LICENSING REFORM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 200, 12 November 1927, Page 10

LICENSING REFORM

NO SUPPORT FROM TRADE PROVISIONS CONDEMNED Press Association. WELLINGTON, To-day. j The licensing trade has issued a j statement to the effect that it is unable to support the Bill introduced by the Prime Minister. It objects to the substitution of two issues for three, and views with alarm the powers given to committees to compel vast expenditure in alterations and improvements, as compensation for the small extension of tenure from three to six years. . x .. The trade takes exception to the inclusion of licensed premises within the boundaries of no-license districts, and opposes the withdrawal of the rights of electors in no-license districts to record votes in favour of j restoration, which, it thinks, may have | been an oversight. It also condemns 1 the practice of the prohibition party extracting pledges from members of Parliament as likely to prevent free expression of opinion. The New Zealand Alliance lias also issued a further statement denying that it is not desirous of allowing the Bill to proceed. While opposed to some of the provisions, it considers that Parliament should be given an opportunity of deciding the issues involved, in accordance with the pledges given by members. It also disavows participation in any attempt to kill the Bill on the second reading. N.Z. CLUB’S PROTEST REMOVAL OF MIDDLE ISSUE Press Association. DUNEDIN, Friday. The Dominion executive of the Associated Clubs of New Zealand met yesterday. The following resolutions were carried unanimously: •‘The executive of the Associated Clubs of New Zealand emphatically protest against the removal of the middle issue from the ballot paper in the vote on the licensing question. “The executive regrets that the Licensing Bill does not contain the recommendations of the special Parliamentary Committee of 1924, and urges that clause 11 of these recommendations, relating to clubs, be embodied in the Licensing Bill.”