CARRIAGE OF LIQUOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 265, 5 August 1919, Page 6

CARRIAGE OF LIQUOR

STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF RAILWAYS. Br TelecraDli.—Preßß Association. Wanganui, August I. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerco has received a reply iruin the Minister of Kail, ways as the outcome of u question whether liquor was regarded as beiiifi iu tlia essential class during t.Jie restricted railway service, "in my opinion liquor cannot be treated in tne same way as other goods, essential or non-essential," states the Hon. W. 11. Herries. "The carriage uf liquor is so intimately connected with tne licensing question and the licensing law that it must be placed on a dill'erent footing to other goods. I cannot, on behalf of the Ifailway Department, take upon myself the responsibility of ail action enforcing prohibition in country districts, with a further possibility. of licensees forfeiting their licenses for not supplying that which they obtained their licenses for. At the last licensing poll the people decided that liceusos are to 'be continued, and. it is pot for the Ifailway Department to do anything that might possibly militate against that determination. Meanwhile, instructions have been issued to limit as far as possible the consignment of liquor to only absolutely necessary eases." The Minister added that Cabinet had not come to any decision iu the matter.