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Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1026, 20 October 1903, Page 3

It is difficult to understand the attitude of the Government on the question of the proposed licensing legislation, says the Free Lance. Twice, the party has insisted on an amending Bill being introduced, but, though we are now within several weeks of the end of the session, the amending Bill is still conspicuous by its absence. The general opinion is that Mr Seddon, strong in other matters, is weak in this. He fears the possibility of the Opposition scoring a party advantage over him. Also, and this consideration probably weighs more heavily, he dreads lest he might arouse the hostility of the Prohibitionist factions. And yet it is selfevident that the position must be faced. It is desirable to remove existing anomalies in the law, to make provision for a second election in the event of informality, and to secure to the trade some measure of relief from the undue frequency of these local option polls. The trade is harassed and worried almost to desperation by the system of triennial polls. It enjoys no reasonable security of tenure, though it has an immense amount of money in the business, and the conviction is growing stronger in the minds of moderate and reasonable people that this is wrong. Where a popular vote moans the confiscation of property, the vote should not, as a matter of equity and fair government, be taken too frequently. Among Queen Alexandra’s treasures is a beautiful pair of operaglasses of platinum set with rubies, ■sapphires,- and turquoises, and valued at £2OOO.