LIQUOR IN KING COUNTRY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 472, 8 June 1912, Page 5

LIQUOR IN KING COUNTRY.

STATE CONTROL ADVOCATED

At the annual meeting of the Taumarunui Licensing Commtitee, Mr A. Scholea gave notice to move at the next meeting of the committee: "That in the opinion of the committee the time has arrived for a change in the system now existing in the King Country, and the committee urges that the whole of the liquor supplied to residents or others in that area be placed under municipal or State control."

The mover referred to th« conditions at present existing in the district, and pointed out the necessity for better control both as to quality and quantity supplied to those who are inclined to indulge rather freely. Much of the liquor which came into the district was of an inferior quality, and wrought immense harm. This was well recognised by all the thinking people of the district, the majority of whom were opposed to the granting of licenses in the district. Such a motion as he proposed would not, of course, meet with the approbation of extreme prohibitionists, who believed that the only way to deal with liquor was to prohibit its manufacture. That was a view of one section of the community, and it was entitled to as much consideration as any other view. At present the issue as placed before the voters on the local option paper made no provision for the King Country. This was entirely inequitable, and the district was suffering as a result. A great amount uf liquor came into the district, and no doubt much of it was unfit for consumption. He would like to see the whole matter opened up and discussed. That was the chief object of the motion of wnich he had given notice.