THE LICENSING ACT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 16 October 1913, Page 5

THE LICENSING ACT.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. A large deputation representative of the N.Z. Licensed Victuallers' Association and the wholesale and retail I trade generally, was introduced to I the Prime Minister by Mr J. Bollard, M.P., this evening. Mr Bollard said that the deputation was desirous of maintaining the present licensing law unaltered, and favoured: the retention of the threefifths majority on all issues as a margin of safety to secure stability !and security. Every electorate was represented in the delegation. Mr J. Beveridge, read a lengthy statement, in which argument against the 55 per cent and bare majorities were, elaborated, They deemed it advisable, not only from their own point of view, but from the standpoint of the country, that any change should be -made in'the existing law/' and they reininded Mr Mas- i sey that three years; age he declared against any reduction of the threefifths Bjajoritjy because it had secured stability. Mr Massey* in reply, said he had received a number of deputations on. this subject, commencing with a deputation from the trade, asking for legislation, and suggesting an alteration in the way of putting the questions on the ballot paper. Since s then, others had asked for a reduction of the majority required for '' local or national prohibition. To these deputations he had not been w able to say positively whether legislation would be introduced c! "ing the' present session or not; It .Id not be fair to his colleagues it "ie said so at the moment, but he would say that in ca: of legislation being."'/ introduced , this year, or next session, it would not be considered a party question. Each member would bo expected to vote according to the pledges he had made, and the understanding he had with his constituents. The end of the session was approaching, and the Ministry would very probably within a week, make public its decision. "We expect," he said, "to finish the session about the end. of November. If we decide to introduce licensing legislation during the preesht session, our decision will be made known in a few days." In view of what'had taken place, he could noti give them a definite answer whether legislation would be introduced, but their representations, which .would be conveyed to Cabinet, .would be given consideration.