LICENSING REFORM

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1926, Page 4

LICENSING REFORM

views Of alliance. DEPUTATION. TO MINISTERS. WELLINGTON, May 7. A deputation from, the New Zealand Alliance waited on the Prime Minister and Attorney-General to-day to place before them a number of matters dealing with licensing legislation. M,r C. Redmond general secretary of the Alliance, said that that body expressed opposition to: 1. —An.v extenson of time between licensing polls. 2. —Any extension of lfcenses beyond .Tune 30 next succeeding the date of the poll at which national prohibition is carried. 3. —Any increase or redistribution of licenses.

4. —Any provision for granting the removal of licenses beyond the limits now permitted by the law. 5. —Aliy increase in facilities for the manufacture, importation and sale of alcoholic liquors. o.—The appointment of licensing hoards or other authority being .substituted for the election of licensing committees.

7.—Any alteration to the lieensng poll being taken oil the same day as the general election. It was also urged that the Act ho amended to giv-e effect to the following proposals:— I.—That no alcoholic liquor shall be supplied to hotel guests otherwise than during hours when the sale of

liquor to the general public is not prohibited.

2.—That no licensed premises shall be permitted to have more than one bar.

3.—That protection from alcoholic liquor he afforded to the natives of the King CoimLry in accordance with the pact made on the opening of that territory.

■l.—That provision lie made for the conviction of any person, who purchases for or supplies any youth under twenty-one years of age with intoxcating liquor. s.—That section .'ld, sub-clause (c), of the 1908 Licensing Act he amended so as to make it definite whether posters and placards erected prior to the day of the poll can remain in sight, on polling day. On the question of the King Country Natives, the Prime Minister asked whether Air Edmonds thought the Natives there should have any say. Air Edmonds: AVe have not considered that? Mr Coates: You believe in the referendum ? Air Edmonds: We believe in the referendum. entirely.

The Prime Alinister replied that so far as politicians were concerned there was no one who prayed more fervently than lie that the liquor question should lie got rid of. He did not pretend to he a supporter of the public houses by any means, but everybody knew that lie was not called a "temperance man,” although he hoped he was temperate in habit. "If 1 said I was moderate you would say that I belonged to the -Moderate League,” added Air Coates to the accompaniment, of more laughter.

it seemed hard that his duty was to I place a Bill before Parliament which | .should have an opportunity to make 1 suggestions as to what should be done ! in the future. AYhile, personally, he I would prefer not to have anything to do with the matter, he recognised that i he had a responsibility, and lie did not ' propose to shirk it. The AttorneyGeneral was now drafting a Licensing i Bill, but as this was a question on which there was a eoniliet of views lie suggested that representatives of both I sides should come together to discuss | certain questions. No doubt Cabinet | Guild agree to many of the proposals i put forward by the deputation, but he i thought that the Attorney-General pru- | posed to ask the representatives of [ both sides to meet with a view to see- ’ | ing how many points of difference j could be agreed upon before the vital * ones were readied. They knew there ■ were many essential amendments of the lieensng law requred. and that these would have a henelieal effect on the community. The liquor interests had agreed to this, as lining in the interests of the community ns well as themselves. If the liquor business was not being conducted in a. proper manlier then it should lie cleared up and improved. - i " While we do have liquor,” said Afr Coates. “ let us have it properly conducted." j The question of the abolition of the, liquor traffic was one entirely for the electors to decide. The Licensing Bill would not be a party measure in any sense of the word. Air Coates said that lie had no doubt that the Government would receive representations presenting the other side of the case. Tn the meantime he would like the executive of the Alliance to consider the proposal lie had made before they left Wellington, as time was getting on and Parliament would he meeting in June. He hoped that the conference he had suggested would take place with a view of bringing about improvements in the liquor business, even if agreement in regard to the vital issues could not be reached. ■Tn reply to a member of the deputa- ' tion Air Coates said that it was in- j tended to bring the Licensing Bill bolore Parliament this session.