LICENSING LAW.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 506, 13 November 1909, Page 3

LICENSING LAW.

THE NEW PROPOSALS,

Of all the matter in Sir Joseph Ward’s Budget that which has attracted most attention is the promise of licensing legislation' on lines agreed upon by representatives of the No-License movement and the Trade. The Prime Minister’s' announcement was vague, but a complete outline of the arrangement which has been come to is now available, and is given below. The representatives of the two parties did not come face to face, but the delegation

from each side conferred with the Hon. Dr. Findlay (AttorneyGeneral), who . conducted the negotiations from beginning to end.

The delegates of the Trade were Messrs Martin Kennedy (Chairman of the' Brewers’ Association and managing director of Staples and Company, Ltd.), Mr Leo. Myers (Ehrenfried and Co., Ltd., Auckland), Mr O. Nicholson and Mr Davis, jun. (Moss, Davis, and Company’s Captain Cook Brewery), Mr Mowbray (Great Northern Brewery), Mr Greensjade (Speight and Co., Ltd., < %unedih), Mr Gibbons (Wan-

f inui), and two representatives of

the Licensed Victuallers’ Associatioh, one of whom was Mr Palmer, of Auckland. The Hon JC. Louisson, M.L.C., was to have ramcesented Christchurch trade interests, but owing to Carnival Wee£ he delegated the duty to Mr Leo. Myers. The other side was represented by three officers of the New Zealand Alliance Mr

Wesley Spragg (Auckland), and the Revs. A. Dewdney and J. Dawson (Wellington). THE TERMS.

The terms which' were agreed upon, and which the representatives of both parties have asked the Government to embody in a Bill, with a view to passing it this session are as follows: — i.—-Two issues only shall hereafter be put to the people, viz. (a) I vote that the number of licenses existing in the district continue.

(b) I vote that no licenses be granted in the district. 2.-—The reduction issue has been eliminated.

3. Every vote hereinafter cast for local No-Eicense shall count for national prohibition, and vice versa. 4. —lf prohibition comes into eifect no intoxicating liquor shall be imported, manufactured, or sold in the Dominion, except for scientific or medical purposes. 5. The majority of votes required to carry Dominion prohibition , shall be 55-iooths of all the votes cast. 6. The majority of votes required to carry local No-Eicense shall be reduced from 3-sth to 55- - 100th of all the votes cast.

7. —If Dominion prohibition is carried it shall hot take effect for five years from date of poll. local No-Eicense is carried it shall not take effect for two years after date of poll. 9. —if Dominion prohibition is carried no further poll shall be taken until such prohibition has been in operation for three years, 10. In No-Eicense districts all . votes cast for non-restoration shall count for Dominion prohibition. 11. —lf the votes cast for restoration in any district amount to 55-iooths of all the votes cast, restoration shall be deemed to be’carried.