THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 259, 8 December 1909, Page 2

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

REPUDIATION OF THE KECENT COMPACT. "THE TRADE" SPEAKS ITS MIND. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Tuesday. A representative meeting of the Li- ' censed Victuallers' Association was bold to-day, about one hundred delegates being present from all parts of New Zealand. Mr. Martin Kennedy, president of the Brewers' and Wine and Spirit Merchants' Association, was in ,the chair, and explained that the repudiation of the agreement by the New Zealand Alliance was the chief matter before the meeting. Mr. Myers, after referring to the deBire of the No-License Party to have No. License carried on the bare majority > basis, and the wish of the Trade to have ' the present dual vote (reduction and no-license), confined to only one of those i issues, went on to say his party rccog- ' niscd that besides itself and the Prniii- • bition Party, There was another section 1 of the community whose interests h.id s to bo protected—it was the great moderate party. The Trade had sought *o r evolve issues that would protect this j party's interests, whilst conceding at e the same time to the prohibitionists f that for which they were agitating, .inrt remedying, to some extent, injustices to I the Trade. On the Hon. Dr. Findl&y's . suggestion a conference was arranged and an assurance was given by Mr. Wcs- ' ley Spragg and the Rev. Dawson that they had authority to act. The Trade ' would not have disclosed its hand had _ it any idea that this compromise would '" not mean finality. After dealing wiih the three issues, submitted through T)r. '> Findlay, Mr Myers remarked that it was a in compensation for concessions given - 9 national prohibition and a reduced ma- '• jority—that the extension of respite to 0 the Trade was stipulated for in tnse '• prohibition was carried. Prior to the ■t agreement being signed by the Alii nice 19 leaders, the Alliance executive '■■ of the compromises. In view of this a Mr. Myers was at a los* to understand i how the Prohibition Party could hone estly claim that it* leaders were not red presenting flic whole of the people, e| bound together in the nomc of the New i. Zealand Alliance. Surely the monopoly o and all the virtues arrogated to theino selves by the lenders of the No-License a Party were inconsistent with such a rtt prehensible action. What would have d been said had the positions been revcrse ed and the repudiating party been the ( Trade? The action should conclusively t ] satisfy the moderate party, which had e been so sorely misled by the Alliance m the past, what could be expected of the Alliance in the future. The indignation and disgust of the Trade did not ar ; =e from the fact that it was enamoured in any degree with the terms entered into, but from thefnet that the - Trade was deceived by the leader of the Alliance van e so nmvorthilv repudiated the ngreem.-nt f entered on only after much mature deliberation. A genernl discussion followed, a vigor. h ous protest being voiced against the action of the Xo-Licensc Party. The opinion was ;i ls o expressed that in the s circumstances the Trade was entitled to 0 protection by assistance from the Leg*s- - loture. ' " Tic mer.ting then went into commit- . teo. 1 Wellington, Last Night. B The Licensed Victuallers' Conference sat in committee until 5 p.m., all business being completed bv that time. A I resolution was passed to the effect that ■ none of the decisions should he made ' public until they had been placed bef ire ' Sir Joseph Ward. This will probablv be done to-morrow. It is understood ■ the Government is to be asked to legisi late on the basis of the agreement liri rived at recently between the two parties. The conference does not insist nn- , on legislation heing put through this . session, but is anxious that the law "honld be altered in the direction In II- : cated before the next general election. A long discussion also took place on , the question of rents and bonuses. A fair rent agreement was advocated bv several speakers, who pointed out that licensees trafficked too much in their business, and the result was that in many cases they bad no interests to protect at the time* of genera] elections No resolution was put to the meet;!!" on the question. °