with the connivance of our so-called democratic Government, have laid a trap into which the poor, foolish representatives, of. the Alliance have blindly walked. I am not going to discuss the whole matter now. I.eimply want to enter my protest, and to add that from the very beginning of the prohibition movement I have been a consistent voter and worker for NoLicense) and should jthis, compact be given effect .to bv legislation,.l shall be a consistent voter for' Continuance. ' I shall never be a party to give the trade two' or five years_to carry' on their business in the event of NoLicense'being carried. I can. adduce the strongest of arguments against the improper compact, :and, with- your permission, may do so later on.—l am, etc., THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED. November 12,: 1509.. ... / ' :. ..-/.

Sir,—When the Licensing Act is being amended. provision should be -made, for a national vote on the subject of State control of tho liquor traffic: Afforded the opportunity, the great mass of the people would undoubtedly vote for.it, for the following'reasoris:—(l) Drunkenness would,' by the proper regulation and conduct of the traffic be reduced to a minimum; (2) we should obtain pure, wholesome liquors below' the' present monopoly price—beverages that. would do us infinitely more good than tea or germ-laden water;' (3) barmaids would be abolished; (4) sly grog-selling would become a lost art; _(5) a 6pfendid revenue; would be provided, enabling' tho Government to sweep away the unrighteous taxes on food, olotbing,: arid other necessaries, as well as the imposts on luxuries, all of which should certainly. not be taxed. .As the earners uroduce the luxuries', by their hard toil, these should; as: a' matter of justice, be brought within their'easy'reach. Those who support the taxation' of luxuries' ought to be flogged. In the past* thousands'of electors have voted for. No-license merely as a protest against the inferior liquors, brewed and sold, and the swindling charge made for them. Government should not lose this opportunity, of allowing the peoplfl an opportunity to vote for State control of the liquor traffic. It is only fair that the great army of moderate drinkers should be given such an opportunity.—l am,' etc., '•■'. ' R. D. November' 13.