WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1917, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

6TATE CONTROL. ' (From Our Own Correspondents)'. •Wellington, Jan. 5. The cablegrams published during the last few days, suggesting that Stat# control *t me liquor traffic is one of the reforms the Imperial Government ha« in contemplation, have excited a g*pd deal of interest here among people who; are not prepared to go the whole length oi prohibition, and yet despair of get-, ting satisfactory results from the iresent licensing system. Mr. Masfey ha* pronounced definitely against State con» trol, and though his trip Home andhii intercourse with more daring politiciani may load him to revise his attitude to« wards many social (juestions, 'he it hardly likely to signal his return by renouncing the profession of faith he madi in the House only last session. But Sir ■Joseph Ward and other members of thai National Cabinet are warm supporters ofi State control, and if the Prohibitionist# 1 would withdraw their illogical opposi« tion to the reform, it almost certainly; could be carried through the present Parliament. The'objection of the extrcmists in the tonffernuce party to anything in the shape of a compromise is that it would divert votes from tbeUf own particular chre for. the evils of th< drink "traffic, but the reformers maintain that the adoption of State control, in«' stead of prejudicing the case, would really help it by getting rid of the proprietary interest that brings so many guns into aetior at pollings time.