POLICE FORCE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1926, Page 4

POLICE FORCE

ALLIANCE PRESIDENT'S VIEW. OAMAItU, May SW. Addressing the Oatnaru No-license Association last night, Air J. I. Roy.ls (Dominion president of the Alliance) stated that the present liquor laws led to increased drinking among young hoys and girls. Sunday tinding was carried on in most of the New Zealand hotels, particularly in these in country districts. It was impossible to say that the authorities were not aware of what whs going on, but it was not the fault of the police entirely. “We have some of the best men it is possible to get in the police force,” said the speaker, “and also we have some that ought to be kicked out without delav.”

Mr Kovels said that it took as much evidence to convict, a man for obtaining a glass of beer after hours as it did to convict a person for murder. In the course of his address Mr fto.vds said that the political aspects of the Alliance had been made use of by their opponents land seized upon hv the “wet” newspapers pretty strongly. lje would like to point out that the constitution of the Alliance stated that it was for the abolition of the liquor traffic by. the direct vote of ihe people. Their aim was to see that uo piaii went to Parliament who would play tricks with them when licensing legislation was being considered. He maintained that it was fair to ask a j candidate for Parliament what attitude lie would take when certain liefinite matters affecting the liquor trade came before Parliament. "While the constitution of the Alliance was not for anything but the abolition of the liquor ti a (be, they had always favoured anything in the way of reform. 'Regarding State Control, he said it would not lie wise for them to relax their efforts in securing votes fpp prohibition simply because there was a prospect of the third issue being removed from the ballot paper, if might be unfortunate that the people lyhp believed in State Control should he denied an opportunity of expressing their opinion, but they could have every issue under the sun on a ballot, paper. It was clear that State Control was not wanted and should he eliminated.