Club Charters and No License.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6097, 19 October 1903, Page 2

Club Charters and No License.

[Communicated.] The deputation consisting of Mr Hardiug and the Eev. R. Raine, sent from the No Lloe, nse Council, Ashbnrton i was introduced by Mr McLaohlan, member for Ashburton to Sir Joseph Ward on Wednesday afternoon last, at Wellington. Mr Harding said the League wished to call the attention o£ the Minister to the fact that the sale of liquor still continued in the "No License " district of Aehburton, and requested the Government to introduce a Bill this session to bring Clubs into line with hotels. He pointed out the unfairness of compelling publicans to close and allowing Clubs to sellhquor. Such a position made it much more difficult for the police to carry out i their work thoroughly. Mr Raine pointed out that the great bulk, if not all of the No License voters in the Ashburton Electorate fully expected that ; should no license be carried, both Clubs and licensed houses alike would be affected. He further drew the attention of the Minister to the overwhelming vote for "No License," there being no less than 1,136 of a majority ana nearly 100 over and above the threeI fifths majority. Should the sale of liquor : be allowed to continue in the face of such a | vote, the democratic principle was under- ( mined, and the effect of such an anomaly would be damaging to any Government allowing such a state of affairs. The Minister expressed his sympathy with the views enunciated by the deputation, and said the subject matter of the representations was now under the consideration of the Cabinet. Mr Raine thanked Sir' Joseph and Mr McLachlan for the attention they had already given to the matter, in seeking to carry out the wish of the people.