THE LICENSING BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 41, 9 July 1914, Page 3

THE LICENSING BILL.

To the Editor, — Sir—l read with some interest your leader on the Licensing Bill, and it (teemed to rae you stressed the point that the Moderates are against the 55-45 majority on the question, and I suppose the same Moderates are more or less interested in the "Trade."* Now Wellington, with say, 50,000, marched on Parliament, 50 strong, representing the Moderates, 'and Mr. Massey wriggled as usual in reply to this lot. Let us see, the Prime. Minister is in favor of Temperance. He is also in favor of ■ Moderation, and he intends to give the "Trade" a square deal. Of course, yon laugh; everyone laughs at Reform's "square deal." But to get "back to the Moderate party. The No-license party claims tihcm, on the following grounds: Ninety out of every hundred moderate drinkers don't care whether they can get it or not; they drink because it has grown up a social custom to come and have a drink. The only supporters the "Trade" have are those who like it, and those financially interested in it. 'The press are. not very interested financially, as the "Trade" as a whole do very little advertising. Then the great body of Moderates are against tho liquor ■ traffic, otherwise we should not have such a large majority supporting us. Again, the friends of the "Trade" say the temperance party created the monopoly. I will accept that for argument's sake, but claim if we have caused a monopoly we also have a right to take it away. NoW, sir, does any sane man or woman think that two barmaids' votes are equal or 'better that his mother's and two sisteTs, or your vote, your mayor's vote, and say the Hon. Mr Samuel's vote, not equal to the votes of two deadbeats? There are no moderates in favor of the liquor trade, only those financially interested and those who like it.—l am, etc., C. I). SOLE, Stratford, July 7.