LICENSING POLLS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1926, Page 4

LICENSING POLLS.

MR P. :i. (VII EGAN'S CHARGE. AYELUNGTON. April 11. In iho opinion of Mr P. J. O’Regan, a former Liltoral member of Parliament and now a prominent lawyer in Wellington, the Reform Government has in view the making of a five years thrill for Parliament. It is its intention to “dig in." to use a military expression. Mr O’ Regan charges the Government with being involved in a tacit conspiracy with certain powerful political lories for the destruction of tri<*nnial Parliaments and the substitution of quinquennial. A further charge is that the Tories are those “who had applied themselves to the ignoble work of destroying the Liberal principles which had been realised in this country.” The destruction, he mentioned, was not to be done directly, nor for the reason that triennial Parliaments were undesirable, Juit was being done under the specious pretence of licensing reform. Quoting a few omens Mr O’Regan said that both the Prime Minister. the Right Hon J. G. Coates, and Hon If. F. Bollard, hail been asked at political meetings if they favoured a longer period between licensing polls and in each case the reply had been the same: “I am in favour of quinquennial Parliaments, and that would automatically involve a longer internal between licensing polls,” said IF. Uni a great majority of the people of he Dominion would resent very itrongly the attempt to carry out a re-ic-tionary onslaught against popular iberty under the guise of licensing reorm. BmmmmmemnKmm nmpmmmn^aammzManaiiaamaanm

“I would warn my fellow-citizens that unless they assert, themselves, the present Government will use the majority they have snatched by a false electoral system, to dig themselves 'in for five years, in other words, to restore quinquennial Parliaments," said Mr O’Regan. DUNEDIN'. April 12. In reference to Mr P. J. O’Regan’s statement concerning quinquennial licensing polls Mr Paape. a member of the executive of the Licensed Victuallers of New Zealand, states that the matter lias not even been discussed. The position lies entirely with Parliament. and Dunedin members are definitely committed to oppose any extension of ihe licensing term.