The Direct Veto.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 46, 23 August 1893, Page 3

The Direct Veto.

+. — DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. J.PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, August 22. A deputation front the Licensed Victuallers Association interviewed the Premier this afternoou and submitted resolutions passed at a meeting. Mr Walter, President ofthe Licensed Victuallers' Association, asked that the Government Licensing Rill should be delayed. Tho Premier pointed out that the question must be faced, and the sooner the better. Mr Plitutuer described the Bill as a perfect confiscation measure. He had i.0*0,000 in houses, and he might as well throw the money into the sea if the Bill became law. Mr Castendyk, a local wine and spirit merchant, said he would have to close up his placo if the Bill passed. The Premier said if the Bill was delayed for a week it would be impossible to get through with tbe business. Mr Pliiuroer pointed out that what they feared were votes ot people who had no interest in the matter at all, and of thoso who were preached to by people who knew nothing; of what they were talking about. Mr Walter suggested that 400 not 750 people would be a sufficient number to entitle a district to a licensed house. Mr Kennedy urged that in clause f> only brewers and wine and spirit merchants doing business, and owners of Eubhc houses, shouid be disqualified from cinq members of Committees. The Premier said it waa desirable to ensure that no one should adjudicate upon a case in which he was personally interested. Some representation had been made to him that single women now in lhe trade should not be deprived of licenses, and he was inclined to say that that clause should only prohibit any licenses being given to single women iv future. He had also received objections lo tbe clause ordering windows lo be unscreened at ni^'ht. Tho Premier took a note of the views of the deputation.