THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 160, 31 May 1909, Page 2

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

THE last issue of the Auckland Observer contained an article dealing with the liquor question in the King Country. The writer of the article evidently possesses some knowledge of the position, and sympathises with the* efforts of those desirous of having the present restrictions removed. He however went astray in assuming that the removing of the restrictions would result in the district becoming an ordinary no-license area, under similar conditions to those districts in which no-license had been carried by vote at the local option noli. The Rohe Potae is at present, ami always has been, portion of an electoral district, in which licen.-Ktsexist and unless special legislation was brought in to deal with the position the removal of the present harassing restrictions would result in the district being placed in the same position as other portions of the electorate, which arc at present outside the prohibited area. The contention that the district would become an ordinary no-license district without the usual local option vote being taken, is entirely opposed to the spirit of equity nor is it in accordance with the principle which our people are endeavouring to uphold. The resolution passed at the recent meeting held at Tc Kuiti embodies a demand to be placed on the same footing .as other parts of the Dominion with regard to local option, and until no-license is carried by popular vote in the electorate it would be

a manifest injustice, in removing one set of restrictions, to make further special provision for shackling a district which has already been too long denied the freedom and privileges granted to the rest of the Dominion. The article referred to advocates the sale of liquor under State Control, as the remedy for the present intolearble position. ,