OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 134, 27 May 1926, Page 4

OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

THE LIQUOR QUESTION. At a first glance the Prime Minister’s suggestion, made to the deputation from the New Zealand Alliance, that as the Government is drafting a Licensing Bill, “ the representatives of both sides should come together to discuss certain questions,” might appear to be reasonable and useful. Only an incorrigible optimist would expect that such a conference would lead to agreement on any of the really-important issues involved,'since the New Zealand Alliance is unable to compromise, and will accept nothing which will not hold out the hope that the ceming of Prohibition will be hastened. This is not a reason, of course, why a conference ought not to be held, for it cannot by itself do much harm even if it can do no good. We are not concerned i just now, however, to speculate upon \ the chance that the Alliance and the i Liquor Trade’s representatives will ! emerge from the conference room arm in arm with a joint policy. What seems to require immediate attention ( is the phrase “ both sides.” The ’ country, we- are sure, is sick and tired of seeing the liquor question handled : or referred to as only a dispute be- | tween the makers and vendors of liquor on the one hand and the Pro- : hibitionists on the other. These are | interested parties, deeply-interested ' parties, but they have no right whatever to claim, or to be accorded, the pi-ivilege of settling between them the manner in which the public demand to be supplied with liquor shall he treated. The question is one in which the general public should be heard, and it will never be properly handled until the Government and Parliament get rid of the idea that the issue lies beween the Trade and the Alliance. Whether the conference of “ both | sides ” proposed by Mr. Coates is held or not, the public will by no means accept it as a conference with any authority to pronounce upon the liquor question.—Christchurch Press.