King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1912. THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 472, 8 June 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1912. THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Of the social questions which agitate the public mind in the Dominion the liquor traffic and the laws and regulations relating thereto figure with remarkable prominence. In like manner thß liquor traffic in the King Country has attracted marked attention. Apparently the district is to provide further subject for discussion, judging frum the motion tabled by Mr Scholes at the annual meeting of the Taumarunui Licencing Bench. That ample reason for dissatisfaction exists in connection with the present state of things in the distirct is widely admitted. A great amount of liquor is consumed in the King Country, and a great amount of money is constantly being drained from the district in consequence. To those who hold with prohibition principles there is only one course open: that is to vote for the wiping out of liquor in any shape or form. At the same lime we are confronted with the fact that the liquor traffic has existed for a longer period than prohibition principled, and that it is legalised in our country. It rests with the residents of every district in New Zealand, excepting the King Country, to say whether liquor shall be bought and sold in such district. Unfortunately the questions placed before the people at the local option poll confine the issue unnecessarily. Presumably the central idea of local option is to discover the wishes of the people on the liquor traffic, and the question of license or no-license under present conditions leaves little choice. To many people of moderate views the idea of prohibition is far from attractive, while the knowledge that the Trade is an intolerable monopoly forbids them to uphold license. It is extremely probable that if the question were put to the issue in' the King Country no-license would be upheld. Whether such a vote will give a true reflex of public opinion, however, is quite another matter. Numbers of people are now found advocating control of the traffic by the State or by the municipality. The subject has been widely debated at vairous times, and the public may safely be left to judge as to the desirability or otherwise of such control. The suggestion thrown out by Mr Scholes at the meeting of the Licensing Committee will doubtless be widely discussed. It will be denounced by the advocates of prohibition, in that it offers the moderate minded person who is opposed to the license monopo'y, an opportunity of opposing the trade without having to vote prohibition; it will be denounced by the trade for obvious reasons. There can be no doubt, however, that it will meet with strong support, and the outcome of the discussion should prove of value in conveying an idea of the real trend of public thought on such an important social question. The matter has become so interwoven with the political aspect of the country, and the contending parties have so organised their strength (hat the suggestion to legislate on (he subject brings a shuddcr to the politician who valuer place and power. Thai '.lie sugeesi ion to legislate, in a direct ion iuiuiieai to She interests oi' iioi'o parti!-;- will be seriously considered seems beyond bone. Still, the voice o.: ibe public, should bo beard, in Ibe interest* oi" ibe pub lie. It is lilting that, (he suggestion should emanate from nomine! wbich has never had the opportunity "i stating its wishes in Ibe knowledge that the popular demand would be carried into effect.