NO-LICENSE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 921, 22 November 1910, Page 3

NO-LICENSE.

Auckland, Nov. 19. The president of the New Zealand Alliance, Mr Wesley Spragg, referring to the new licensing Act, made an important statement from the No-liceuse Party’s standpoint to day. “ Whatever,” said Mr Spragg, ‘‘may be said in favour of the new licensing law, the three-fifths handicap leaves it an uusatislactory measure. It has good points, but these are overshadowed by the undemocratic voting provision. The next election will be fought out on the .estiou of whether the votes of a pothouse loafer and his feminine equivalent are to be equal to the votes of three opponents of the liquor traffic. No candidate is likely to be elected to perpetuate what everybody knows to be opposed to democracy, fair play and good Government. “ The reduction issue being deleted is a concession to the trade. The introduction of the Dominion issue is an acknowledgment of a principle which will be useful later on, even if its immediate practical value is not much. The provision for doing away with the barmaid is a healthy expression of public sentiment, as is also the raising of the age at which a youth can be supplied with liquor. The universal compulsory closing at 10 o’clock will mean much for the sobriety of the people. Every hour a bar is closed will be a saving of money, and will promote the health, life and happiness of the community. These latter principles are all steps in the right direction, only they should be extended so as to protect the people for the whole twenty-four hours. The removal of the brewery depots to a distance of five miles from the borders of No-license electorates is another partial acknowledgment of a principle which will have an educational value out uf proportion to its practical value. To restrict aud ban evil is better than to let it flaunt itself unchallenged. This is the teaching of civilisation. “ With all our disappointment aud dissatisfaction, we recognise that something has been gained. The way is now clear for a fight on the simple majority —the democratic majority—at the next election.”