WMIAPU TEMPERANCE REFORM LEAOUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 979, 27 August 1903, Page 2

WMIAPU TEMPERANCE REFORM LEAOUE.

A meeting of the Waiapu Temperance Reform Leaguo Oommittoo was held yesterday. It was decided, in view of information received from Wellington as to the probability of licensing legislation being introduced this session, to send t-hp two petitions to Wellington. Tho following aro tho petitions : That your petitioners find that the existing licensing laws regulating the retail sa'o of alcoholic liquors in tho colony are ineiJectivo to accomplish the reforms strongly desired by your petitioners aB well as' by man£ others, while they inflict injury npdn many individuals, and in tho opinion of your petitioners should bo amended s’o that tho public convenience may bo studied, and the evils arising from the excessive use of alcoholic liquors bo minimised.

That your positioners seeing that prohibition where it has been brought into force in this colony elsewhere bsa not succeeded in accomplishing the onas desired, bolievo that other alternative measures should be enactod. With this end in viow your petitioners humbly suggest: a. That the prineiplo of private profit from the sale of intoxicating liquors should be eliminated. b. That in any district all houses for public accommodation in which intoxicating liquors aro sold should bo tho property of the inhabitaots of that district.

c. That the management of all such houses of accommodation should be under the supervision of, aod amendable to the rules prescribed.by the respective Licensing Committees, with such amendments in the constitution of the said Licensing Committees as may bo deemed necessary by Parliament. I

d. That to prevent any injustice the present licensed premises should be taken over at a valuation to bo made under regulations. e. That these \ proposed amendments should be made optional in each "district in the same manner as No-lieense and Reduction are now optional by a direct vote of the people. f. That the Government and Parliament should, under conditions to bo approved of, provide the capital for the acquirement of the houses of accommodation aforesaid. '< g. That in order to facilitate tho successful working of the above proposals, and also of the law as it at present stands, licensing districts should bo reduced from their present unwieldy dimensions to areas within which unity of interest prevails. Your petitioners also respectfully commend to the favorable consideration of the members of the House of Representatives tho further matters of detail suggested in the pamphlet entitled “ Suggestions for Reform in the Liquor Traffic proposed by tho Waiapu Temperance Reform League,” copies of vyhich have been widely circulated among members of your honorable House. And your petitioners will ever jiray.

That your petitioners find that the existing licensing laws regulating the retail sale of alc'Obolic liquors in the colony are ineffective to accomplish the reforms strongly desir ed by your petitioners as well as by many others, while they inflict injury upon many individuals, and in the opinion of your petitioners should be amended, so that the public convenience may be studied and the evils arising from the excessive use of alcoholic liquor be minimised.

That your petitioners seeing that prohibition where it has been brought into force in this colony elsewhere has not suoseeded in accomplishing the ends desired, believe that other alternative measures should be enacted.

With these ends in view your petitioners humbly suggest that legislation should be enacted embodying the following remedial measures of a general application throughout the colony -. . (1) That in order to break up the monopoly in the liquor trade which is created by the present law, it should be left to the authorities and bona fide residents in each locality to say if there shall be any increase or not in the number of licenses ia any particular part of the district. (2) That the employment of females in bars, except relatives of licensees, should be disallowed.

(3) That analytical chemists should be appointed as Inspectors, whole sole duty shall be to travel round and test alcoholio liquors. (4) That any person non-resident in an hotel should bo fined if found on the premises after closing hours, unless there for some necessary purpose. (5) That a licensee harboring such a person should be fined and, if necessary, his license endorsed,