THE LIQUOR TRADE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 125, 2 July 1914, Page 3

THE LIQUOR TRADE.

DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. -• * * . t Press Association. -.»£| WELLINGTON, July 2. T, A deputation consisting of several' hundred people, representing the liquo* interests, waited on tjie Premier at th« old Parliament Buildings this The Premier was received with cheers on making his appearance. The deputation was introduced by Mr C. £L v Statham, M.P. The first speaker was Mr A. E. Kernot, representing the Wellington wind and spirit merchants, who said they had come for the purpose of emphasising the dangers that threaten the public J and the national credit if the demand* of the prohibition party were eye* favourably considered. The trade eon< fcributed nearly a million to the public " revenues, and in view of the fact that , 15 millions are invested in property, ' they felt that no apology was necessary for placing their view before the Go- / vernment. * They considered it utterly unfair that they should be subject to attack every three years, and that th® trade should be threatened with conn plete extinction at the hands of an irro- t sponsible, unsatisfied, and unsatisfiabl© minority. Any majority less than 09 per cent, would be inadequate to com'mand respect for a prohibition law*. Th» question of finance had also to be considered, as the country 's 'credit, was involved by the abolition of nearly a million of revenue. Four years -was not a sufficient time in which to adjust this loss. Some 20,000 breadwinners also were connected with the trade and allied industrie#, arid .the' question .of finding employment for these had to bO considered. . They therefore claimed :f—----(1) That th 3 people, should .know. what new taxation ~is likely to !>® imposed if prohibition is carried; (2) that ho majority less than three-fifths be entertained;' (3). that; seven years should expire before houses are closed under Dominion option; (4) that soma ; provision be made for those thrown out of employment if prohibition id carried. Mr. A. Brtukart", of' the Auckland y Brewer's' ..Association,. - contended that J ; the prohibitionists- had nothing at stake, j and were merely, fightiifg for sentiment. • But they were attacking the business- of their neighbours,- and -threatening the country 's '•commerce, and the individual rights-and privileges of-the people. -It, was doubtful "if any majority had tho;. 'right to dictate to the minority Vtrhat it should eat-or Urink. The speaker .filso : complained - of . .the/ ambiguity .in th» - wor ding sof the Dominion. ballot j)apsr, ' and asked that the issue be put ,'to tho people in the plainest terms'. : " V : . Mr j. B Thompson, Nof representing" the dry areas,- controverted the figures quoted by the No-Licens® deputation as to the. effect of No-'. License, iu .!dry . areas,' *laiming v t,hat ; their statistics did not -"-bear out the . claims of tlie prohibitionists, -jjjje alio ■ claimed that ,in Irivercargill the consumption of liquor was greater to-day than under License. . . ; - j Mr J. Beveridge, Christchuriib, ! presenting the Licensed Victuallers' As* contended that, in viewjof ft® trend of public-bpinion,. ParUamtnat ,had iio mandate from the country tojabato | one iota~jbi mdjority under Hthe existing legislation. - - Mr' Massey replied upon the lines o£ his answer to the No-license deputation last week. " He congratulated the deputation upon the concise and businesslike representations of its views, arid said he believed that both sides should have an-opportunity to express tHeir viewK,TSoth to Ministers and members of Parliament. The Bill would be before Parliament in a'few'days. He wk» not; able to place legislation' through last but hopedit would be dealt with now" in a few days. He also hoped that there would be no strong feeling oi either side. The Bill was the' same .'as last year, I>ut the ttoveriunent would consider amendments. They would not make it a party measure, and all mem: ; bers would be free to fulfil ..-pledges. ; without pressure from Ministers. He proposed to give "the people, through flveir representatives, an opportunity to. express their views; and fair -play would .' be given to both sides. The representations made that iriorning would help to that end. •