LICENSING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9647, 12 November 1909, Page 5

LICENSING.

TERMS OF AGREEMENT.

EXPLAINED BY SIR J. G. WARD.

AMENDMENIS TO THE ACT.

The licensing agreement referred to in the Budget la«t night was explained by the Prime Minister in an interview with a "Post" representative. "The securing of such a settlement," said Sir Joseph Ward, "appeared in the circumstances an almost impossible tapk, but I asketf my colleague, the Minister of Justico, see what he could do to effect this end. For ionc time past the Hon. Dr Findlay has bsen in touch with the representatives of both parties, and hist w«.ek he was able, owing to reasonable concessions being made, to induce eae 1 ; party independently to agree to the following amendments being made this year in the Licensing Act:—

1. Irt future two issues to be put to the people—(a) That the number of licenses continue; (b) That no license be granted i.i the district. The issue "that the number of licenses in the district be reduced, not in future to be put-in other words, the reduction issue is to be altogether eliminated in future polls. 2. Fifty-five hundredths of the votes recorded to cany No-liceonse. 3. Provision to be made for national prohibition on the following:— lUvery vote cast for No-license in any district is to count for Dominion prohibition, and the words in the voting paper, 'I vote that Nolicense be granted in the district," are to be added the words, "Ihis vote shall also be counted for Dominion prohibition." ; a 4. Dominion prohibition shall De carried if fifty live hundredths of the votes cast are recordtd in each district for No license.

5. Should Dominion prohibition be carried, it will not take effect for five years aftsr the poll at which it has been carried, and after Dominion prohibition has been carried no further vote shall be taken for three years after Dominion prohibition has been in effect.

6. In future, where no license is carried locally it shall not take effect for two years after the poll at w." ich it has been so carried. 7. In cases in which no-license Las already been carried every vote cast fot non-reßtration shall count for national prohibition, and afterwards in the voting paper. "I vote that licenses be not restored in the district," shall be added the'|words, "This vote shall also be counted for national prohibition."

8. In future restoration may be I earned in any no-licensa district if | fifty-five hundredths of the votes re- ; corded are in favour of restoration. I

9 Upon Dominion prohibition coming into effect no intoxicating liquor of any kind shall be imported into, manufactured, or sold within the Dominion, except or medical and scientific purposes.

"These proposals,'" added Sir Joseph Ward, "have been carefully reduced to writing, and fully accredited representatives of each party have independently requested me to pass legislation embodying them this year. And each party has undertaken to do all in its power to promote the passage and this legislation. In case of i»ny difference of opinion as to draughtsmanship or terms of the proposed Bill, each party has bound itself independently to abide absolutely by the decision of the AttorneyGeneral "

AN NO LICENSE ADVOCATE'S VIEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association. UUNEDIN, November 11.

In conversation with a "Times reporter to-night, Mr A. S. Adams, well known as one of the leaders of the No-License movement said that the main reason for the five years delay in national prohibition wastliat on its being carried the whole of tha Dominion revenue derived from liquor would be struck off, and as the Minister of Finance would have to effect re-adjustments to the extentof £SOO, 000 or £600,000 for a few years until the new condition of affairs had had time to assert itself and the revenue from the increased consumption of other articles would amount to a sufficient sam to replace the revenue from liquor. It was considered fair to fix such a time limit. The concession was, he said, valuable to the Trade, because it would give brewers and licensees time to dispose of their stocks and sssk new investments for their canital. MiAdams said the Bill ought to provide very fully against the possibility reckless trading by licens d ur j n g the period of susperj n t [, e eV ent of No-License ofelng carried. In concl'dsion, Mr^Adams spoke in high terms of praise of Dr.fb'indlay, who carried the thing through from start to finish.