The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th, 1924.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th, 1924.

IJCENSING Isst ES. For some time tiiis session a special committee of the House has been sitting hearing evidence in regard to licensing matters. A similar committee sat .some two years ago, and supplied a series cf recommendations, hut the bill introduced later did not reach a definite stage. Fresh legislation is promised this session, and it is expected the recommendations of the Committee will luvve some effect on the proposals to he brought forward, A vital matter of

the whole subject will he the form of ballot paj'er for the next general option poll. Tiiere "ill be a battle royal on the issues to go before the people. - whether there should le l"<> or three. I here is also the i|iiestion of tenure, the non-li(|i!rj.- | arty are most desirius for two issues only to go before be old tors, and are opposed to the iliroo issues, which last year in,-hid . I ■State Control, and which it '.s suggested .should now be altered to corporate ( out ml. 'I he lii|ilor | arty stands by the three issue Jape. 1 , and allege there was a mutual ariaugcment to this effect in times past which anti-liqimr denies as .strngly. The liipior | arty is keen also for the extension of tenure.

say from three years to nine years, this of tollr.-e is ohje.ted to by antilii|iior supporters. The sj e ial claim for a longer tenure is to ■■i.siire better hotel accommodation, three years assured business not. being (OUsidercd long enough duration to justify a hr go outlay bv hotel proprietors hi en'arging and I'lirnishiii". It is "illiin the b Hinds id pi ssil.iliiy tier.' may be .cun..

compromise on the.--. |oin‘s, that n ei.sure increased tenure, the two issue ballot paper might be aive| t«sl. or vice versa. However, the bill "ill not bo a (bivoi nnieiit measure. and it may nut be pc.i severed "ith. if there is very strenuous i;|ipi:sit ion. The bill of course "id include in ni-li general legislation, and is rt quiied in m. my r< p. I ; .- > that it is Imped it "ill be | resented and discussed. Its f: te is likely to be de- < idoil ahead of the (laming Dill, which is a measure in somewhat the same

category, lie ng m n-pa'tv. yet. very euiitenlinns. 'I lie (laming Dill has been introduced, and si far is lather colorless in its provisions outside of the p:o- ---| osal to ei, 'te -slra r;e ieg and I rolling icrmits. D.nl. il slid lies go bob re a euinnntteo o', the House, and that tribunal lias net- been set up yet. so that the Licensing Bill will take precedence. The committee on the latter lini-lied taking evdeme on Finlay and its report may lie hefure I’ailiamei.t very .soon. The committee in personnel is said to he well divided mi the subject of liquor lolitnl, and in that extent the report "ill not me very impartial. The only value in referring the matter to a committee is to take evident e, and glean .something of out- - ide opinion on the general issues invoked. On the ( tl'er hand the evident e may he also ni»:o or less of a partial nature, hut the n] cuing up ami ventilation of various subjects provides the opportunity to weigh mo e fully val ines aspei ts involved. These roliliii ill oo investigations neriipy f.ome time, hut they are at least the means of greater ventilation of views on the sn’iject under consideration, and to that extent, may he of some help in finally moulding definite prupe.snls.