THE LICENSING QUESTION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10670, 17 July 1912, Page 5

THE LICENSING QUESTION

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. (By Telegraph — Press Association.) WELLNIGTON, Last Niglit. A deputation, numbering about thirty, representing the New Zealand Alliance, waited on the Prime Minister (Hon. ,W. F. Ma&sey) this even-; ing. The speakers were the Rev. W. J. Comrie (chairman of the Alliance), Messrs A. R. Atkinson, 6. Carson (Wangamui) and E. A. Wright. , The deputation asked for the reduction of the three-fifths majority (which they said was intolerable), stricter administration ,of the law in the King Country; one brewery—one license (this involving the abolition of depots); the enforcement of ten o'clock closing and Sunday closing; an amendment of the law which now allows." the employment of unregistered" barmaids in private bars, by providing for one license, one bar; for a i'resh poll to be taken on the Licensing question if a dissolution, takes place one year after a general election; an electoral reform providing for purging the rolls and tlie prevention of tarn- | per.ing with ballot papers.. - The deputation asked that the iG> vernment em'body the foregoing amendments in a Bifl during the earning lesion, or, failing .that, that a Bill dealing simply with the majority question be introduced .. In reply, Mr Mnssey said there was no chance of the .'Government "bringing forward a Licensing Bill this session, ■except to .meet the point .ratsed, regarorhg barmaids; ibut if a private .member brought dowa ,a Ei'l dealing with the whole question, the iGovern-" nnont wou'ld jplaee nc, obstacle in its way. As to the King Country, the '(European population .was increasing i'there so rapidly that the . time was coming rvvhen the population of 'that (district mitfyt have tdie right to say "yes" or "no" concerning licenses. Mr Masyey said tlie Government j -would administer the existing law strictly and impartially. Personally, he was iquite unpledged on the question of the three-fifths majority. As 'to the request for one license—one brewery, in order-to abolish depots, Oie would require time to make inquiries into that .phase of the question.