The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the, West Coast Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1929. LICENSING LEGISLATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the, West Coast Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1929. LICENSING LEGISLATION.

A deputation from the New Zealand Alliance received small satisfaction last week from tlie Prime Minister, to whom it represented that it was desirable that Parliament should be afforded an early opportunity of considering the licensing question through the introduction by' the Government of legislation affecting the issue. Sir Joseph Ward informed the deputation that it was nut his intention to bring forward any legislation, and he gave as his reason that the voice of the people, as recorded, seemed to him to be opposed to any alteration in the law and also that lie believed the House of Representatives as at present constituted, was unfavourable to legislation. It was, it will be observed, not on the highest ground that the Prime Minister based his refusal to propose any amendment of the licensing law. l.t was not on the ground that the Prime Minister himself or his Government regard legislation as unnecessary or undesirable, says an Otago paper, hut on the ground that it would be futile to attempt to pass legislation. When he used the expression “legislation” the Prime Minister plainly had in his mind the legislation of the kind that is advocated by the New Zealand Alliance. And no doubt he correctly interpreted the vote at the triennial poll last year as expressive of the opposition of the public to the political platfo 'm. of the Al- I liance. The deputation last week informed the Prime Minister that there were various anomalies in the present law which in its opinion should be remedied. There are few people, acquainted with the licensing law, who are not in.a position to point to defects in it. The need of amendment of the law in its general terms is, in fact, widely recognised. It seems idle, however, to expect that there can be any revision of the law while the New Zealand Alliance adheres to its political programme and binds members of Parliament down to a support of it. This programme it is that is preventing the passage of legislation that would effect alterations in the law of a character concerning which there is not likely to he any serious difference of opinion. One amendment that was advocated by Mr Wilkinson member for Egmont, in the course of the financial debate, possesses the merit of originality, although it must he accounted ns stranco that it has not been frequently suggested before this. Tt is that the jimount of the publicans’ license should be increased. The value of the license has increased enormously since the amount of the fee was fixed at its present figure. The population of the Dominion is much greater than it was when the legislation was passed prescribing the fees

lor the various forms of license, anti the number of licensed houses lias, in most districts, been material.y reduced. Die fee that is charged for a license bears no relation to the value of a license. There is, however, no likelihood of aijj amendment such as Air Wilkinson suggested or of any other desirable amendment of the licensing law as long as the New Zealand Alliance obstructs the way with its claim for a so-called “democratic ballot paper” and with its pretence that it controls Parliament.