Page 10 Advertisements Column 4

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1922, Page 10

Challenge Answered! Drastic Reform of the Liquor Trade. Business Management with State Control. During the discussion of the Liquor Problem at the Anglican General Synod, held in April last, and at the Auckland Diocesan Synod, held in October, the opponents of Prohibition were taunted with being inconsistent because they refused to sanction the extinction of the Licensed Trade, and yet could not suggest any practical remedy for the admitted evils of .the Trade under present conditions. The General Synod.refused to recommend Church people to vote for Prohibition, but expressed its conviction that Christian people, unless they are prepared to vote for Prohibition, should have some other drastic remedy. The General Synod’s resolution was rejected by the Diocesan Synod by one vote, and a motion in favour of Prohibition was then carried. As supporters of the motion so narrowly rejected by the Diocesan Synod, and being fully aware of the many evils at present connected with the abuse of alcoholic liquors, and being desirous of forwarding the cause of Christian temperance, we view with alarm the efforts at present being made to carry into effect the policy of Prohibition in this Dominion. We are convinced that any community when confronted with an evil, must be satisfied that any remedy proposed must fulfil two conditions:— 1. That it must be equitable—not contrary to basic principles of morality and ethics, and not interfering unnecessarily with personal liberty. 2. That it is likely to be effective. Careful consideration brings us to the conclusion that the policy of Prohibition fulfils neither of these two conditions. We are aware that many are prepared to vote for Prohibition at the forthcoming referendum, not because they either like or approve of the policy, but because they feel that no other means can be devised to eradicate existing evils. Deploring as greatly as anyone the manifest evils of alcoholic excess, and believing that effective remedy of the evils can be brought about-, we have set ourselves to the framing of a policy of Licensing Beform, and in the following suggestions we believe that we have arrived at proposals which would give a reasonable, just, businesslike, and effective method suitable for this Dominion. PROPOSALS. 1. That the whole of the. manufacture, importation, and distribu- 8. The Corporation could be given power to experiment in the tion of alcoholic liquors in the Dominion be vested by Act of provision of alternatives to the liquor tavern, such as the Irench Parliament in a Corporation. Cafe, or other system of refreshment houses to which people 2. That all holders of Wholesale Licenses and Brewers’ Licenses could freely resort for social intercourse. shall be required to sell their businesses to this Corporation. , x SOME OF THE MORE OBVIOUS ADVANTAGES OF THESE 3. That the Government of New Zealand shall acquire a substantial interest in the Corporation by the issue’ of debentures, which PROPOSALS ARE : the vendors would be required to accept in payment of such interest as the Government might acquire. (a) That a Corporation under Government control would be the 4. The Corporation should be under- the direction of a body of sole authority for the manufacture, importation, and distribupractical and experienced men, and it is suggested therefore tion of all alcoholic liquors. that a Board of Directors, consisting of, say, nine gentlemen, the man ent o{ all public houses wou l d be under the should be formed; the Government should have the right to ' ' ■ ” nominate, in addition to the Chairman, four of these Directors, control of the Corpora ion. while the Shareholders would have the right of election from. (- c q Tbat the “tied house” system would automatically cease, among their number of four members. The Government, in ’ addition to its right of nomination of four Directors, should also (d) That the public would be protected against the adulteration ol nominate the Chairman, who it is hoped would be an experi- liquor and the selling of liquor of inferior quality. enced Magistrate-thus of the nine Directors, fiveb including the Cafo t(jm or c#rlißle could be Chairman, would be m the nomination ol the Government. A '■ ' e j Corporation, thus constituted would be on lines similar to those given a reasonable trial. of the Bank of New Zealand, which is acknowledged to be one That tbe present fictitiously high values of licensed premises of the most successful semi-State Institutions in the Empire, would be reduced. and would ensure the combination of Business Management with State. Control. . (g) That profits on the sale of liquor would be regulated. 5. That the vendors accept shares in the Corporation in payment (h) That the Government’s share in the Corporation would be of the balance of purchase money 7. acquired without any actual money payment. 6. That the dividends on all shares be limited. Excess profits to (jy That the management of hotels and public houses would be be applied to National purposes, such as extinction of National under the direct control of the Corporation, which would be Debt, payment of Hospital Subsidies, construction and main- partially owned and wholly directed by the State, thus ensurtenance of Public Highways, etc. ing the reasonable wants of the public being adequately and 7. That legislative authority be given to the Corporation to act as suitably catered for. the sole authority for the issue of permits to sell alcoholic liquors That all excess profits would become the property of the State, as in the Province of Quebec. The conditions under which such and not of private individuals, and would be devoted to permits would be granted would be the maintenance of hotels National purposes. to a high standard of conduct, and the provision of adequate accommodation to meet the requirements of the public. We (k) That the permission or encouragement of drunkenness by are of opinion that one valuable condition might be the abolition holders of permits would be eliminated, as this would involve of the sale of spirits over the counter. the cancellation of the permit. We, with confidence, commend these proposals to the Electors for their serious consideration, ns providing a drastic remedy for the Reform of the Licensed Trade of this Dominion, at the same time reminding them that the Bight Hon. the Prime Minister has stated in Parliament that, if Prohibition is not carried at the forthcoming poll he will introduce legislation providing for a drastic reform of the Licensing Laws. The carrying of Prohibition would effectively preclude the Prime Minister from carrying into effect his declared intention. We pledge ourselves, in the event of Prohibition not being carried, to do all in our power as citizens to stir up public opinion so that some such scheme as the above shall be carried into effect, at the earliest possible date. PERCY T. WILLIAMS, M.A., Cambridge, G. GORDON BELL, M.A., Cambridge, Hon. Canon of S. Mary’s Cathedral, Auckland. Vicar of Holy 7 Sepulchre, Auckland. Warden of S. John's College, Auckland. PERCIVAL JAMES, M.A., Oxford, NORMAN E. BURTON, Hon. Canon and Vicar of S. Mary’s Cathedral, Auckland. Seconder in Synod of Canon Williams’ amendment.

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