N.Z. ALLIANCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1924, Page 2

N.Z. ALLIANCE.

AGAINST Till*; LICENSING PROPOSALS. [by tj:u:gi;.‘.i‘ii—mat mtuss association.] WELLINGTON, October 20. At a meeting of the Standing Committee of the New Zealand Alliance to-day, the licensing proposals contained in the Parliamentary Committee's report were discussed. It was resolved, to enter an emphatic protest against the general tenor of the icport as being plainly inspired by a complete subservience of the majority of the Committee to the interests of the Trade. In particular, the Standing Committee declared its opposition to Clause 1. providing for the redistribution of licenses; Clause 7, suggesting a four years’ interval between the carrying of prohibition and its going into efleet; Clause 8, providing for a nine-year interval between tho polls; and Clause 11, providing for extended facilities for the consumption of liquor in clubs, hotels and restaurants.

The Committee expressed its indignation that even the most outrageous, ridiculous demands of the trade should have been solemnly and slavishly echoed in the report, amt that tho reasonaide desires of 300.791 prohibition voters, and the rights and interests of the people should have been completely ignored.

It was reported that messages received from different parts of the Dominion indicated that prohibtion sentiment throughout the Dominion was unitedly opposed to the retrograde proposals that had been brought down. At the same meeting of the Standing Committee, it was resolved: ‘‘That the New Zealand Alliance welcoine.s the Legislative Amendment Mill No 2. providing for the compulsory registration of electors, ft urges the Government to provide for sttelt enrolment to he conducted exclusively through Government officials, and in polling booth areas. It trusts {that the Hill will finally contain measures far the prevention'of dual voting, ami like abuses, prevalent under the present system of voting in polling booth areas ns an effective means of dimin•shing these practices.