THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 507, 16 November 1909, Page 2

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

SOME PRESS AND PERSONAE OPINIONS.

It certainly amazes us that any level-headed temperance reformer cannot see that his party stands to lose very much more than it can possibly gain by the deal. Except the reduction of the majority, which standing alone would clearly have represented an immense gain, the Alliance seems to us to lose all along the line. The right of voting on Dominion option has of course, been secured; but in our opinion the party would be far better off without it, at any rate for many years to come. — Evening Post. The licensing agreement was a complete surprise.—Palmerston Times.

We must confess to being unable to contemplate the new licensing proposals with quite so much satisfaction as the leading prohibitionists. If legislation is passed on the lines indicated the licensing poll will certainly cease to have the same local significance it had before, and communities of people who happen to be satisfied with the conduct of the hotels in their midst or to see nothing essentially vicious in a glass of beer will be at the mercy of the citizens in other parts of the Dominion who entertain different opinions on these points.—N.Z. Times. It seems to me that the whole agreement is a gamble, and it is my opinion that the No-license movement has been set back 20 years-—F, M. B. Fisher, M.P. Some of the public appear to be inclined to scoff at the spectacle of the New Zealand Alliance and certain of the breviers putting their heads together and deciding to their mutual satisfaction what is desirable in the interests of the general public in the matter of licensing legislation. The Prohibitionists, no doubt, have gained| a decided advantage in the concession that a 55 per cent, majority will be sufficient to carry a poll as against the 60 per cent, requited at present. The Eiquor interest, on the other hand, have been granted two years instead of six months in which to close up their business interests in the event of no-license being carried in any local option district. The granting of national prohibition as an issue to be decided at the triennial poll, which has long been clamoured for by the Prohibitionists, may in the end prove a doubtful gain. There are many people who vote no , -license who will not vote no-liquor.—The Dominion.

“Some members of our party will be dissatisfied that we are not to have bare majority rule, and I sympathise with them. With the altered conditions both sides will fight with renewed vigour. We are looking for an early victory which we think is overdue, and which we believe cannot be long delayed by any possible action.” —Mr Wesley Spragg, President of the Alliance.

Any arrangement acceptable to both sides that would secure some sort of finality to the endless conflict, and would thus enable the electors to deal with other public questions with an open mind, must, in our opinion, be an improvement on the existing state of affairs ; and while the scheme proposed by Government is of course open to criticism, we believe that it presents so many advantages that Parliament is likely to adopt it either in its present shape or in . some slightly modified form.'—Auckland Star.

The struggle at the next poll will probably be more keen than anything that we have seen yet. All that the compromise amounts to is that the combatants have agreed to limit the, fight within a certain area.- — Christchurch Press. I want one side or the other to win, and this should be possible under the suggested amendment of the licensing law.” —Mr F. McFarland. President of the Wellington licensed Victuallers’ Association.

We may, on our own account, express surprise that the leaders of the No-Ucense party should have set their sign and seal to a document that gives so much to the other side and so little to their? own. The only admirable feature to the compromise is the agreement upon the majority that shall be necessary to carry no-license or restoration.— Lyttelton Times. The Temperance Party appears

to be very well pleased with the suggested amehdjrients, arid certainly the brewers should be.Carterton News. /

We do not know yet whether the wolf and the lamb will lie down together but the Ministry may be congratulated upon preparing a comfortable bed for the pair.—Masterton Times. The agreement arrived at by the accredited representatives of the No-license organisations and the “Trade” is in every way, commendable, viewed from the public stand-point, and both parties are to be congratulated upon having arrived at the determination to make the issue a clear one. —Auckland Herald.

Yesterday the Trade was in the position of a besieged citadel rather short of munitions of war ; to-day it is in the extraordinary position of having its armoury replenished by the attacking force! Whose, now, is to be the “ glorious victory?” Petone Chronicle.

We cannot help hazarding the opinion that eventually the whole compromise will be dropped.— Wanganui Herald.