Voided Polls.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 178, 1 August 1904, Page 3

Voided Polls.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. " CLAUSE 9 " AGAIN. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 30. A larg* deputation, representing the prohibition party througnour the colony waited on the Premier this af ternoon. Rev. J. Dawson said the deputation represented a solid body ol' 150,000 voters, of all shades of politics. Mr A. R. Atkinson said the deputation came in the name of the democracy and justice to urge that the country should no longer be subjected to the outrage and scandal that had been revealed by the upsetting oi the licensing polls in the Newtown and Bruce districts. They did not ask for a substantial change in the licencing law. They simply wished to ensure that the powers of the people over liquor licenses should bu made a reality, instead of a farce, as the decision of the Privy Council had unfortunately revealed them to be. i'hey simply asked that Mr Tanner'b Regulation of Local Elections Act Amendment Bill be taken up by the Government, and placed on the Statute Book this session. There was not a syllabi© in that bill favouring one side more than another. Representatives from Ashburton expressed indignation at the wild statements that were being made by the.r detractors', and gave instances of the benefits attendant on the prohibition regime in the district. Some of the deputation entered a strong protest against Clause 9, which thoy declared were not asked for or desired by the people of the colony.

Rev. F. W. isitt stated that unless their claim to have the liquor traffic made subject to the will of the people was acceded to, it would be necessary to form a temperance political party, although the temperance people did not want to have this course forced on them. Mr Seddon said he had been' Informed by members of Parliament that Mr Isitt had an understanding with Mr M'USsey, Leader of the Opposition. Was that so ? Mr isitt replied Absolute.,, no." He had said nothing to air Massey that he wou,d not say here. Mr Seddon said he accepted the assurance. He went on to say, in replj to the request that the importation and sale of liquor in the Cook Group should bo prohibited, that so long as he was head of the Government natives in these islands would not tie allowed to obtain liquor. Members of the Ministry were unanimous in desiring to guard the natives as far as possible against the evils of intoxicating liquors. He den!bd that Clause 9 was first suggested by him as a Joke. Referring to the voided polls he declared that as 'far as he himself and his colleagues rould go the will of the people should have effect. The Government would mukc provision for the defect in the law in regaid to a second poll in the Licensing Bill. He could not say that the Government would *ake up Mr Tanner's bill, as the Goveisment already had a bill prepared which would be satisfactory to the deputation and meet what they desired in the matter. It had been suggested that the principle embodied in Clause 9 be referred to a vote of the people at the next general election. Tho views of the deputation would bo carefully considered by the Cab'not. He h a d never made the licensing question a party question, and would never do so. The Licensing Bill and Regulation of Local Bodies Election Bill would be introduced by the Government this session. Under the latter measure a recurrence of the Newtown and Bruce trouble would be impossible. The Government would do its beat to get these bills on the Statute Book.