THE LICENSING BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 14 September 1907, Page 3

THE LICENSING BILL.

MR. T. E. TAYLOR'S OPINION.

Christchurch, Sept. 7. Mr T. E. Taylor says that the Government's new Licensing Bill which has been introduced into ihe House of Representatives is jboth good and bad. He explained to a reporter that the Bill seeks to remove disabilities that the Prohibition Party labored under since the early "nineties." Before the Alcoholic Liquor Sales Control Act ond under the old legislation of 1881, an appeal on the licensing question was made to public opinion every year in the shape of the annual election of a licensing committee. When the throe years tenure was conceded to the trade by Mr Seddon in 1804 it was strongly resisted by the Prohibition Party, and ever since that time the party has contended more or less vigorously against the, provision that permits a Parliamentary dissolution to interfere with the triennial poll on the licensing election, and the proposal in the Bill to allow a triennial appeal to public opinion quite independent of any political question, such as a dissolution of Parliament, Mr Taylor feels it is quite in accordance with'democratie principle, and is, in short, a simple. «„t nf iii-ticc. Ru is glad that the Government has introduced the Bill, and he sees no difficulties in the way of its passage through Parliament unless the majority of members in the House are prepared to violate a fundamental right of democracy. The Bill contains only two clauses, and the second one provides that when licensing polls are being taken each of the four cities shall be a licensing district. Mr Taylor objects to this, and says that his party will protest against the inclusion of Avon in Cliristclmreli, and Newtown in Wellington. He cannot find a single sound reason for the inclusion of Avon in Christchurch, and he expresses a hope that the Bill, which will give relief to the reform party as far as the triennial poll is concerned will not be hampered by a provision which will be likely to delay the carrying of "No license" in Avon and other suburban districts affected.