AUCKLAND ALLIANCE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 145, 27 March 1872, Page 3

AUCKLAND ALLIANCE.

The sub-committee appointed to prepare a petition to ii>e Bench of Magistrates against the granting of any additional licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors met last evening, when the following form of petition was approved : “ To the Worshipful the Justices of the Peace of the City of Auckland, in session assembled : The humble petition of the undersigned inhabitants of the city of Auckland and its vicinity sheweth, —That your petitioners learn with regret that several new applications hat e been made to your Worshipful Court for licenses to sell intoxicating liquors. Your petitioners firmly believe that it would be inimical to the welfare of social order to have the number of public-houses, which your petitioners are convinced are already more than sufficient to meet the supposed requirements of the population, increased ; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, earnestly entreat your Worships to refuse all applications for additional licenses. Your petitioners would also humbly desire to express their hope that, in the case of houses against which information may have been laid for misconduct, your Worships will deem it expedient to refuse a renewal cf any such licenses. And your petitioners will ever pray."— The following petition to the General Assembly was also agreed to :—" To the Honourable the liepresentatives of the General Assembly of New Zealand. The bumble petition of the undersigned inhabitants of Auckland, in the colony of New Zealand showeth, —That your petitioners deplore the prevalence of intemperance amongst a large portion of the people, and believe that the immorality, crime, disease, insanity, and poverty that abound are mainly occasioned by this vice : and your petitioners are fully convinced that the common sale of intoxica- | ting liquors is the prolific cause of j intemperance and is therefore justly j chargeable with the miseries that flow from that vice. Many of your petitioners have repeatedly memorialised the local and general legislatures of the colony to pass a law that shall have for its object the amelioration of the social conditions of the people, by conferring on the inhabitants a veto power over the granting of publicans’ licenses; and your petitioners would respectfully direct the attention of your honourable House to the recent legislation on the subject by the Provincial Council of Auckland. Your petitioners have also observed with deep pleasure the attempt made in the last session of your honourable House to introduce a measure having a similar object. Your petitioners j earnestly entreat your honourable House i to pass an enactment that shall secure to ! two-thirds of the male and female adult inhabitants of any city, township, or district. the power to veto the granting or renewal of publicans’ licenses within their respective localities ; and your petitioners would humbly ask your honourable House to make provision for taking the votes of the people by means of officers appointed j under the provisions of an Act of the j Legislature. And your petitioners will ! ever pray."—Cross.