THE LICENSING QUESTION

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1923, Page 4

THE LICENSING QUESTION

PREMIER AND DEPUTATION

WELLINGTON. duly o. The reply made by the Prime .Minister to a. deputation from the King, Country, asking that residents should he allowed to take a poll to decide I whether licenses should he taken or not i- : interesting, ns throwing light on the legislation proposed this session. Air. AI nosey said tho decision did not rest with him. "You will recoiled.” he said, •‘v.ha! took place tln> session before last, when tile licensing committee was set up. I There was a de-ire, of course, or do- i maud on the part of a large number of metr.hoi-- of Parliament that something- | should he done to bring about re.orm. I not exactly prohibition of the liquor traffic. [ asked Parliament to set up a committee and. oersnunilv while I know there were very acute differences of opinion on the iiten.-ing question I think ,’t made a very valuable repaid and I have promised to give Parliament an opportunity of dealing with it. I hope 1,; get it before Parliament th: session, but the law draftsman has been vi rv busy up to now with ot her legislation. My promise, however, will he kept, ft will go before Parliament. I ur.il. rsi.tml. because I have been asked to present it. that a vety largely signed petition is coming. 1 think from the nnvtlierii districts, but probably ai-o from other part- cf the Dominion, mostly Irom Church of England clergy-men—-at all events they have tal.»-i a load in promoting ii. That. w;il c i i - I fore Parliament in the ordinary wav and before a committer- whether tic! licensing committee or not. will fe for Parliament to say and the i iininil tee will send a rep •••!: to the House, tlierofore tile whole epu-stion is hound ! i come before Parliament, but whether' a derision will he arrived at at this session I am not able to say. I hem,", however, that reform is urgently needed in licensing matters. From my experience’ going about the country I know something will have lo he dune very mueh more important and ex ten- j sivo in regard to the accommodation j question. When legislation r-mr’s tip j you may he n ie-d to t-ome la-fore th" j committee again in all probability you j will- and express your opinion before I it. Logically yen have a good ease, j but im-bodv wauls to break lailli with the arrangement entered into long ago, except for very strong and urgent reasons. When it comes before Parliament ii will lie a uoinpai'tv quest ion as in

the pa-i. and you will find as in pa.-l years that Alinisteis voting, some on one side and soiii" on the other. t'-o fir as I know for years pa-i then- has i never h”cn a ingle |.i> easing Bill that I hits been treated as a part v question, i and this will he ibe in Hie e- I -•■n! in-tae,:-". I tbmk y.in m;;v de- j pend mi t!n> House giving proper. - -r- j ioils co-:-iil"r:i! ion lo the proum-ais m- | aIV iiil! 1 iMg b.'loro it. I iiaV" be 11 | t lu-mqdi tin- King Country on mrnv - c- j i-asion-. rigbl from the "ail) decs “I : its sett lenten I. and I know ■■ bat y.nt , have i i h-avv’ it at i hat I