LICENSING REFORM ASSOCIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1926, Page 4

LICENSING REFORM ASSOCIATION

DOMINION CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON. August. 20. At the Dominion conference of delegates from branches of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association, the Yen. IT. 4Y. Williams, Archdeacon of Wniiipu, Dominion president, was in the chair. The annual report expressed a lliopc that the Legislature would see its way to enable the issue State purchase anti control to he placed more clearly before electors. The broadmindedness of the association’s determination not to seek pre-election pledges from candidates was stressed, with a hope .that the moderate community would not he forced into the realm of general political activity at electoral polls in order to preserve the freedom of its institutions.

The chairman said the elimination of the three-fifths and substitution of a hare majority showed there had been a pact. If the third issue were removed from the ballot-paper there should be a substantial majority, not a bare majority. required before a change could he made. True temperance in New Zealand would he achieved only by the determined effort of moderate people. A resolution protesting against the endeavor o! the Prohibition Party to dragoon Parliament into deleting the middle issue from the ballot-paper was passed, also one expressing keen disapnointment at the Licensing Bill before Parliament, and asking the Government to embody the proposals of the special Parliamentary Committee which reported in 1524 after exhaustive examination of the question. A resolution was passed urging on j the Government the desirability of substituting the proposal known as , corporate control for the existing third issue. State control, thus providing the electors with a sound practical proposal upon which to exercise their franchise a <; i>/>*ivecn prohibition and continuance of existing conditions.