THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4503, 22 August 1893, Page 2

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

(By Telegraph.-Press Association.)

Chrisiohuhoh, August 21, 1 At a meeting of representatives of J Ohriatohurob, Sydenham, St. Albans, 1 Woolston, and Bangiora Prohibition . Leagues, held to-night to oonß'der the ' Government Licensing Bills, the fok . lowing resolutions were passed :->(l) ; I Protesting against the proposed eleo- ' | toral distriotß for licensing purposes 1 and adhering to the existing licensing districts; (2) proposal as to three-fifths majority before locsl Prohibition could be obtained, is a violation of the Democratio principles upon which the Government of tbis Colony id established ; (3) condemuiug the clause referring lo polling half the votes on the roll as all licening questions shpuld be settled by a majority of the votes polled; (4) that club, wholesale and all forms cf license, should come under the direot popular vote, and no appeal from the deoision of the people be permitted ; [s] objecting to the provision extending the period of now licenses for three years; (6) regretting that the checks and safeguards embodied in the Government's proposal should be framed in the interests of publiohouse property, and in opposition to the interests of the people ; (7) that Sir Robert Stout's Bill is beat calculated to effeot a reform of the traffic, and in harmony with the Democratio spirit of the age, and urging the Government to adopt the Bill or give Sir Robert Stout every faoility to pass it. Auckland, August 21. The largest and moßt representative meeting of the liquor trade ever held here took place today. All the brewers, the wine and spirit merchants, the ijrated water manufacturers, and nearly the whole of the licensed victuallers in the district were present, An association was formed an'] details were arranged in regard to combined action for all the forthcoming elections, It was resolved unanimously, 'That this meting disapproves of Beveral clauses in the Liquor Control Bill, more espeoially No 15, two_ thirds of the eleotors on the roll being, in their opinion, the lowest fair majority," It «as considered that the question of dealing with such large interests and a mea« sure affecting the constitution of tho ; Colony, should be first referred to the people for their deoision before any measure is brought in by Parliament, :