THE LICENSING BILL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 978, 19 November 1910, Page 10

THE LICENSING BILL.

WHO HAS GAINED? Sir-,—Tho new Land Bill makes very little 'difference as compared with tho present position, .but the Prohibition party have made more mistakes during the present session'than they will recover, from in the next ten years. Thoy have dropped No-Licenso and have gone in for Prohibition, according to Clause 20, which provides, in cffect, that anyone bringing into Now Zealand, say, a case of beer or a ease of whisky is liable to a fino of- £100 or three months' imprisonment.' That is the law which will apply in the event of National Prohibition being carried (no license, no liquor), and which 1 am sure no British community will put up with. : Tho Prohibitionists fell into tho trap, and the brewers are naturally delighted, in consequence of. this- provision. Itvis.very easy to predict what the result of the Prohibition vote will bo at the next election. - One would have : thought that tho good senso of members would havo prompted them to reject tho 1 clause, but no, all but a dozen or so swallowod it, and the influence of the trade will keep it thero. Tho attitude of some of tho most prominent No-License men in tho House was most extraordinary. - Imagine Mr. T. E. Taylor voting against the proposal to havo the leases of tied houses submitted to a magistrate to sco that, thoy -were fair and reasonable, or voting to givo tho present barmaids a monopoly for tho term of their natural lives. Yet this actually took place. Truly tho ways of the extremists aro nast,under7 standing. It was not to bo wondered at under tho circuuistancos that at tho last opportunity for speaking Messrs." Malcolm 'and Mander almost-wept over the_ foolishness of their No-Licenso associates. Tho Beductionissuo has gone, and National Prohibition, has. taken its place. The only rear gain to the Temperance people is raising .the, age of youths who .may bo supplied with liquor to twenty-ono years of age. This will bo.harassing to the publican, but will affect tho wholosale dealer very little, and it is tho latter -that counts. The amusing thing is that tho noisy Prohibitionists in the House are jubilant, and claim, to havo won a great victory, while tho representatives of tho Trado will tell you witli tears in their voioes that they aro ruined—that their glory has departed'. • I havo my .own opinion, as to tho'sincerity of both, but thoy will koep until after polling day.—l-am, etc., \ ■ MODERATE.