THE LIQUOE TRAFFIC.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3095, 19 January 1909, Page 5

THE LIQUOE TRAFFIC.

PROPOSED REFORMS.

REV. THOMSON'S VIEWS.

By TeJergnpn—Press Association. DUNEDIN, January 18.

In the coarse of an interview today, Rev. W. Thomson, agent for the Licensed Victuallers' Association, expressed the opinion that the reforms proposd by "The Tirade" in [ Auckland were very good so far as they go. He had held.for several years that, • provided the present barmaids were justly dealt with—say allowed four or live years work—the work coujd be much better done by men, and after that time he would employ no barmaids. He thought the age at which youths could he served with liquor in hotels should be raised to 21 years, and remarked that the Otago Association asked for that when the 1904 Act was passed. The fault of youthful drunkenness lay largely with the home life. He thought the proposal that no woman should be served with drink for consumption in hotels, unless she was a lodger, was much too arbitrary and severe. On the whole he agreed with the- Auckland suggestion, but "The Trade" must go further. He thought No-License should certainly mean No-Liquor. The law should be amended adding the option in favour of either State or Municipal control. ! He preferred municipal control, giving reasonable compensation by arbitration. He was strongly opposed to the exorbitant rents which some hotelkeepers had to pay.