LICENSING REFORM

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 108, 28 July 1927, Page 18

LICENSING REFORM

CORPORATE CONTROL PLAN CONFERENCE OF SUPPORTERS Press Association. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. About 80 delegates from all parts of the Dominion attended the annual conference of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association. Archdeacon Williams presided. There was an assurance, said the chairman, that the Licensing Bill would be introduced at this session of Parliament. He hoped it would be framed on lines of reform. Corporate control would meet the needs of New Zealand. Briefly put, this proposal meant State control without State expenditure. The Rev. Gordon Bell, Auckland, moved: “That the conference reaffirm its conviction that the corporate control proposal provides a sound and practical solution of the liquor question in New Zealand, and strongly urges that it be submitted to the electors as an issue at future polls.” The resolution was carried unanimously. Dr. J. C. Collins, Gisborne, moved: "That, in view of the abandonment of prohibition in Canada and ether countries that have experimented with the system, the conference respectfully urges upon members of the Legislature to recognise the grave danger of placing New Zealand in such a position as would make it possible to plunge the country by r. catch vote into disastrous conditions, that have been shown to follow attempted prohibition wherever tried.” The resolution was carried. The following resolution dealing with the question of election pledges was also carired: “That, in view of the continued political activity of the prohibtion party, and the imminent danger of Parliament becoming con trolled by an outside organisation, this conference authorises the Dominion executive, if found necessary, to prepare and establish in every electorate throughout the Dominion an organisation for the purpose of ensuring that every elected candidal - will enter Parliament free of all pledges except those required by his own political party.”