THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 154, 8 October 1910, Page 4

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

THE GOVERNMENT'S BILL. PROVISION (FOR A NATIONAL VOTE, FIFTY-FIVE PER CENT. MAJORITY, By' Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this evening the Licensing Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. Sir Joseph Ward explained that the Licensing Rill provided for <i system of voting under which the vote' for or against national prohibition could be taken upon a basis of 55 per cent, majority. Two issues only would be placed before the electors, namely, national prohibition and local prohibition. The votein favor of the former would also count in favor of the latter. In the event of national prohibition being carried, it would become operative in four years. During that time liquor shall not be imported, manufactured or sold in New Zealand. If local no-license is carried ; t would come into force one year after the date of the poll. Every vote cast at the general election will count for or against national prohibition. No liquor shall be sold to any person under 21, The employment of barmaids shall be restricted to those registered on a roll made after the coming into operation of ■the Act, tout this will not apply to the wives or daughters of the occupiers of hotels or to females who conduct hotelson their own account. A number of other alterations are proposed under the Bill, including one providing that prohibition voting in cities shall not be taken into individual electorates, but districts shall be grouped. The Bill was read a first time.