THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1917, Page 8

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

EFFICIENCY BOARD'S PROPOSALS. (Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Xight. The report of the Xational Kniciencv Hoard with regard to the liquor traffic Was laid lx>fore Parliament to-day. The Board 9tates it has not been influenced by tlie moral aspects of the liquor queslion at all. It lays emphasis oil the economic advantages of removing the inefficiency at present created by'alcohol. The Board is convinced that from a national cllicieney point of view it would bo beneficial to the nation and conducive to the well-being of the people that the importation, manufacture, and sale of wines, beer, and spirituous liquors, including medicinal preparations containing alcohol, should be prohibited. This view is supported, in the opinion of the. Board, by the results obtained in \<v,v Zealand under conditional prohibition, and by experience wherever prohibition has operated. The Board recognises that prohibition is a pcoplo's question, and recommends that legislation should be passed submitting the question of national prohibition to a vote of the people at the tarliest possible moment, the vote to be on the basis of immediate prohibition, accompanied by reasonable compensation to the interests affected. Xo compensation need be paid to individual employees, since they could be absorbed in oilier occupations. The parties to lie compensated, says the Board, are represented by the breweries, wholesale and retail licensed vendors, vignerous and wine manufacturers, hop growers, anil owners ol properties to which a retail license is attached. The compensation should be based upon the difference between the market lalue of the assets as used at present, taking into consideration tho present licensing ton's and all other circumstances and conditions associated with the trade.and the value of such assets without a license. Tho Board suggests that the money could be paid in (iovernment securities bearing tho same rate of interest and with the same currency as war debentures. It is satisfied that the State would be recouped by increased national efficiency. The Board believes the people of Kew Zealand would approve of the opportunity being alforded them to vote 011 tho question. The 'Board adds that, whatever may be done with regard to prohibition, it earnestly recommends as an essential of national efficiency that legislation sliall he passed without delay to provide for tlie enforcement of the following conditions: Xo sale of liquor is to be permitted before 8 a.m. or after <1 p.m. on four days in tho week. '.I p.m. on one day, and 1 p.m. on the statutory halfholiday. Xo sale of alcoholic liquor sliall i>o permitted on Sundays or oji certain holidays. The Hoard suggests a provision to permit the serving of liquor to boarders in the regulation meal rooms of hotel?. Another recommendation is that the standard strength of brandy, whisky, rum, and gin shall lie reduced to not more than oil degrees under proof. Certain amendments designed to increase the stringency of the licensing laws are li.«' ;iboiition of all packet and conditional license^.

In conclusion the jilaetN oil record that, whilst at first it looked into the matter from the point of view of war condtiions. yet, as the inquiry proceeded, it became apparent that in the interests of national eHk-ieiicy the Hoard liad to consider the liquor question also from the point of view of the ellieieiicy of tin; State and of tin 1 individual, both during the war and afterwards. It lias, therefore, drafted its recommendations so as to promote permanent national cllicienev.