THE LICENSING ACT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10155, 29 December 1910, Page 5

THE LICENSING ACT.

AND ITS RECENT AMENDMENTS ADDRESS BY MR~R. A. WRIGHT, M.F. During an interval. in the proceedings at the Auckland Central Mission Band's concert in Masterton last evening, Mr R. A. Wright, M.P. for Wellington South, delivered a short address in explanation of the new amendments of the Licensing Act, and lion- they affected the No-license Party. Mr W.right, who was introduced to the audience by Messrs J. Bridges and D. McGregor junr'., prefaced Ms remarks by complimenting the people of Masterton on their achievement in. carrying No-license. He dwelt briefly upon-the new amendments to the Licensing Bill, touching the abolition of the ' 'locker" system" and barmaids, the Dominion Prohibition issue, the raising of the age limit to 21, and the abolition of bottle and wholesale licenses, all of which he singled out as gains for the No-license Party. The Trade, he said, thought they had beaten the No-license party, but this was not so. They attempted to get both the Dominion and local Prohibition issues placed upon the one paper, but several in the House were determined to fight for the two~ papers, and they had won. He instanced the "locker" system as really an evasion of the spirit of the law. The Trade had gained the abolition of the Reduction issue, but this would not prove disastrous to the No-licenso Party. The four years' grace to the Trade after the carrying of Dominion Prohibition was decidedly wrong, and the Party wore going to have that period considerably reduced. Mr Wright referred to the three-fifths majority as an unfair, unjust and wicked law, and said that everyone should fight ~f or the bare majority at the local option polls. There was a growing feeling in New Zealand against the thvee-fifths majority. He called upon the people of the Masterton electorate to help the people in the cities where it was impossible to carry No-license on account of the large interests the Trade had, by voting for 'Dominion prohibition. Mr Wright Avas applauded on resuming his seat.