THE LICENSING SYSTEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 28 November 1914, Page 4

THE LICENSING SYSTEM.

SUGGESTED REFORMS. "J-j ' I a RE-MODELLING OP THE-LKKJOB ; :| LAWS. By Telegraph.-Per Press Association. '' \ . . Wellin ,«ton, Last Night. - 7^PmT 10 1 c T onfcrenqe •'■«*• New; Zealand Moderate League was opened today. Mr A. S. Menteath presldedTanJ Dominion secretary, Mr R. A. Anjtatronir was also ire attendance, and submitted a repoct showing that tho league was established on a firm' footing in all fanportant centres throughout the Dominion, and that tho several branches reoort .very keen interest on the part oFShe \ Moderate public, and a daily incaeaiW membership. After a general discussion of tho various remits submitted by the branches, <• the conference adopted the followhuf \ r resolutions:—That this conference 3 delegates of the New Zealand Moderate -V 'League, representing- the organise}•'-' moderate public throughout the Dpmin- K--1 ion, expresses its strong disapproval of - the pledging of Parliamentary candidates ;,' to specific objectives, and the attemnt to .' decide Parliamentary elections on single <' issues, as tending to the prejudicing of. ■" Legislative measures and the defeat of :.' the true functions of Parliament There- v fore, in spito of the fact that suoh-f - pledges have been extracted from some " candidates by the Prohibition party, the Moderate League gives formal notice to "' all candidates and political parties that '■ it considers such specific prc-electloa pledges as ultra vires, and declines ' to recognise the same as binding upon "• those elected to represent all classes of the community, and that it will hold all' members of the new Parliament responsible for the conservation of moderate rights and personal liberties. . That, to this end, it is the intention' ' of the League to advocate the following reforms:—(a) That the present system' >■ of licensing committees be discontinued, i and that there be set up a special Government Department controlling such' district boards as may be necessary to f supervise the manufacture and sale of J alcoholic liquors, and all matters in conmvtion with the administration of laws • relating thereto. (b) The establish- ' ment by the Government of a standard * basis of quality for all liquors imported and manufactured, in bond or otherwise - and the subsequent rigid examination of • same in both wholesale and retail houses under a systematic.scheme. (c) That district boards be appointed under clause (a) hereof to investigate all matters relating to tho granting of licenses, covering the fitness of the applicant, the terms under which the applicant is to occupy licensed premises, viz., rent, pay- ■ ment for goodwill, payment for furnilure and fittings and stock in trade, and ' a full knowledge of all restrictions to be" , imposed, directly or- indirectly, by any interested party, with the right for the board to refuse to grant any license when satisfied that the terms and conditions of entry or renewal are prejudiced to the proper fulfilment of the laws, (d) Sales of liquor for consumption off the premises to be restricted to ■ * bottle stores, such bottle stores to be closed earlier than bars, and all vessels containing such liquor to bear the stamp of the vendor, (c) The penalties fo» allowing drunkenness on premises, and for illegal trading and all abuses of the license to be made heavior and more strictly enforced.

' That this conference is of opinio* that the local no-lieense issue should be abrogated and removed from the ballot paper before 1917, as it is similarl* unjust in principle to the "reduction* issue recently eliminated, containing no provisions for the reduction of intem* perance. \

''That immediate steps should be token to improve the present system of private ownership of licensed houses, both by an internal reform of the trade itself, and by an amendment of the gov-* crning legislation, but having in Tien the possible failure of sucli attempts at' improvement, the Government should be requested to appoint an impartial boanj to undertake inquiries into such alternative system, as: (1) The establishment of public trusts with limitation of profits; (2) Municipal control; (3) Stflte control.

"That in view of the present insecurity of tenure of licensees leading to abuses caused by the consequent need for making profits rapidly, and in view) of the great political disturbance caused by the present frequency of licensing polls, this conference is of opinion that a referendum on the' following lines be submitted to the people:—"That the licensing election be held once in every six years."

The following were appointed a legislative and advisory board:—Messrs. A. A. S. Menteath, J. H. Harcourt, J.' F. Atkins, W. Perry, W. E. Pearson, J»< H. Brodrick, J. H. Owen, E. Mace, D. F. Skinner, E. B. Bristow, and also to. act as the central executive for the Dominion.