KING COUNTRY RESTRICTIONS

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 687, 18 July 1914, Page 5

KING COUNTRY RESTRICTIONS

DEPUTATION TO PREMIER ANNULMENT ASKED FOR [IIY TKLEGIIAI'jr. I'RHSS ASSOCIATION. J Wellington, Friday. A deputation from the King Country waß introduced to tlm Premier today by Mr Wilson, to request tie annulment of the Rohepotae antiliquor proclamation and to plice the area in the same effective position for voting on local option iasuas as other European districts. The deputation aho sought legislation for the granting of licenses in the district under municipal control. The deputation included Messrs J. Ormsby.Otorobanga; E. Martin, To Kuiti; J. L. Short, Taumarunui; and A. Wylio, Ohakune. Mr Mnssey pointed out that annulment did not require legislation Mr Martin: Yes, but that would leave us in statu quo, still without licenses. Mr Massoy: Are you prepared to accept, Bay, a position similar to Eden at the present time, where a threefifthn vote is necessary to carry restoration? Mr Martin: Yon. Mr Massey: That, of coursa. involves legislation. Mr Martin: We want the votes of tho people made effective first, then the granting of licenses under municipal control. The deputation dochrod that all tho municipalities concerned would be prepared to take over '-ontrol of licenses. Mr Massoy: Of course you are asking for a tremendous alteration in the policy of tho State, und I could not possibly commit tho Government on my own responsibility. It means the beginning of municipal control in the liquor traffic So fur. wo have managed to keep tho licensing question out of party politics, and hopo to do so right through,, If licenßea are introduced into the King Country, would you bo prepared to go the length of prohibiting tho whole native population? Mr Otmsby said there was more abus3 of liquor among natives and Europeans in t!iw prohibition area than there would b« if it were u license area. Mr Massoy: 1 do not thir.k anything could bo worse than tha presont position in the King Country. Illicit traffic has bncti reduced to a science, and the whele position is very unsatisfactory. The Premier promised to place the matter before Cabinet, but said that so far as tho bill before the Houee was concerned, he did not propose to amend it. It would go to Parliament, from the Govornmant in its presert form. lie pointed out that any private member had the t'u/M of moving an amendment whan tho bill was in committee.