THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, DEC. 9, 1909 THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 216, 13 December 1909, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, DEC. 9, 1909 THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

RECENT events point to the fact that the question of liquor in the King Country is to receive considerable prominence in the near future. The no-license party have never ceased to agitate openly for the abolition of ths wholesale licenses granted in the district. It is also commonly held that without announcing the fact too loudly the party is working hard to frustrvate the efforts of those who wish to have conditions altered in any way. When the party advocates confine themselves to what may be termed their legitimate sphere, and adhere to their doctrine of "the will of the people" while °tris-ing to educate the people, to cxerd.-.- that .vill in th- '!in">

tion of abolishing liquor in a constitu-

tional manner, they meet with j widespread sympathy, and moderate j thinking people credit them with the highest motives. When the party deliberately sets itself to have restrictions inflicted onacommunity,contrary to the spirit of its own doctrine, it occupies an invidious position and one which tends to stultify its efforts in other respects. The sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister when replying to a deputation in favour of continuing wholesale licenses in the district are perfectly in accord with the general feeling of the district. The crux of the whole matter lies in the granting of local option to the district, and the petition now being circulated claiming the right to vote on the question is deserving of general support. The practical object,dive3ted of all side issues,is to place the matter fairly in the hands of the people. Conditions which applied to the country many years ago have been entirely changed during recent years, and it can be fairly held that a change on constitutional lines is desirable in every, sense, and in the general public interests. The fact that unrest, owing to the application of restrictive measures, has been widespread throughout the district for a considerable time is clearly indicative of the irksome feeling engendered by the restrictions and by demanding that the district shall be placed on the same footing as the rest of the Dominion the people are adoptnig the only course open to them. The agitation cannot fail to be beneficial and by directing attention to their requirements, and publishing broadcast the true conditions of the district, the residents are doing much to remove wrong impressions regarding a locality which has suffered in every way by reason of ignorance with respect to its progress and general conditions.