THE LICENSING BILL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 296, 8 September 1920, Page 7

THE LICENSING BILL

MODERATE LEAGUE OBJECTS TO ONJ3 SECTION. In view of the reported intention of the Government Do adopt,the Licensing Bill introduced by the Hon. John Jbarr in the Legislative' Council, the Now Zealand Aloderate League h-as addressed the following letter to the Prilme Minisior: "Sir,—l an direoted by my, executive to bring under your notice a matter of considerable importance in connection with the Licensing Amendment Bill introduced in the Legislative Council by the Hon.' John Barr, wh.ch it is understood the Government is to adopt an. the House of Ileoresentatiives as o Government measurit. "Section 3 of the Bill provides for the repeal of section 144 of the principal Act, and the explanation given in the niemorandnm to Uie Bill is as follows: 'The re-, peal: by section 3, of section 144 of the prlno.jial Act is necessary by reason of the repeal of tho law relating to local nolionnee by the Act of 11118/ "The league wishes to poinn out to you that the reason therein advanced is not in accordance with fact, as the elimination of the local no-license issue has no bearing whatever on section 144 of the principal Act, which provides machinery for the people to requisition for an increase of licenses in the event of a sudden increase in population in a licensed district. "It would therefore appear iMt. another attempt is being maue by the prohibition party to lake away in an indirect manner an existing public right, and the league wishes to record an empUutio protest against this method of engineering restrictive legislation tihrough Parliament. . .. "There is apparently no record of any case where the rights conferred .upon the people by section 141 of the principal Act bave yet been invoked and occasion may never arise for ills application; but the principle involved is a very important one and, tho league feels confident that the Government will not become a party to the passing of legislation under .false pretences.'

"Tiie league lia9 approached the Government on numbers of occasions to endeavour to liave comprehensive licensing legislation brought down based upon a thorough official inquiry, and, as my executive is still hopeful tSiafc this may be done, we ivould suggest that the matter herein referred to (section 3 of the B'll), constituting as it does the deprivation of an existing right of the people, should be deferred until after mature consideration of. the whole licensing question.

"I am directed ib state that the other provisions of the Bill relating to limitations on the removal of licenses, etc., are fully approved by the league.—(Signed) It. A. Armstrong, Dominion secretary."