POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1919, Page 7

POLITICAL.

MR. HUGHES AT AUROA. THE LIQUOR REFERENDUM. "EE the referendum is not carried at this forthcoming election thefe must be a change to remedy some of the anomalies which exist and therefore improve matters instead of hammering along in the same old style," said Mr. Hughes at Auroa on Wednesday. "I contend l one of the improvements should be the doing away with selling bottles containing alcohol over the bar. Those in the trade are fully aware that the prohibited person causes them a great deal of annoyance. Others get bottles of liquor for them, and then there is trouble. This is proved by the cases which come before the court from time to time. This aspect not only applies to the person who is prohibited, but is also apparent with the Maori and others, particularly the younger generation. There should be an authority where people can get a permit and sign for it, if bottles are wanted in the home for a beverage or for weciicai purposes. Drink is for use and not abuse, not to indulge in to excess, but , to take a drink when one wants it, and nobody should be allowed to get the worse for it. I hold no extreme views on either side, and believe in education as.the solution of the many arguments for and against- continual agitation every three years is too often to have an educative effect, and has caused' and is causing nothing but social warfare. It has made people lose sight of the worth of Parliamentary candidates from a political standpoint, and both extreme sides vote according to the way a. candidate views.liquor instead of how he expresses himself on political measures. This is reflected in our M's.P., and makes them nothing but political woUblers in Parliament, pandering towards each organised section. New Zealand, which at one time was in the van for its legislative laws, contains now very timid men at the hel*n, and one of the reasons, to my way of thinking, is this constant recurring fight over liquor versus no liquor. Until it is mended or ended things will not be righted. "The whole business wants re-adjust-ing. Take, for instance, the flat rate of £4O per annum for town licenses, Why should, say, hotels like Kaponga and Normanby pay each the same as city hotels? The monopoly of the trade is no good, and goodwills are only increments made by good lessees, who, in many instances, decline to renew on such terms, and the consequence is the brewers and spirit merchants put their own tied men in. This means that in this country we have no uniformity and standardisation of drink. Commonsense, in my opinion, should be the arbiter and not the extremist. We shall have to face in the future a great many heavy and serious questions and social warfnre amongst ourselves over this liquor fight will not tend to make us pull together to pilot the State ship into smooth waters." THE STRATFORD SEAT. Mr. R. Masters addressed a meeting of electors at Purangi last evening on the lines of his Mat.au address, At the conclusion, on the motion of Mr. H. C. Dowman, seconded by Mr. Winter, a . resolution was passed with one dissentient, that Mr. Masters be accorded a vote of thanks for his instructive 'address and confidence in him as being a suitable person to represent this district in Parliament.