LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2829, 21 July 1916, Page 7

LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASSOCIATION

At a meeting of tho Amalgamated Licensed Victuallers' Association of New Zealand, held at the Masonic Hall yesterday morning, tho following resolutions were adopted:— 1. That the agitation directed against tho licensed trade by Prohibitionists is unpatriotic, unreasonable, and unwarrantable: (a) Unpatriotic because it is tending to create class prejudice .and embitter feoling among different sections of the community, at a time when all should bo in accord to : overthrow tho road hogs of Eiwoiw. (b) Unreasonable in that it would violate the pledge, or "scrap of paper," given by the people -at the' ballotbox in 1914, when by an overwhelming majority tho electors declared against any interference with the licensing system tin til at least 1917. (c) And unwarrantable in that any interference with the licensing system now would be in direct opposition to theroiceand mandate of the people, and a violation of the pledgc given by tho people last elections to the trade. 2. That, relying upon the declared will of tho people, the members of the trade have entered into rebuilding and various other contracts, and ally alteration in the hours of licensing now would not only be contrary to the peoples pledge to the tirade, but would involro the trade in incalculable loss. 3. That in view of the evidence of tho Defcnco Minister himself, and of his responsible advisers, Colonels Potter and Adams, tliere .is absolutely po military necessity for tho agitation for any alteration in the present licensing law, cither by proclamation or otherwise. 4. That a copy of tho foregoing resolutions be forwarded to members of Parliament and the Press.