NO-LICENSE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9667, 7 October 1909, Page 1

NO-LICENSE.

THE QUESTION OF TOTAL ABSTINENCE. [FftOlf OCR C/OBBX3PONDENT.J LONDON, August 27. Presiding at the annual meeting of Messrs Hancock and Co. (Auckland) at Winchester House, Mr A. M. Marks devoted a considerable portion of his speech to the no-license movement in New Zealand, and expressed tho belief that there, was no chance of total prohibition. The New Zealand elections had ended in favour of tho Ward Government, and this, he said, entitled one to believe that, no matter on what points opinions might differ within the dominion, the rights of all interests would be respected, and that Homo investors in New Zealand enterprises might regard themselves as having due protection. In their own particular enterprise they had, ..during the past year, fallen victims to that portion- of the community who supported the total abolition of licenses. In one district where the company had interests the policy of no-license had been carried, and in Auckland proper there had been voted a reduction in the number of hotels. This did notmean that less ligupr would be consumed. It only meant that, instead of being sold' and consumed under the strict supervision \vhich the Licensing Act provided, it would be obtained by consumers in larger quantities, and, as a certaip. result, drunk in larger quantities. The wisdom of the policy now being pursued had yet to be proved. He had known Now Zealand well since his boyhood, and he was sure it was beyond the range of probability that there could ever be total abstinence in the country. If such were to be the *!ase # it was quite possible that the •iominion might be quickly denuded of a considerable portion of its labouring population, and its prosperity would disappear, becauso, , among other things, the British investor, who was constantly required to advance the money needed for the development of its resources, would wisely close up his pocket and ask how the revenue was to be raised to meet the service of the various loans. He hesitated to believe that the people of New Zealand would allow themselves to be stigmatised as a nation not sufficiently self-restrained to be allowed the freedom that was enjoyed in most countries. Explaining the cause of the diminution in the company's profits during the past year, he said that a drought — a most uncommon occurrence in New Zealand — had the effect of largely increasing the price of raw materials, and they had to pay £4895 more for barley thau for the same quality in. the previous year. Tnere was also financial stringency throughout the dominion, which necessarily restricted the spending power of the people. Happily, these drawbacks had disappeared. Good seasons now prevailed, and their supplies of barlby and hops had been purchased for the current year on, the old basis.