The Guardian And Evening Sear, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1925 THE LICENSING LAW.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Sear, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1925 THE LICENSING LAW.

Ih!'. 'l:11 ■ 11n• 111 S'i in A- li'.iuimh 111:■ 1 t In' li .• 11i11■ |;i vtmills in need nl' remodelling is very timely — more mi i imm ;i .Magistrate administering tin l law. Ashburton is within a no license arm. aial tin- Magistrate has liatl | In.' 11|ija 11 1 1111 il v nl \ ieiving t ile operation of lln* law ulicit:|- personal conditions. II is \ dews an 1 no 1 1' *nl> t well grmi lulls I. Inr it is imt a .sillijoi t an nlli'.'ial. 'iirli as lie would speak 11 jn■ ti so 1111 1 1 1 i■ I\ w itli.iiit being well )ni'tilied by laetis. The remarks of the Magistrate |iiiiiii distinctly to the failure oi na license as a means In exclude strong drink. Indeed there is Ho pretense under the law to exclude the drink fur there are legal ways and means to import it. Hut having imputed it. there is no further supervision of the use of the Ii<|nor except m the ease of illicit sales. These tire iceosMirilv Imnl to discover, and when found as in the reient ease at Asliburton. the facts reveal a sad story of ahitso and consequent failure of tile law to achieve v. hat no license was intended to attain. The story oi the “l;eg parties" in most no license areas are very sordid. That they are harmful is I eyoiid donhi and they lead to much more drinking and the abuse of drinking than where the consumption of liquor is under proper control in the licensed premises. There is no doulri that the legislation affecting the licensing laws is in need of revision, fu the recent deputation of the Alliance or Prohibit ion party to the Prime Minister. the trend of the discussion was for amendments to the legislation. The present Government had promised to deal with the .subject year alter year, hut the most it has done was to >ei up Parliamentary committees who sal for an extended time, to present a carefully considered report, which the (ioverninent merely pigeon-holed. Not to put too line a point on the position, it, may he said that there is a feeling abroad, while the retention of the Treasury Denches by the Government rests in no small degree on the vote ot a very pronounced prohibition advocate, there is not likely to he much in the way of remodelling the licensing law. 'I Ids opinion seemed to be very generally held when explanation is sought as to the cause for with-hold-ing legislation after so many promises by the late Prime .Minister of an affirmative character. The Parliamentary Committees, which reported at great length <.n the subject Ml] plied ample grounds for action, and it is surprising (except for the political reason offered for the inaction), that the reform of the licensing laws has been delayed for so long. Apart from wlmt the Magistrate has had to say of the position in no-liccnse areas, the conditions in licensed areas call for attention also. The growing inllnx of oversea visitors who are disposed to make New Zealand a regular tourist resort, has prompted even the present Prime Minister to refer to the need for an impoved standard of hotel accommodation. It is not possible for this to b* brought about with the license tenure as it is at present, and we believe Mr Coates must realise that fait. It is futile for him to complain, therefore when in his capacity as Leader of the House, he with-holds the very means by which it would be possible for the Government, through an improved tenure to enforce a standard of accommodation to meet the demands of ■he growing tourist trade. These and other aspects will In? met only when the Government has the courage to bring down legislation dealing with the subject.

sion the Minister of Lands lias liecn railing against the fusion negotiations which have passed, and in his platform addresses the subject has lieen in tlie forefront. The “Otago Daily Times" (a notable Reform journal!, of Tuesday last, aminister.- a -harp rcbuhe in its leading column- to the Minister. the Hon M'Lecd The paper remarks: - The Minister of Lauds is in danger of identifying bitn-eli a- one of the nniiamed “diehards" in the Reform party to whom, he says, the members of the National | arty attribute the failure of the fusion negotiations. lie seems to be more largely in re<|ilest for public meetings at tin- present time than any other member of the Government. At any rate, be i- the member of tin' Mini-try upon u hum is falling tin* brunt of the platform work. Wo might have a greater admiration for the manner in which lie discharge- hi- respnn-ihili tv in t!iis respect if lie did not lee! it incumbent oil him to refer over and over ana in to the fusion negotiations and T' do so !u such a way a- must he distinctly irritatinu to the National party. Keen if all Mr M'Loocf says on this subject were incontrovertible, though we have no doubt that much of it may be challeng'd. it is not sound political tactics (o seek to widen the breach which the failure of the fusion negotiations brought about between the Reform and National parties. It is sufficiently obvious that a fusion must be accomplished sooner or later and we are unable to agree with that section of the Reform party, in which Mr M'Reod must presumably be included, that believes it should be aenmplished later rather than sooner. Rut whether it is to he early or late, no useful purpose i- lulfilled hy an attempt to convince the electors that the member,- of the pariy, with which the Reform party will nil imaifeiy hare to he associated, are mere ofl'u c-seek-ors and time-servers. The leader of the National party has just staled that its object at the general election will he to “bring into one progressive party all those who support the for illation of an efficient, stable National Government, composed of the best brains, and of the nm-t .suitable men in 1 'ail in men t, who will place national interests before those of party." 'I hat is an object which must appeal to the electors throughout' the cutiiitry who Million- the Reform party as well as to those who are encouraging the National party by their offers of help, and it is an object the attainment of which should not lie jeopardised by factious (piiirrelings lelween the members ni I’arliamenl of when) the "progressive party" must be composed.