THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 522, 30 November 1912, Page 5

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

POSITION OF KING COUNTRY. MONDAY NIGHT'S MEETIING. The position of the King Country with respect to the liquor traffic has always been regarded aa unsatisfactory by a large section of the community and from time to time there have been agitations and petitions with a view to securing equal rights and privileges with the remainder of the Dominion in respect to loca'. option. The Taumarunui licensing district embraces the greater portion of the King Country and also includes Urenui and Waitara, where licensed houses exist. Under the pre3snt conditions King Country residents may vote out the licenses which exist in the places mentioned, but their votes are entirely inoperative as far as the King Country is concerned. Since European settlement has populated the King Country it has been felt by a large section of tha community that the restriction placed on the district in the days long before European settlement commenced should be re moved, and that the will of the people should be given effect to as is the case in other districts. Opinion is divided as to the manner in which the liquor traffic of the district should be controlled. The present system, which is practically the same as is applied to a district which has voted nolicense, permits of an almost unrestricted traffic, and an immense quantity of liquor is imported to th» district from the contiguous license areas. Occasional cases of slygrogging are heard and in cases where convictions are recorded substantial fines are inflicted. On the whole it is probable the district in respect to illicit trade is very similar to other no-license districts. There is little incentive to carry on illicit trade to any extent where the facilities for obtaining liquor readily from license areas are so great. There are certain phaseg of the question, however, which tend to create dissatisfaction among which may be mentioned the lack of supervision in respect to the quality of the liquor supplied. In addition tha fact that an enormous amount of money is Rent out of the district annually for liquor has led to a strong feeling that some form of State Control could be inaugurated in the King Country with beneficial results. At the last election of members of the licensing committee for the district Mr A. Scholes was returned as a member. As the ordinary business of the committee only deals with the licensed houses at the southern end of the district, Mr Scholes quickly realised the futility of his attending meetings at Waitara unless opoortunity was afforded for drawing attention to the unsatisfactory conditions existing in the prohibited portion of the district. At the last meeting of the committee he accordingly gave notice of motion to the effect that tha time had arrived when an alteration of conditions was necessary, and that some form of State or Municipal Control should be established. The motion is to come up for consideration at a meeting to be held at Waitara on Wednesday next. In view of the importance of the occasion it is felt that the public should have an opportunity to express an opinion on the subject, and the Mayor has called a meeting for Monday evening in the Municipal Hall to discuss the question. Mr Scholes will attend the meeting, and it is desired that a free expression of opinion shall be given.