The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY. JANUARY” 12th, 1923. LICENSING MATTERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1923, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY. JANUARY” 12th, 1923. LICENSING MATTERS.

Now that the final figures of the licensing referendum are announced. the public have in mind the clearly defined view of the majority of the people

,Vr-'v 7'e-i 1 nd mi the Rs- e= whir' we.e at stake. The interesting point about the three polls on the question taken within the last triennial period, rhe growth of the vote, At tho ape-

riii| poll in ISM!), wln*n 1 1 1« <*oinpens;tlioii issue was milled to j>r<*lnlntion. there won? AIB.OIO votes jm•11 (* 11, and there was a majority of IG.Bd*2 valid votes in favour ot nsMsotiil eoiilinu-cni-a. At the ordinary loiVrendum at

the close of 1019, 513.762 votes were pilled. The ballot paper included the State purchase issue, and the majority against national prohibitum on that oewision was 3,262. In the poll lately held, the total vote had increased by

ever -event y-tivc thousand votes, to to (lIP. IbT. ;ui<i tile majority again , against nut i- ii;il prohibition hud gi'iiwn lo lT.tii'o votes. In view of tlie increased total in the votes polk'd, lhis majority must lie considered substantial. lind gives a well delitled view of the 1111 1 1 1 i<■ mind. The matter is now at the stage where the whole subject should come up for parliamentary review. For upwards of twenty years now the matter of license or no license has been ut short periods in the melting pot ol public opinion. Kvery reference lo the vote lias met with the recurring answer to leave things as they are. On the recent occasion there is probably the largest vote on record. and a very siilistantail majority against prohihition. That being so. and in eonl’ormity with a promise given the Government will he well advised to review the leislation affecting the periodical poll. There is no question about what tin* majoriti id tin people want, and besides we have the commensea.se view ot what is happening in the Fnited States where the eitfnrcement of prohihition is worse timu farvical it i- a tragedv iti thousands of instances. Such being the ease tin* Government would be more than instilled in taking up the matter, and s ( , amending ibc lav as to improve tbe operation of tlie lra.de for all round betterment. One of the first steps necessary is to give a more secure tenure by put tine, the periodical repeals further apart. The polls cost a large amount of money, and they produce the same reply. They could he held at longer intervals. This would not only effect administrative economies, but would give those in the trade more confidence in their business, and s(, mo wa i ran try to eater more completely for the public. With a growing population and more facilities for travelling. more adequate accommodation is required for the public, but with increased costs tor labor, material and supplies, many proprietors would not leel justified to enter upon thousands off pounds of expenditure with the Possibility of a snatch poll taking awa v license. |iy lengthening the interval between polls, something of a building boom won Id set in in the Dominion, and a stir in trade of that sort would not. do any harm, as many industries, primary a-, well as secondary, would Profit by the activity in building. The silbjoT't has a good don l of bon ring on general prosperity and there are^few trades or businesses which would not reap some advantage were the liccn--ing tenure made more secure, and i l the same time the licensee exptciod to keep his house appointed at a standard equal to growing requirements. ’I he need fur licensing reform along these lines would then he of national advantage and might well be pressed for now by public opinion.