THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10157, 29 November 1910, Page 4

THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

The now Licensing Bill is creating a, flutter. Parliament, without waiting to consult the people, has decided that No-license shall practically mean No-liquor. The wiping out of the locker system has meant j the, wiping out of "treating" in. any shape or form. A man may have liquor for consumption on. his own premises, but he must not supply it to other people. There is no wonder that the liquor advocates of the Dominion are smiling a very big smile. The objectionable principle which was embodied in clause 9 in the late Mr Seddon's Bill, and which was repeated when it was sought by Sir "Joseph "Ward to make every man who voted No-license vote Prohibition, is to be found in ' the Licensing Bill which has now become law. The curtailing of the privileges of the people under Nolicense will mean that a great number who voted .No-license will reverse their vote at the next poll, unless the law is amended in the; meantime. The No-license paj-ty has been caught napping. The passing of the Licens- ' ing Act of this session is a distinct 'breach of faith with the public. It imposes restrictions which were not contemplated when the licensing poll was taken, and it is therefore both morally and constitutionally wrong.