Liquor Legislation is Kept Secret

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 79, 24 June 1927, Page 13

Liquor Legislation is Kept Secret

TRADE SEEKS NEWS MR. COATES AN OYSTER (THE BUN’S Parliamentary Reporter .) WELLINGTON, To-day. proverbial oyster could not have been less communicative than Mr. Coates was to-day on the question of licensing legislation to be introduced' this session. A deputation of nearly 40, representing the United Licensed Trade, waited on him asking for two specific points—retention of the present three-issue ballot paper and security of tenure by the extension of period between polls from three years to nine years. Mr. A. S. Bankart, president of the National Council of the Trade, said that the constant defeat of the New Zealand Alliance’s endeavours completely to abolish liquor proved that the majority of the people favoured its retention, and the short interval of three years could not produce such a reversal of public opinion. Constant polls created unrest in the trade and restricted expenditure on improvements. The existing ballot paper was the direct outcome of a compact or compromise made between responsible representatives of the two contending parties, who were invited by the Government of to-day to confer. Mr. Percy Coyle, of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, asked, in addition to the two chief requests, for more effective inspection of liquor, and more ample penalties for adulteration', also the adoption of the 1924 Parliamentary Committee’s recommendation, that in order to avoid trafficking in licences, transfers should not be allowed under three years, except through sickness, death or other special circumstances. If the three issue were deleted the Government was honourably bound to revert to the three-fifths majority issue. Mr. Coates said that he had already been approached by the other side, who also expressed the desire to have legislation that would place the trade in such a position as to conform to public desires in respect to management and control. He could only tell this deputation the same as the other. The Bill was being drafted containing certain proposals, and it was hoped that the members would have an opportunity of expressing an opinion. “The nature of the Bill I have no intention of discussing now. None whatever,” said Mr. Coates. “I thank you for placing your representations before me and leave it at that.”